We’re approaching the halfway point of the Premier League season already and can now start to gauge the impact of clubs’ summer signings so far this term.
Some of the league’s new faces have taken to the English top flight like a duck to water and, of course, there are some that have failed to make a splash.
If strikers were in vogue in ahead of the 2017/18 campaign – Alexandre Lacazette, Romelu Lukaku and Alvaro Morata all made high-profile moves – this summer, it was the turn of the midfielders.
So, at Squawka, we have looked at all 25 centre-midfielders signed by Premier League clubs at the start of the 2018/19 season and ranked them low to high based on their performances so far.
25. Leander Dendoncker
Signed for: Wolves (on loan)
League minutes: 0
Things really haven’t gone to plan for Dendoncker so far this season, a player that many had tipped to achieve big things in the Premier League.
The 23-year-old, who can play in defence as well as in midfield, signed for Wolves at the end of the transfer window on a loan deal with an obligation to buy. However, that deal is surely now in jeopardy, with the Belgian yet to make a league appearance for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
24. Carlos Sanchez
Signed for: West Ham
League minutes: 217
There were certainly a few eyebrows raised when West Ham decided to bring in Sanchez at the end of the transfer window, after an underwhelming previous Premier League spell with Aston Villa.
The 32-year-old made five league appearances for the Hammers earlier this season before suffering a serious knee injury that’s expected to keep him out for the season. Nightmare.
23. Ben Wilmot
Signed for: Watford
League minutes: 2
Wilmot is expected to go on to become an important player for the Hornets, but seen as we’re basing this on performances, the England youth international was always going to feature towards the bottom of this list having made just three appearances all season.
The 19-year-old was bought as a centre-back, but Javi Gracia has since stated that he views Wilmot as a central midfield player.
22. Domingos Quina
Signed for: Watford
League minutes: 38
Quina is seen as a huge talent at Vicarage Road. He made his Premier League debut against Manchester City on Tuesday evening and didn’t look out of place at all. He left West Ham for Watford in search of an easier pathway to first-team football in August and he looks like he’s made a good move.
21. Cheikhou Kouyate
Signed for: Crystal Palace
League minutes: 793
We saw that Kouyate can be a good midfielder at West Ham, but things haven’t quite happened for him at Palace yet. There again, that could be said of just about every Palace player so far this season.
20. Andre Zambo Anguissa
Signed for: Fulham
League minutes: 572
Zambo Anguissa is said to have cost Fulham around £22m last summer, but he’s yet to show what he’s really made of in the Premier League.
The midfield powerhouse has made 10 league appearances so far this term but is yet to play under new manager Claudio Ranieri because of an ankle injury.
19. Ki Sung-yeung
Signed for: Newcastle
League minutes: 503
The Magpies snapped up Ki on a free transfer in the summer and the South Korea international has made seven league appearances so far this season, with Newcastle currently 14th in the table.
18. Jack Wilshere (West Ham)
Signed for: West Ham
League minutes: 339
One of the most interesting moves of the summer transfer window. The former Arsenal man started all four of the Hammers’ opening league matches before sustaining an ankle injury. He made his comeback in their 3-0 win at Newcastle last week and will now be hoping to kick on with his career in East London.
17. Fred (Manchester United)
Signed for: Manchester United
League minutes: 485
Manchester United splashed over £50m on Fred in the summer, a player that many expected to fill the missing part of the team’s midfield and give Paul Pogba license to get forward and join in with attacks.
But like a lot of players at Old Trafford this season, the Brazilian has been in and out of the side, making such seven league appearances so far.
16. Naby Keita (Liverpool)
Signed for: Liverpool
League minutes: 458
We think Keita will go on to become a top player for Liverpool, but things haven’t really gone as he’d have hoped so far. He made a promising start to life at Anfield but has struggled with injury issues since. Jurgen Klopp remains adamant that he will eventually be a very important player for the club.
15. Harry Arter
Signed for: Cardiff City (on loan)
League minutes: 990
Arter was desperate to go out on loan in the closing stages of the transfer window having been told by Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe that his opportunities would be limited this season. The midfielder has been a solid performer for Cardiff and has already said that he’d like to join the club permanently if they stay up.
14. Max Meyer
Signed for: Crystal Palace
League minutes: 611
It took a while for Meyer to get going at Palace, but he’s been one of their more lively performers in recent weeks. Hodgson’s side must improve if they’re to avoid a relegation scrap this year and you’d expect Meyer to be one of the players that drags them to safety if they are to stay up.
13. Stuart Armstrong
Signed for: Southampton
League minutes: 397
Armstrong seems to have come to life at Southampton in recent weeks, having scored three goals in his last two appearances. The attacking midfielder can certainly finish and it will be interesting to see how prominently he features in the plans of new Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl.
12. Fabinho
Signed for: Liverpool
League minutes: 385
Brazilian midfielder Fabinho has had to wait patiently for his opportunity to shine at Liverpool, but in recent weeks we’ve finally started to see what he’s about. The former Monaco man has been linked with a move to PSG as a result of his limited game time, but Klopp is adamant that this is just the beginning of a very long and successful career at Liverpool for the 25-year-old.
11. Yves Bissouma
Signed for: Brighton
League minutes: 675
Former Lille midfielder Bissouma will be disappointed that he’s yet to register a goal or an assist for Chris Hughton’s side, but he has brought the Seagulls something different to their midfield so far this term. At 22, Bissouma still has time on his side and the fact Hughton continues to select him would suggest he feels he has a big future at the club.
10. Victor Camarasa
Signed for: Cardiff City (on loan)
League minutes: 1,225
This was a clever signing from Neil Warnock, who wanted Liverpool’s Marko Grujic to return to the club on loan following a successful spell with the Bluebirds in the Championship. Camarasa, though, has arguably been Cardiff’s standout performer this season and has started and completed the vast majority of their league matches.
It will be interesting to see if they can keep hold of him on a permanent basis if they stay up.
9. Jean Michael Seri
Signed for: Fulham
League minutes: 1,085
Many were extremely surprised when Fulham managed to secure the signing of Seri last summer and, despite the Cottagers poor form this season, it’s fair to say Seri has been one of their most impressive performers.
The Ivorian has started all but one of Fulham’s league matches and will be hoping to to kick on further under the management of Ranieri.
8. Mateo Kovacic
Signed for: Chelsea
League minutes: 709
Kovacic was in need of regular minutes after failing to nail down a regular starting spot at Real Madrid. He started the season in excellent form for Chelsea alongside Jorginho and N’Golo Kante in midfield. His place in the XI is under threat from Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek at the moment but it’s healthy competition and this was a clever piece of business from Maurizio Sarri.
7. Joao Moutinho
Signed for: Wolves
League minutes: 1,172
Arguably the most impressive piece of business Wolves did last summer. Nuno Espirito Santo probably couldn’t have wished for a better signing ahead in his side’s first year back in the Premier League. The Portuguese midfield maestro has struck up an excellent partnership with fellow countryman Ruben Neves. It’s also worth remembering he cost just £5m.
6. Matteo Guendouzi
Signed for: Arsenal
League minutes: 554
Arsenal fans weren’t expecting much from 19-year-old Guendouzi when they signed him from Lorient in the summer. The French youth international was billed as one for the future, but Unai Emery quickly realised that he was a player that could have an impact on this Arsenal team now.
The holding midfielder has made 11 league appearances for the Gunners and looks certain to go on to become a big player for both club and country.
5. Jorginho
Signed for: Chelsea
League minutes: 1,212
Maurizio Sarri insisted on the signing of Jorginho when he arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer and, despite interest from Manchester City, he got his man for around £57m.
The Italian’s early season form was exceptional, but in recent weeks he’s been man marked out of the game by several opponents. Nevertheless, the former Napoli star is a class act and has become one of Chelsea’s most important players.
4. Jefferson Lerma
Signed for: Bournemouth
League minutes: 931
Eddie Howe made Lerma his no. 1 transfer target in the summer and eventually got his man for a club record £25m. The Colombian certainly hasn’t disappointed and has been one of the main reasons why the Cherries have had such an impressive start to the season. A big talent and a big upgrade on the midfielders Howe had at his disposal last season.
3. James Maddison
Signed for: Leicester City
League minutes: 1,011
You never know how signings from the Championship are going to settle in the Premier League, but Maddison looks at home at this level. The attacking midfielder has brought something different to Leicester’s side this season and was unlucky to not make his senior England debut when he was called up for the first time in October.
Quick feet, good vision, excellent set pieces and more – the 22-year-old could easily find himself at a top six club within the next few years.
2. Andre Gomes
Signed for: Everton (on loan)
League minutes: 532
Injury meant that Gomes couldn’t make his league debut for Everton until October but he has been so impressive since.
Marco Silva has already made clear that he is desperate for the club to sign Gomes on a permanent basis, but if he continues at this rate then don’t be surprised if there’s Champions League interest in the Portugal midfielder.
1. Lucas Torreira
Signed for: Arsenal
League minutes: 961
Everything that Arsenal have been missing in midfield for a very, very long time. Unai Emery chose to introduce Torreira to the Premier League slowly, with the Uruguayan having to settle for a place on the bench in the early stages of the season.
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
But whenever he’s played, he’s looked different gravy at the heart of the Arsenal midfield. A constant menace when out of possession, positive on the ball and worth every bit of the £26.5m that Arsenal spent on him. His goal against Spurs was no bad way to open his account for the Gunners, either.
The post Ranked: Every centre midfielder signed by a Premier League club this season appeared first on Squawka News.
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