1 day Ago By Irishexaminer.com
Matheus Cunha (Wolves) A 2-0 win at Southampton prior to the international break will have really taken the pressure off Wolves boss Gary O’Neil. A first win of the season moved them off the foot of the Premier League and a three-game unbeaten run to head into the November international break suggests the Midlands side have finally turned the corner. Key in that victory over Saints was Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha, who has now been directly involved in six goals in his last seven outings.
While the 25-year-old previously lacked the end product, his form under O’Neil further serves to highlight his importance. Facundo Buonanotte (Leicester) Despite his obvious potential, new Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler sanctioned Facundo Buonanotte’s loan move over the summer. The Argentine needed regular gametime, and what better place than Leicester under the watchful eye of former England U17 boss Steve Cooper.
Buonanotte has relished the chance for regular action, featuring in all but one of the Foxes’ 11 league matches this season, starting eight. The 19-year-old has been directly involved in five of their 14 goals, netting three times, while 2.2 dribbles and 2.
1 key passes per 90 reinforce his impressive work in the final third. Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth) Erling Haaland has had more shots (55) than any other player in the Premier League this season. Hot on the Norwegian’s heels is Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo (47).
After a solid first full season on the south coast, Semenyo is thriving following the big money departure of Dominic Solanke. Four goals and one assist doesn’t tell the full story of the 24-year-old’s season so far, with a return of 24 dribbles ranking third in England’s top tier. In the wake of Solanke’s move to Tottenham, few could have foreseen the Ghanaian taking on the attacking mantle.
Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool) Liverpool were hellbent on signing a number six over the summer, with Martin Zubimendi emerging as the number one target. Little did they know, the had the answer to their midfield issue on the books the entire time. Ryan Gravenberch has exceeded expectations to become one of Arne Slot’s key men in the Dutchman’s flying start to life on Merseyside.
The 22-year-old has won possession in the midfield third more times (37) than any other player in the Premier League this season and his superb start to the campaign means Liverpool sit five points clear in first having conceded the fewest goals (6). Carlos Baleba (Brighton) Brighton took a risk last summer when they spent big to sign Carlos Baleba, the Cameroonian having made just a handful of starts for Lille the previous campaign. In a window that saw them cash in on Moises Caicedo, Baleba was viewed as the Ecuador international’s succesor.
The 20-year-old featured sporadically in his debut campaign at the AMEX but has since become a key man under Fabian Hurzeler. In a Seagulls side that relies on quick transitions, Baleba’s influence off the ball is vital. Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest) Newcastle fans were devastated to lose Elliot Anderson over the summer as the club sought to remain within PSR guidelines.
While there is ample competition for a central midfield spot at St. James’ Park, Anderson’s form at Nottingham Forest has gone to show what could have been for the Magpies. Whether required to shield the defence or pry apart defences, the 22-year-old hasn’t disappointed, as averages of 2.
7 tackles, 2.1 dribbles and two key passes per 90 shows. AND ACROSS EUROPE.
.. David De Gea (Fiorentina) After a year out of the game, David De Gea returned to first team duties with Fiorentina.
The Viola went into the international as one of six teams battling for top spot in Serie A and a key reason behind their fine start to the season has been the Spaniard’s form between the sticks. Fiorentina boast the third best defensive record in Italy’s top tier this term having conceded 10 goals, while the former Manchester United man ranks fourth for clean sheets (4) in Serie A with the 34-year-old excelling in Florence. Omar Marmoush (Eintracht Frankfurt) Without a doubt, Omar Marmoush’s bright start to the campaign has been the surprise of the season so far.
While there was no questioning the Egyptian’s ability, few could have predicted the Eintracht Frankfurt star making quite the impact in the opening months of the season. Indeed, Marmoush has been directly involved in more goals (18 – 11 goals, 7 assists) than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues in 2024/25. It’s no shock, then, that the likes of Liverpool, Bayern and Barcelona have all been credited with an interest in the Egypt international.
Raphinha (Barcelona) As Barcelona sought to have Spain’s starting wide pair on the books, Raphinha was a sellable asset to help fund a move for Nico Williams. The latter, though, penned a new deal with Athletic Club, and Raphinha remained in Catalonia. The rest, as they say, is history.
The Brazilian has enjoyed a new lease of life in his third season with the Blaugrana, playing a key role in Hansi Flick’s superb start at Barcelona. The 27-year-old has seven goals and six assists to his name, and has made more key passes (44) than any other player in La Liga; he only made 41 in Spain’s top tier last term. Nuno Tavares (Lazio) Having struggled for gametime on loan at Nottingham Forest last season, who opted against making the temporary move permanent, Nuno Tavares joined Lazio in the summer with an obligation to buy.
It would be a huge surprise were Lazio to do anything in their power to back out of the deal. Tavares, who recently earned his first Portugal cap, has registered more assists (8) than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues this season and has proven absolutely crucial to the way the Italian side play under Marco Baroni. Andrey Santos (Strasbourg) Another who struggled on loan at Nottingham Forest, Andrey Santos moved to Strasbourg back in February, and he’ll remain with the French outfit until the end of the season.
Chelsea fans are understandably excited for his return with the Brazilian excelling for a Strasbourg side that has made a so-so start to the campaign. No central midfielder has scored more goals than the 20-year-old (5) in Europe’s top five leagues this season, and he ranks top for tackles (37) in Ligue 1. Thilo Kehrer (Monaco) Monaco have conceded fewer goals (8) than any other team in Ligue 1 this season and a key reason has been the solid showings of Thilo Kehrer.
The German endured a sub-par 18 months with West Ham before moving to Monaco on loan at the turn of the year. Even then, Kehrer struggled in the second half last season but his form this time around means the French side are PSG’s closest challengers at the top of Ligue 1..
