Every transfer is essentially a gamble. You can never really predict how a player will settle into his new environment. Some, though, are tailor-made for their new club and seamlessly assimilate.
Already we are seeing that with a number of players across Europe’s top five leagues. Some of them are well known, having excelled (or not) elsewhere. Others have seemingly popped out of nowhere to surprise us all.
Naturally, the most noticeably effective, the ones we can already conclude are on the road to success, are those instilled with attacking instincts. Goals, after all, is what the game is about. So, with that said, we’ve ranked the five top attacking summer signings across Europe’s top five divisions so far.
5. Alassane Pléa (From Nice to Borussia Mönchengladbach)
How much? €25m
Position: Striker
Appearances: 7
Goals/assists: 5/1
Alassane Pléa was always destined for a big move following his escapades with Nice and it was Bundesliga outfit Borussia Mönchengladbach that bit the bullet.
They can relax knowing the money was well spent. Gladbach’s bright start has them sitting just three points behind league leaders Borussia Dortmund, and last time out they humbled regional powerhouse Bayern Munich in the reigning Bundesliga champions’ own backyard. Pléa, who is currently on a four-match scoring streak, played an instrumental role in their 3-0 victory. Should he keeps up his exploits, you can only imagine him enjoying his most prolific league campaign (overtaking the 16 goals in 35 matches for Nice last season).
Key stat: Pléa is currently the Bundesliga’s joint-top scorer, level with Ondrej Duda of Hertha Berlin.
4. Jonathan Bamba (From Saint-Étienne to Lille)
How much? Free
Position: Left-winger
Appearances: 9
Goals/assists: 7/1
It’s fair to say Lille, who currently occupy second place in Ligue 1, conducted good business in the summer. No purchase illustrates that best than the signing of Bamba, who arrived on a free transfer after leaving boyhood club Saint-Étienne. To say the France U21 forward has hit the ground running is an understatement. His three goals in his opening three matches were followed by a lull, but Bamba has bagged a brace in his last two league outings. Keep this up and there could soon be a call from Didier Deschamps.
Key stat: Only Neymar and Kylian Mbappé (both eight goals) have scored more in Ligue 1 than Bamba.
3. Paco Alcácer (From Barcelona to Borussia Dortmund)
How much? Loan
Position: Striker
Appearances: 3
Goals/assists: 6/0
Simply outstanding is how you can describe Paco Alcacer in Dortmund. The Barça loanee has six goals to his name, which is made even more impressive by the fact he has managed that in three appearances. Broken down further those strikes have come across 81 minutes of playing time. Yet to start a game for BVB it’s not going to be long before he does then again there isn’t a better super-sub in Europe at the moment.
Key stat: Paco Alcacer averages a goal every 13.5 minutes in the Bundesliga.
2. André Silva (From AC Milan to Sevilla)
How much? Loan
Position: Striker
Appearances: 8
Goals/assists: 7/0
Andre Silva’s first season in Milan was one of frustration, one in which he would bag two goals across 24 league outings. Although Silva did manage to find the net eight times in 14 Europa League appearances, it was decided in the summer for him to start anew, albeit on loan, in southern Spain.
This has proved a decision well made. Silva looks refreshed and Sevilla are benefiting greatly. They currently top La Liga (after the opening eight rounds) with the Portuguese forward just a goal behind Cristhian Stuani (eight goals) in the Pichichi race.
Key stat: Silva is the first player to score a hat-trick on his La Liga debut in the 21st century.
1. Krzysztof Piatek (From Cracovia Kraków to Genoa)
How much? €4.5m
Position: Striker
Appearances: 7
Goals/assists: 9/0
From relative obscurity to centre stage in a blink of an eye. The ascent of Polish marksman Krzysztof Piatek is the story of this European season so far. Signed for less than €5m, he has gone and registered a goal in each of his seven league outings, which puts Gabriel Batistuta’s league record of goals in 11 consecutive games into view. In truth, it doesn’t matter if Piatek surpasses the legendary Argentine striker; he’s already the name on everyone’s lips right now, and already a number of superclubs are sniffing around, so don’t be surprised if his stay in Genoa turns out to be temporary.
Key stat: Piatek is the first Serie A player since 1949/50 to score eight goals in his debut six top-flight games.
The post The top five attacking summer signings across Europe’s top five leagues this season so far appeared first on Squawka News.
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