Best Signings In Europe XI: Manchester United And Chelsea Stars Alongside Real Madrid Buy

Which signings from across the continent have caught the eye the most?

We are now more than two months into the new season, both in the Premier League and across Europe, so it is time to really start analysing clubs’ summer transfer business and decide which clubs have done the best jobs.

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This is our team of the signings from across the major European leagues to have made the biggest impact so far this season:

GK) Claudio Bravo (Barcelona)

The Chilean international goalkeeper, signed from Real Sociedad this summer, has been absolutely superb for Barcelona, earning his shirt ahead of Marc Andre Ter Stegen, whilst he is yet to concede in La Liga so far for the club.

RB) Kostas Manolas (AS Roma)

Greek international Manolas could prove to be the one that got away for Arsenal – he rejected the Gunners to make the move from Olympiakos to the Stadio Olimpico this summer and has flourished ever since.

CB) Nicolas Otamendi (Valencia)

La Liga high flyers Valencia look to have picked up a real bargain this summer in Nicolas Otamendi, who was brought in from Portuguese outfit FC Porto for little more than £10m and has been absolutely superb.

CB) Jeremy Mathieu (Valencia)

The man who Otamendi replaced at the Mestalla is Frenchman Jeremy Mathieu, signed by Barcelona for big money from Valencia and who has been excellent as a part of the defence yet to concede a goal in La Liga so far this season.

LB) Aaron Cresswell (West Ham United)

An assist machine from left back for Ipswich Town in the Championship last season, Aaron Cresswell has been much the same for West Ham so far this time around, a genuine threat down the left flank.

RM) Angel di Maria (Manchester United)

Di Maria may have cost a British record transfer fee to lure from Real Madrid to Old Trafford, but the Argentine is already proving himself to be worth it with a glut of goals and assists for Louis van Gaal at the start of his United career.

CM) Xabi Alonso (Bayern Munich)

The former Liverpool playmaker has been a revelation in the Bundesliga since signing for Bayern Munich this summer, completing more passes than any other player in Europe so far this season and even opening his goalscoring account with a fine free kick against Werder Bremen.

CM) Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea)

Goals, assists and all-round genius have been the order of the day from Cesc Fabregas since he signed for Chelsea from Barcelona this summer – how much are Arsenal going to regret not bringing him back to North London?

LB) James Rodriguez (Real Madrid)

Put aside the eye-watering fee that Real Madrid handed over to AS Monaco for Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez and the true quality of the former FC Porto man shines through – he has been excellent for Carlo Ancelotti thus far.

SC) Graziano Pelle (Southampton)

The new Italian international is a late bloomer, having spent much of his career as a journeyman in Serie A and the Eredivisie, but his recent form for Feyenoord has continued at Southampton, with Pelle taking to the Premier League comfortably.

SC) Diego Costa (Chelsea)

Has been a goalscoring machine for Chelsea since signing from Atletico Madrid this summer – apart from issues with his fitness, Costa has been essentially the perfect signing.