Wind. Rain. Michael Bublé songs on Spotify. The countdown to Christmas is well and truly underway, and with the festivities in full swing, summer could feel like an eternity.
But just as the festive period is about taking stock of what you have, the Premier League mid-season is also a time for reflection.
Namely which of the many acquisitions of the summer transfer window has impressed so far.
Here are five deals that seem to have done the trick.
– Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) December 22, 2024
Nikola Milenkovic (Nottingham Forest)
Standing at 6-foot-5, Milenkovic is hard to miss. But the Serbian defender’s impact since signing for Forest from Fiorentina has been just as notable.
While Chris Wood has grabbed the headlines for his goals this season, Milenkovic has been a colossus for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side at the other end of the pitch with his physical presence and pragmatic defending style.
Alongside Murillo, Milenkovic was the foundation on which Forest propelled themselves to fourth place in the table.
Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace)
Palace may have had a rather unremarkable season so far, but centre-back Lacroix has given Eagles fans something to shout about.
The Frenchman has been a staple of Oliver Glasner’s defense this season and the 24-year-old is quickly winning admirers for his mix of physicality and composure.
£21m (plus add-ons) from Wolfsburg already seems like a smart deal.
Amadou Onana (Aston Villa)
Fifty big players from Everton might, at least initially, have seemed a high price to pay for the 23-year-old Belgium international this summer.
But Onana has more than justified his price tag with his impressive performances as a midfielder, as Villa have mostly impressed so far this season.
In the age of social media, hard work and relentless work ethic can often go unnoticed. However, these are traits that Onana excels at; attributes that allow Unai Emery’s more attacking midfielders, such as Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers, to flourish.
I feel good 😌 pic.twitter.com/E97OInjpbV
– Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 21, 2024
Jadon Sancho (Chelsea)
The rise and fall of Jadon Sancho. Like Harry Potter and The Very Hungry Caterpillar, it’s a story that many are familiar with.
But what about Sancho’s rise, fall and rise again? It certainly seems like that could be the case if the winger’s Chelsea debut is anything to go by.
The 24-year-old, on loan from Manchester United, has impressed as Enzo Maresca’s side look more and more like genuine title contenders. A resurgence all over Stamford Bridge, perhaps?
Yankuba Minteh (Brighton)
At just 20 years old, Minteh has all the characteristics of a star in the making. Fast, skilled and hard-working, the Seagulls, who have a knack for honing young talent before selling them on for big money, could have another livelihood on their hands.
The Gambian scored 10 goals and made five assists in just 27 appearances in the Eredivisie last season and having acquired his services for just £25 million, it already feels like Brighton have had a steal.
