As ever, Premier League clubs invested a huge amount of money last summer, with Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United all spending in excess of £50m on a player (or two). Three of that quartet broke their transfer record at least once, though the majority of the summer’s biggest signings have not lived up to their price tags this season. Indeed, our best XI of new signings does not contain a single player from a top-six club. The most surprising omission perhaps comes in goal, with Kepa Arrizabalaga, Bernd Leno and, most notably, Alisson Becker all missing out.
Lukasz Fabianski, West Ham
Snapped up for a fraction of the price of the goalkeepers mentioned above, Fabianski looked like a shrewd purchase at the time and has proven just that. The Pole, once renowned for the errors that quickly halted any hopes of a future at Arsenal, has been one of the best shot stoppers in the league for a number of years and has all but eradicated the costly mistakes from his game. Alisson is the only regular keeper in the league with a better save-success rate this season (73.7%), but Fabianski has produced almost double as many saves (126 to 64). He has made the most saves in the league by a distance and has committed just one error leading to a goal; Alisson and Leno have committed three each. Rating: 7.03
Ricardo Pereira, Leicester City
After two impressive seasons at Nice, Ricardo Pereira was considered something of a coup for Leicester and he has not disappointed. The Portugal international is one of only four players to have made more than 100 tackles in the league this season but it’s his threat going forward that has really caught the eye. The versatile 25-year-old has two goals and four assists so far this season and he is the only full-back to have completed 50 dribbles. Rating: 7.28
Fabian Schar, Newcastle United
Given his impact on Newcastle’s results, it is somewhat bizarre that Fabian Schar has not been the first name on the Rafa Benitez’s teamsheet all season. The Switzerland centre-back has posed a goal threat, scoring three times, and has ended up on the winning side in half of his 16 league starts, with the Magpies winning just one of the 16 he did not start. His averages of 2.6 tackles and 2.8 interceptions per 90 minutes rank among the very best centre-backs in the league. Rating: 7.31
Jannik Vestergaard, Southampton
Jannik Vestergaard’s impact at Southampton has been similar to Schar’s at Newcastle. Like the Swiss, the giant centre-back has started all but one of his team’s eight wins in the league this season – but he has still been left out on 10 occasions (usually by Mark Hughes). No centre-back has made more clearances per game (7.2). Rating: 7.02
Lucas Digne, Everton
Our highest rated new signing this season, Lucas Digne has made the left-back place his own at Everton. What was a position of strength in Leighton Baines’ pomp has become so once more at Goodison Park. The Frenchman has had a direct hand in seven goals this season (four goals and three assists) and his delivery from wide has been outstanding. The 25-year-old has made more accurate crosses than any other player in the league (68) and he has created more chances than any other defender (56) by a distance. Rating: 7.33
James Maddison, Leicester City
When it comes to creating chances, no new signings can match James Maddison. His quality at set pieces has been evident all season. With six goals and six assists, the 22-year-old has proven that some players can step up from the Championship comfortably. Rating: 7.18
João Moutinho, Wolves
It was no surprise that Wolves added further Portuguese talent to their squad in the summer but attracting a player of Moutinho’s pedigree caught many off guard. While his best years may be behind him, the 32-year-old is still a regular fixture in the national team and his experience has been crucial alongside his compatriot Rúben Neves this season. Like Maddison, he is a set-piece expert and no new signing has picked up more assists than his total of seven. His tally of 98 tackles is enough to rank fifth in the league. Rating: 7.04
Richarlison, Everton
Seemingly over the mid-season slump he failed to recover from in his only season at Watford, Richardson’s return to form will come as a relief to Everton fans given the fee the club spent on him last summer. The Brazilian winger recently scored his 12th league goal of the campaign – a total no other summer signing can better – and he is one of only two players aged 21 or under, along with Marcus Rashford, to have hit double figures this season. His consistency remains an issue, but that is understandable at his age. Rating: 6.89
Felipe Anderson, West Ham
Anderson arrived from Lazio for a club record fee in the summer, so expectations were high. He hasn’t been at his best of late, but the Brazilian has been the Hammers’ most potent attacking threat for much of the campaign. He is their top scorer with eight goals and only Robert Snodgrass has more than his total of four assists. The 25-year-old has completed the most dribbles (62) of any summer signing and, somewhat surprisingly, ranks among the top 10 players in the league for tackles (73). Rating: 7.19
Raúl Jiménez, Wolves
Given his influence on the team’s goal haul this season, it’s little wonder Wolves are ready to make Jiménez’s loan move permanent for the considerable sum of £35m. The Mexican has had a direct hand in more goals than any other summer signing (19), with his 12 goals and seven assists making up almost half of Wolves’ overall tally in the league (40). Having forged a real understanding with Diogo Jota up front, the 27-year-old has been pivotal to his team’s European aspirations. Rating: 7.17
Salomón Rondón, Newcastle United
While the deal for Rondon’s signature was a drawn out affair, he has proven to be well worth pursuing for Newcastle, who would be in real trouble were it not for his contribution. He has had a direct hand in 14 goals, scoring nine and setting up five, which accounts for nearly half of the Magpies’ total in the league (31). His ability to hold up play and bring others into the picture has been invaluable too, winning an impressive 5.2 aerial duels per 90 minutes. Rating: 6.99
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