KASPER: BUY BEST, IT PAYS

KASPER SCHMEICHEL is not surprised to see goalkeepers moving for “ridiculously high” fees given the fine line between success and failure.

Brazil international Alisson Becker (above) last month became the most expensive keeper ever with a £66million switch from Roma to Liverpool.

But Chelsea are poised to sign Athletic Bilbao’s Kepa Arrizabalaga for £71m.

Schmeichel, a Premier League champion with Leicester, said: “I think generally transfers are ridiculously h igh at the moment.

“It was only a matter of time before goalkeepers got in on the act, because a good goalkeeper can be the difference between winning the league and not winning the league.

“That’s the market at the moment. I think the Neymar transfer was pivotal.

“Prices became very inflated and from there it was always going to reach every position. You saw it with Virgil van Dijk and now with Alisson.” Given the current market, the £35m champions Manchester City spent bringing 24-year-old Ederson Moraes from Benfica looks good value 12 months on.

“For someone, particularly at that age, to be playing so fearlessly is exceptional,” added Schmeichel (left). “As is his reading of the game. “It’s a trademark of Guardiola. You saw exactly how he played with Neuer as well.

“If you can play like that, you can press so much higher up the pitch, meaning when the other team does eventually kick it long if it goes over the centre-halves’ heads you’ve a guy right behind.

“He’s basically an 11th outfield player. To be able to play like that takes enormous bravery – the line between getting it right and wrong is so thin.

“A potential misstep, a fraction of a millisecond too late or too early can be the difference. That’s real bravery. Last season he was definitely the best keeper in the league.”