Which players have made the most impact since moving to Premier League sides this summer?
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GK) Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea City)
Few Premier League clubs have brought in new goalkeepers this summer, but Swansea certainly did well selling Michel Vorm to Tottenham and signing the talented Pole Fabianski on a free transfer from Arsenal. He’s started very well.
RB) Calum Chambers (Arsenal)
This is a pick based as much on potential as anything else and Chambers was undoubtedly expensive, but the teenager has shown more than enough since joining Arsenal from Southampton to suggest that he is going to be an exceptional footballer for club and country.
CB) Philippe Senderos (Aston Villa)
As awful as Aston Villa’s recent form has undoubtedly been, it would be churlish to leave Senderos out of this team considering the level to which the Swiss international exceeded expectations following his free transfer move from Fulham this summer.
CB) Tony Alderweireld (Southampton)
Signing a seasoned Belgian international on loan from Atletico Madrid always looked to be a big signing for Southampton, reflective of their increased standing as a club, and he has lived up to expectations after taking a couple of weeks to settle at St. Mary’s.
LB) Aaron Cresswell (West Ham United)
As far as West Ham’s summer signings went, it was Ecuadorian striker Enner Valencia who caught the eye, allowing left back Aaron Cresswell to under the radar – but the young Englishman has been superb since signing from Ipswich Town and is an assist machine. He’s unfortunate that England have such a depth of left backs right now.
CM) Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea)
Has made a huge impact to the Chelsea side, giving them a level of creativity and thrust from deep that was lacking last season and wasn’t a hallmark of Jose Mourinho’s last squad at Stamford Bridge. Taken them to a new level, along with a certain other summer purchase.
CM) Angel di Maria (Manchester United)
Okay, when you sign a player for the British transfer record then it should be expected that they’ll be good – but Angel di Maria has been the best player on the pitch in almost every game he has played for Manchester United and looks capable of getting better and better.
CM) Dusan Tadic (Southampton)
Serbian international Tadic is a contender for the best signing overall and one of the most enjoyable players to watch in the Premier League – he jinks past people at will and has been an assist machine for Ronald Koeman at Southampton this season.
SC) Diafra Sakho (West Ham United)
Another West Ham signing to go under the radar was striker Diafra Sakho, plucked from the relatively obscurity of the French second tier with Metz and straight into the Hammers’ side, for whom he has scored in six successive starts.
SC) Diego Costa (Chelsea)
That other Chelsea signing to have helped take Mourinho’s side to a new level, Diego Costa is the Premier League’s top scorer and is proving to be an absolute nightmare for defences to deal with thanks to his rare cocktail of pace, strength and aggression.
SC) Graziano Pelle (Southampton)
The third Southampton player to make it into this team is striker Graziano Pelle, who has continued his Eredivisie form from last season at Feyenoord into English football almost without a hitch as he replaces Rickie Lambert on the South Coast.
Substitutes
GK) Fraser Forster (Southampton) – Has filled one of few problem positions at Southampton very well.
LB) Alberto Moreno (Liverpool) – Has had some shaky moments, but long term the Spaniard should prove to be a good buy.
CM) Mohamed Diame (Hull City) – Been in amongst the goals since making the summer move from East London to Humberside.
CM) Fernando (Manchester City) – Signing Fernando from FC Porto has given Pellegrini real options in central midfield.
RM) Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) – Certainly cost a lot but is providing real moments of individual genius for Arsenal.
SC) Abel Hernandez (Hull City) – The Tigers’ record buy has settled well since joining from Palermo and looks a top class player.
SC) Leonardo Ulloa (Leicester City) – The goals of Ulloa look set to give Leicester a fighting chance of staying in the Premier League.
Manager) Ronaldo Koeman (Southampton)
After selling half of their team and even being predicted as candidates for relegation this summer, classy Dutch manager Ronald Koeman has breezed into the upper echelons of the Premier League with Southampton after making some really impressive signings.