Aston Villa have started the season excellently after a really strong summer transfer window, but how do we rank them so far?
Aston Villa have headed into the second international break of the season in fifth place. Miraculously just the four points behind league leaders Spurs.
Unai Emery played the summer to perfection and strengthened in numerous positions which has facilitated their ability to play amongst the big boys.
How have these signings done? and how do they rank amongst other signings? Here is how we see the Villa recruits judged on their performances since moving to Villa Park…
1) Moussa Diaby
Undoubtedly the best signing of the summer for Villa has already been Moussa Diaby. The Frenchman joined the side for a club record £51.9 million.
Already repaying that hefty fee, Diaby has scored twice and assisted three in 11 games.
Along with his tangible stats, he has also brought out the best Ollie Watkins we have seen.
No debate, he is the best signing Villa made.
2) Pau Torres
Second, the Spanish defender Pau Torres who comes as the clear second. However, much closer to Diaby than the other three are to him in honesty.
Torres has been incredible in defence and offers Villa so much on the ball as well as off it.
He is a classic Spanish defender with excellent passing and has been pivotal in Villa keeping two clean sheets, but more vital in their possession football rising them up the table.
3) Youri Tielemans
Before he left Leicester there were questions raised as to why he hadn’t been approached by bigger clubs.
Those questions have been answered in the early weeks of the season, as his fitness and work-rate come into question.
No starts in the Premier League and limited to just 20 minutes per game, Emery clearly isn’t a huge fan.
He does snatch third however due to his excellent display in the Conference League last week that saw him look much better especially on the ball.
4) Nicolò Zaniolo
Nicolo Zaniolo was a move that surprised many people in the league as questions over where he would play ensued.
Since starting to get game-time he has made three starts for Villa, and while he hasn’t been categorically bad, he also hasn’t been good.
His quality is evident and there is a feeling that it is a matter of time until he begins performing for the Villa.
5) Clément Lenglet
Lastly, Clement Lenglet comes fifth. To be fair to the Frenchman, he has been brought in as a urgent replacement for Tyrone Mings at the back.
He has only appeared in the Conference League due to the form and excellence of Torres and we don’t see that changing.
Highly likely he heads back at the end of this season, so we shouldn’t expect him to be any higher in the list.
