Bernardo Silva is the best player in the Premier League apart from his Liverpool counterpart Mohamed Salah, according to Owen Hargreaves.
The Manchester City star has scored seven goals in 15 top-flight appearances so far this season in a stunning start to the campaign for him and Pep Guardiola's table toppers.
Only Leicester City star Jamie Vardy and Liverpool duo Diogo Jota and Salah have scored more Premier League goals than the Portugal international in 2021-22.
And speaking to BT Sport ahead of City's home match against Leeds, Hargreaves lauded Silva's versatility and claimed he is the embodiment of the 'modern No 10' by comparing his pressing skills to Chelsea star N'Golo Kante.
Asked if Silva is the best player in the Premier League except Salah, former City midfielder Hargreaves said: 'Definitely. If Mo Salah wasn't playing like, almost Michael Jordan-esque... that just tells you how great Bernardo Silva has been.
'He can probably play five positions as good as each other. Centre-forward, he can play as a No 10, he can play as a No 8, he can play out wide and off the left.
'He is the perfect Pep player. He is great in possession. He is the modern No 10. No 10s back in the day were Mesut Ozil and Philippe Coutinho who took a lot of time off out of possession.
'Bernardo Silva presses the ball like Kante, that is how good he is. His finishing has been off the charts.'
Former City defender Joleon Lescott also praised him as 'immaculate', claiming the Portugal star has now made himself undroppable at the Etihad Stadium.
'He was close to leaving in January, but since he has come back into the side he has proved they can't play without him,' Lescott added.
'Any position he operates in he is immaculate, he is contributing so much in and out of possession, you cannot drop him.'
Peter Crouch also admitted he is in awe of Silva's displays, believing the goals he has added to his game this year - having scored just two in the league last season - has elevated his game to another level.
'He is a naturally gifted footballer, and they don't need a position, they can shine in any position that they are given,' ex-striker Crouch said.
'His receiving skills, his vision and what he has added this year is goals, he is impact and running games, he is a real joy to watch.'
