Yaya Toure settles the Gerrard, Scholes and Lampard debate by ranking Premier League's greatest midfielders

Yaya Toure settled the never-ending debate involving Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard by picking his top three midfielders in Premier League history.

The Ivorian is well in contention after an incredible Premier League career which saw him win three titles as well as two League Cups and one FA Cup - where he scored the winning goal in the final to end Manchester City's 35-year trophy drought.

A £24 million signing from Barcelona in 2010, Toure was unplayable on his day and scored 20 goals and registered nine assists in a 2013/14 campaign which is deemed to be one of the best individual seasons from a midfielder.

The 41-year-old, now assistant manager of the Saudi Arabia national team, recently appeared on Rio Ferdinand's 'Rio Meets' podcast and was asked to name his top midfielders.

And in doing so Toure gave an insight into his thoughts on the conversation surrounding three of England's very best.

He immediately mentioned both Gerrard and Lampard before mentioning Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira, who he played with for a season in his first year at City.

Paul Scholes did also get a shoutout and was described as a "great player" but only after Toure had selected his first three choices.

"My top three best midfielders - Gerrard, Lampard and Vieira," Toure told Ferdinand.

"Those three were amazing. In that order. Paul Scholes, this little man - if you can say that - I played against him and at the age, 34 or 35 - he was a great player.

"Scholes, Lampard, Gerrard, Vieira, wow they were really good."

Rank the Best CM Premier League of all time?? Debate alongside one of the best ever @YayaToure 👏🏽

Scholes, Lampard, Gerrard, Vieira & Yaya!!#RioMeets pic.twitter.com/Y3CsHfLaO0

— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) April 3, 2025

Toure claims City signed four players he recommended

Toure was one of the first marquee signings for City when they were pushing to becoming a dominant force in world football and he claims that he was tasked with recommending new signings by the club's board.

And according to Toure, all four of the stars he mentioned ended up becoming his teammates at City. David Silva signed in the same summer as Toure in 2010, before Edin Dzeko was snapped up in the middle of the season.

Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri completed the quartet in the 2011 summer and played integral roles in City's first league title for 44 years.

He explained: “Man City gave me the key to be able maybe to discuss with some of the people in the board and said, because there was, in that period, there was the period where they were asking, Yaya, which player you wanted, because of my experience, my knowledge.”

"I was saying, Aguero, Samir Nasri, Silva as well. I was mentioning, Dzeko. A lot of players, you know.”