The English Premier League has been in full swing for a month, with Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur off to fast beginnings. Other ‘Big 6’ teams, like as Manchester United and Chelsea, have had a disappointing start to their campaigns, finishing in the middle of the league.
While it frequently takes time for new arrivals to adjust to their surroundings, as was the case with Moises Caicedo and Mason Mount, other players have had an immediate impact at their new teams. Here are three examples of such signings:
#1. James Maddison:
Tottenham Hotspur paid £40 million to recruit Maddison from Leicester City. The English midfielder has been brilliant in offensive midfield for Spurs and has been linked with a huge transfer for numerous years. So far in four league games, the 26-year-old has two goals and two assists.
During Tottenham’s 2-0 victory against Manchester United, Maddison harassed United from the inside-left channel. So far, he has worked effectively with Son Heung-min, which has contributed to Tottenham’s strong start. Maddison also started for England in their latest European qualifier against Ukraine as a result of his Premier League performances.
If Ange Postecoglou’s squad wants to build on their strong start, which has yielded 10 points from four games, the English midfielder will need to be at his best.
#2. Mateo Kovacic:
In his decade-long career, Kovacic has won it all with Real Madrid and Chelsea, but it would not be surprising if he wins more with Manchester City this season. This season, Kovacic’s ability to play long passes has been a revelation, allowing him to play alongside Rodri as a deep-lying playmaker in City’s 4-3-2-1 system.
Kovacic can also play in a little more forward position and has all of the required characteristics of a competent midfielder. He has already established himself as a starter for City, which is no small task considering the caliber of their roster.
It would be interesting to see whether Guardiola persists with the 29-year-old after Kevin de Bruyne recovers from injury. With a succession of excellent performances, he has already justified his £25m price tag.
#3. Declan Rice:
West Ham United sold Rice to Arsenal for a club-record £105 million. Rice has started all four of the Gunners’ league matches since then and is quickly proving his worth.
The 24-year-old scored the game-winning second goal in Arsenal’s 3-1 triumph against Manchester United at the Emirates. Mikel Arteta has picked Kai Havertz to start as a central midfielder in Arsenal’s 4-3-3 formation, putting Thomas Partey on the bench.
Rice’s reassuring presence on defense and excellent delivery enable the Gunners to play aggressively. His performance has been starkly different from that of Caicedo, who was also bought by Chelsea for a large fee. Arsenal fans will be hoping that Rice will continue to grow at the club.