- While some athletes appear to be worth their high asking prices, others have more to show
- ‘It’s All Kicking Off’, a podcast from Mail Sport, has a new episode available.
With just over a quarter of the season remaining, Premier League viewers may pause and evaluate their club’s fortunes as the second of this season’s international breaks gets under way.
Some teams, like Tottenham and West Ham, may be perceived as overachieving following high-profile summer departures, while other teams, like Chelsea and Manchester United, have had sluggish starts to the season despite making significant summer hirings.
However, not every signing is equal, and some have settled faster than others.
Here, Mail Sport examines which players have flourished since their summer transfer and which superstars still have plenty to prove.
DOMINIK SZOBOSZLAI
The No. 8 shirt for Liverpool has already seen one legendary wearer in recent memory, but the Hungarian is quickly arguing that the team will soon have another one. Since his debut at Anfield, the midfielder has made a rapid impact and has all but eclipsed fellow midfield recruit and World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister in popularity.
Szoboszlai, who is already one of Klopp’s unstoppables, has proven to be effective both on and off the ball and has so far travelled roughly 90km in his eight Premier League games.
Goals have resulted from good midfield play, including an incredible strike in a 3-1 victory over Leicester in the Carabao Cup.
Although it may be too soon to draw too many Steven Gerrard comparisons, Szoboszlai has been a crucial part of Liverpool’s impressive start to the season.
Rating: 8/10
James Madison
After the confirmation of Leicester’s relegation on the final day of the previous campaign, it was widely believed Maddison would soon be signed by a Premier League team.
His immediate impact at Tottenham, where the midfielder has played a pivotal role in Ange Postecoglou’s north London renaissance, has been a bit more unexpected.
Maddison, the Premier League Player of the Month in his debut month at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, has formed a fantastic relationship with Son Heung-min and has displayed all the traits of the playmaker Spurs have been clamouring for.
The 26-year-old has two goals and five assists in the Premier League, but even more impressively, he has played an assertive part in his first-ever north London derby and looked dominating in midfield, helping Spurs leave the Emirates with a point for just the second time since 2016.
Rating: 9/10
Micky Van De Ven
Tottenham’s unbroken record at the top of the table is far from the only result of Postecoglou’s hiring. The club’s work during the summer transfer window was impressive, not only in luring Maddison to north London but also in luring Micky Van de Ven away from Wolfsburg in a £43 million move.
The defender has constantly put up standout displays in a revamped Spurs backline before scoring his first goal in new colours during the team’s tenacious victory over Luton at Kenilworth Road on Saturday.
The Dutch player has adapted to life in north London quickly, as evidenced by his performances against Liverpool at home and away against Arsenal. In the latter match, which saw Tottenham (if not fortuitously) defeat a top-four foe, Van de Ven ably contained Mohamed Salah.
With a fresh sense of stability at the back and the 22-year-old’s swift development of a strong combination with Cristian Romero, Spurs’ dominance may continue.
Rating: 8/10
Declan Rice
Few people thought Arsenal was paying too much for the England midfielder when they broke their transfer record to get him from West Ham for £105 million, but Rice has proven himself to be worth every penny in practically every game since donning the jersey.
Rice’s leadership abilities in the backroom have been vital for the Gunners, who already have a solid captain in Martin Odegaard. Rice’s most recent performance demonstrated to Manchester City exactly what they were missing as Arsenal eventually defeated Pep Guardiola’s team at the 13th attempt.
Rice has excelled even in trying situations; he was one of the only players to put out a steady effort during Arsenal’s loss to Lens in their most recent Champions League match.
As one of the few players able to contain an explosive Maddison during the north London derby, it was notable how the Gunners appeared noticeably weakened after the 24-year-old was replaced.
Rating: 9/10
James Ward-Prowse
Ward-Prowse was saved from the demoted club by West Ham, proving that they had been shrewd in their post-Rice period despite Gareth Southgate’s decision to permanently ignore the former Southampton midfielder.
The master of set pieces has adapted to life at the London Stadium without complaint, and since moving up north, he has already contributed six assists and two goals.
After the Hammers’ opening Europa League match against TSC Backa Topola, David Moyes praised Ward-Prowse, saying, “He’s made big contributions in all the games.” It’s been a fantastic beginning. Overall, he is a team player. He works hard and is in excellent shape. He works multiple jobs.
However, without the distraction of serving his country, Ward-Prowse might be able to focus and give his new team his best. His arrival has had a significant impact on West Ham’s aggressive start to the season; should they maintain their position in the top-half, the player’s skills will undoubtedly cause Southgate some pause.
Rating: 8/10
Those who have experienced difficulty…
Andrian Onana
One of Erik ten Hag’s primary targets was the former Inter Milan custodian for a reason.
The Dutch manager wasn’t the only one who admired the Champions League finalist after helping him progress through the Ajax academy before joining the first team; however, he was the one who thought David de Gea, who had a difficult final season at Old Trafford, was best suited to succeed him.
All is forgiven, though, for the same supporters who demanded the removal of the Spaniard since Onana’s start in Manchester has been, to put it mildly, sobering.
The Cameroon international made crucial mistakes against Galatasaray and Brenford, and he was fortunate not to have been dismissed against Wolves. He felt his performance against Bayern Munich in the German team’s 4-3 victory over Ten Hag’s team was so subpar that he came forward and apologised in public.
‘It’s a difficult situation for me, I let the team down. It’s because of me we didn’t win this game,’ Onana shared after the final whistle.
According to Mail Sport columnist Chris Sutton, the Manchester club traded De Gea for Onana, but with the club’s backup custodian being the relatively inexperienced Turkish youngster Altay Bayindir, the No. 1 will need to hope that his form picks up after the international break to turn around United’s fortunes.
Rating: 2/10
Mason Mount
When the new season began in June, the former Chelsea star kept fans in both the blue and the red on pins and needles as he waited to tell where he would play. Eventually, he revealed that he was moving to Manchester for a fee of £60 million.
But his transition at Old Trafford has been rocky, marked by wasted opportunities and problems brought on by injuries. The midfielder was unfortunate to miss five games at the beginning of United’s season due to a hamstring injury, but Mount has been unable to contribute under Ten Hag since his comeback.
While Mount has yet to score or provide an assist in his first Premier League outings, he did set up Casemiro for a chance during his team’s 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace in their first Carabao Cup match, displaying some of the promise that caused his manager to try to lure him north.
Ten Hag’s ambitions for the midfielder, who is eager to play him in a deeper role than he had during his time at Stamford Bridge, may have contributed to some of his uncertainties thus far. Transitioning to a United team that is in the midst of a tumultuous season defined by problems both on and off the pitch may be challenging, as it was for Onana. However, the 24-year-old still has a lot of work to do if he wants to justify his high asking price.
Rating 3/10
Caicedo Moises
Caicedo’s growing self-assurance is undoubtedly one of the many reasons SW6 residents are feeling more upbeat these days, but nobody can deny that the £115 million Chelsea player made a disastrous entrance at the club.
The Ecuadorian midfielder, who was introduced against West Ham in the second half, appeared uneasy and overpowered as the Blues surrendered their lead at the London Stadium and the 10-man Hammers tightened their hold on the tie. Caicedo’s sloppy challenge on former Blue Emerson brought the dreadful debut to a close by giving away the penalty that resulted in all three points for the home team.
Neither was his recovery quick. In their smash-and-grab victory over Nottingham Forest, Caicedo was restrained and unable to compel Steve Cooper’s team off the ball as they advanced to the lone goal.
Without a doubt, Chelsea’s (new) record acquisition hasn’t quite taken off like Rice, who was also saddled with a hefty price tag, or Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid, who is starting to seem like a steal for Real Madrid.
Rating: 4/10
Kai Harvertz
When the summer transfer window opened, Jurrien Timber and Rice were the top targets that Arsenal supporters had been following for a while. Both players were eventually acquired and signed. However, the appearance of Havertz caught everyone off guard, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding his potential role in Arteta’s setup.
After Arsenal’s season-opening performance, fans may not feel any clearer. Havertz has played both more centrally and as an attacking midfielder, but he has struggled to make an impact in front of goal. Prior to scoring from the penalty spot in the Gunners’ 4-0 win over Bournemouth, he had made only one of his first nine outings.
L’Equipe even gave the midfielder a dismal four out of 10 ratings for his errant play during his runout in Arsenal’s 2-1 loss to Lens.
However, as evidenced by his Champions League-winning goal, Havertz is capable of rising to the challenge. When Arsenal defeated Manchester City at the Emirates, Havertz brushed off the criticism and came off the bench to assist Gabriel Martinelli in a clever way.
Rating 3/10
Nicolas Jackson
Jackson has promise, that much is true. The Senegal international, who consistently plays for Mauricio Pochettino and always appears vibrant, had a solid preseason campaign. He shares first place among Blues scorers with Raheem Sterling.
They each have three goals, which is part of the never-ending paradox Chelsea has developed into—the squad worth billions that at times this season couldn’t have afforded itself a shot on goal.
Although Jackson’s workrate is good, his anticipated goal (xG) measure is the most damning figure. Jackson has played one fewer games than Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah above him in the league’s rankings, making him the fourth-highest player by that metric. However, the striker has struggled with his finishing, and he already has a number of notable misses to his credit, including one against Forest that is likely to stick out in his memory for some time.
Pochettino will be hoping the striker finds a quick resolution to the problem as Chelsea continues to look for the clinical edge to lift them out of the bottom half of the standings.
The player’s hastiness has also raised questions. Jackson received a match suspension after receiving a startling five yellow cards, which suggests that he had a difficult time adjusting to the league’s referees and the players’ deceptive tactics. Jackson probably learned his lesson, but he and his team were fortunate that Armando Broja, who had just returned from a protracted layoff, was able to fill in for him and play in the Blues’ 2-0 victory over Fulham.
Rating: 4/10