The summer transfer window is arguably the most important point of the season for any Premier League club, even if nowadays it takes place before the campaign actually begins.
Not all summer arrivals prove to be a success, but some revolutionise teams, lifting them to a previously unattainable level.
This summer was no different and here at Squawka, we have ranked who we think are the top 10 summer transfers of the Premier League season so far.
Has your club’s big summer signing made the top 10? Read on to find out…
10. Xherdan Shaqiri
(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Club: Liverpool
Many pundits and fans scorned when Liverpool paid over £13m to sign Xherdan Shaqiri from relegated Stoke City in the summer. However, the Swiss international has proven himself to be vital to Jurgen Klopp so far, finding himself filling in across the front three and in midfield this season.
Shaqiri has already scored three goals in 11 Premier League games this season, while also providing three assists across all competitions. With Roberto Firmino misfiring and Liverpool suffering a few injuries, the 27-year-old has taken on a much more prominent role than previously expected.
Key stat: Shaqiri has averaged a goal every 180 minutes for Liverpool this season, a better rate than Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
9. David Brooks
Club: Bournemouth
For a player who only cost £11.5m and had just 38 games worth of professional experience under his belt when he arrived in the summer, David Brooks has been fantastic for a high-flying Bournemouth side so far.
The Welsh international has three goals and one assist in the Premier League so far and has added a much-needed attacking element to the Cherries’ midfield. Brooks also looks set to become a key player in Ryan Giggs’ young Wales setup.
Key stat: David Brooks has had 23 shots in the Premier League this season, only Callum Wilson has had more for Bournemouth.
8. Felipe Anderson
(Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
Club: West Ham United
It took a little while for Felipe Anderson to get going for West Ham, but he sure has found his groove now.
Four goals in his last five Premier League games shows how well he is now adapting to Premier League life, while the Brazilian has also created more chances (28) and completed more dribbles (25) than any other West Ham player this season.
Just what you want from your club record signing!
Key stat: Felipe Anderson has made more tackles (38) than any other West Ham player in the Premier League this season.
7. Andre Gomes
Club: Everton
Gomes missed the start of the season due to injury but since coming into the Everton side has been nothing short of fantastic. Despite their defeat, it has been a long time since an Everton player controlled a Merseyside derby, but that is exactly what Gomes did as he acted as a ball magnet in the middle of the park – a feat that he has carried out in pretty much every game he’s played for the Toffees so far.
Marco Silva has recently stated how impressed he has been with Gomes, while also expressing a desire to make his transfer permanent.
“He is getting better every time,” he said. “Taking his responsibility in the squad is important for me as well.
“He’s enjoyed his first two months but let’s see what we can do. We are working on that, I don’t know if I have an answer in one week or two weeks.”
Key stat: Only Lucas Digne has had more touches of the ball per 90 minutes (79.82) than Andre Gomes (76.83) this season.
6. James Maddison
Club: Leicester City
James Maddison caught everybody’s eye in Leicester’s 2-1 opening day defeat at Manchester United as he caused the Red Devils no end of trouble in the No.10 role.
That proved to be a sign of things to come, as Maddison has been nothing short of fantastic for the Foxes, scoring five goals already and earning a call-up to the senior England squad.
Maddison hasn’t made his Three Lions debut yet but given Gareth Southgate’s embracing of youth, it is surely just a matter of time.
Key stat: James Maddison is Leicester’s joint-top goalscorer this season with five goals, along with Jamie Vardy.
5. Jorginho
(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Club: Chelsea
There has been a lot of debate about the effect Jorginho has had on N’Golo Kante, but the Italian himself has been brilliant this season for Chelsea.
Jorginho has been a passing machine for the Blues, helping Maurizio Sarri implement his ‘Sarrismo’ style and despite Chelsea and Jorginho stumbling a little in the last few Premier League games, you can’t keep this kind of talent down for too long.
Key stat: Jorginho has made more passes (1,324) than any other player in the Premier League this season.
4. Kepa Arrizabalaga
(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Club: Chelsea
When Thibaut Courtois departed for Real Madrid in the summer, Chelsea fans will have worried who the club would pick to fill that sizeable void.
Then they parted with £71m, a world record fee for a goalkeeper, for Athletic Bilbao stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga, leaving fans even more worried about the fee they paid for a ‘keeper with just one international cap.
They need not have feared at all though. He can play with his feet, he can make outstanding saves and he commands his box as well as any goalkeeper in Europe – Kepa has been nothing short of brilliant between the sticks for Chelsea and is, slowly but surely, justifying his fee.
Key stat: Kepa has made more successful passes (389) than any other goalkeeper in the Premier League this season.
3. Richarlison
Club: Everton
According to Sky Sports’ Paul Merson, Everton paying around £40m for Richarlison ‘spoiled the transfer window’ and inflated prices for apparently ‘better’ players.
Does Merson stand by that point now? Richarlison has scored seven goals in 14 games, more than any other player aged under 21 in the Premier League, and has taken to life at Goodison like a duck to water. This has earned a call-up to the senior Brazil side as well – for whom he has scored three goals in six caps.
Key stat: Richarlison has already scored seven goals in 14 games this season for Everton, two more than he managed in 41 outings for Watford last season.
2. Alisson Becker
Club: Liverpool
‘Liverpool have paid £65m for a goalkeeper they put seven goals past last season.’ That was the general consensus when Liverpool briefly made Alisson Becker the world’s most expensive goalkeeper in the summer.
You can’t imagine that anybody is still standing by that opinion, as Alisson has been an absolute revelation, making match-winning saves and keeping more clean sheets (9) than any other goalkeeper in the Premier League.
Alisson was mainly signed for his ability to play the ball though, and he has also proved himself as a game-changer for Jurgen Klopp’s side in that regard too, adding a whole new dimension to the way Liverpool can manage a game now.
Key stat: Alisson has an 85% save success rate in the Premier League this season, the most of any ‘keeper to play more than two games.
1. Lucas Torreira
Club: Arsenal
Not since the days of Gilberto Silva and Patrick Viera have Arsenal had a commanding midfielder that can physically dominate and intimidate an opponent, while also having an immense level of talent and composure on the ball.
That was until Lucas Torreira arrived at the Emirates. The Uruguayan has given Arsenal boundless amounts of bite and energy in the midfield engine room and perfectly suits Unai Emery’s blockbuster style of play.
It's official: Arsenal have finally found the midfielder they have spent so long looking for. 🦁 pic.twitter.com/xJZGpiu0fP
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 4, 2018
In today’s market, £27m is an absolute snip for a player of Torreira’s quality, while the effect he has had on the Arsenal midfield so far surely puts him down as the Premier League’s best summer signing for 2018?
Key stat: Lucas Torreira has made more recoveries (110) than any other Arsenal player in the Premier League this season.
The post Ranked: the top 10 summer signings of the Premier League season so far appeared first on Squawka News.
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