Manzambi proving best-value signing of summer
Key points
- Johan Manzambi, a £47m summer signing from Freiburg, has been one of the Premier League's best-value transfers with 1.27 goal involvements per 90 minutes.
- Vitaly Janelt leads the Premier League in tackles and interceptions (38) and has earned his first Germany call-up.
- Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa faces a must-win game against Hull on Saturday with his side bottom of the table.
Johan Manzambi has emerged as one of the best-value signings of the summer transfer window, according to a Sky Sports study of transfer valuations. The 21-year-old joined Aston Villa from Freiburg for £47m and had a market-adjusted value of £74.8m at the time of the move.
Manzambi arrived with a knee injury and waited until mid-September for his debut, but has since made a rapid impact. He scored and assisted on his full debut against Spurs and found the net again in Villa's Champions League win over Fenerbahce on Wednesday.
Manzambi's instant impact
Manzambi is averaging 1.27 goal involvements per 90 minutes in all competitions, despite playing only 284 minutes. He also drew the foul for Villa's penalty against Fenerbahce. His versatility has appealed to manager Unai Emery, who has used him as a No 10, on the left and deeper.
The 21-year-old had previously scored two goals in 19 minutes as a substitute in Switzerland's World Cup win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Villa beat Newcastle to his signing in the summer, and he will face his old suitors at St James' Park on Saturday.
The levels that he's produced at this level, in the toughest league in the world, have been pretty remarkable.
— Brentford boss Keith Andrews
Janelt's defensive excellence
Brentford's Vitaly Janelt has made the most tackles and interceptions in the Premier League this season, with 38, seven more than any other player. The 28-year-old has also contributed two goals during Brentford's unbeaten start.
Janelt earned his first Germany call-up from former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp during the recent international break. Brentford boss Keith Andrews said: "The levels that he's produced at this level, in the toughest league in the world, have been pretty remarkable."
Pressure on Arbeloa
Fulham head coach Alvaro Arbeloa is under pressure after a winless start that has left the club bottom of the table. His comments following last weekend's defeat to Ipswich did not go down well with fans.
Saturday's visit of newly-promoted Hull already feels like a must-win game for Arbeloa. Despite poor results, Fulham have outperformed their opponents in three of their last four games for expected goals, with an xG difference similar to Everton, Chelsea and Leeds.
