By Chris Mendes With more than a third of the 2015/16 campaign completed, we're starting to get a better idea of which clubs performed the most impressive business during last summer's transfer window.
Pundits and football fans alike predicted that Petr Cech's departure from Chelsea would prove decisive in the title race, and Arsenal's new number one features in this list, despite his nervy debut against West Ham.
Based on what we've seen so far this season, here are five of the best Premier League signings completed over the summer.
5) Petr Cech, Arsenal, £10m
Arsenal's reluctance to sign any outfield players over the summer could yet cost them dearly, but snaring Cech away from Chelsea for £10m was a shrewd piece of business. Arsene Wenger must have doubted his judgement when a couple of Cech howlers gifted West Ham victory on the opening day. But the Chelsea legend has recovered admirably since then, proving his top class ability in a team which has conceded just 11 times in 13 matches.
4) Yohan Cabaye, Crystal Palace, £10m
Cabaye's arrival represented a shift in mentality at Selhurst Park with Alan Pardew aiming to take his Eagles into uncharted territory. No longer content with battling bravely against relegation, Cabaye is now the beating heart of a progressive team striving for European qualification. With four goals in 12 matches before December, the French international can help Palace climb into 6th position, just three points behind Spurs, with victory over Sunderland on Monday night.
3) Andre Ayew, Swansea, free transfer
A free transfer from Marseille, Ayew's performances are providing an otherwise out-of-sorts Swansea side with constant attacking menace. The former African Player of the Year is averaging nearly a goal every two games with six in 13 appearances. Anyone following Swansea this season knows how important the Ghanaian is to Garry Monk's team. A growing number of Europe's biggest clubs are also starting to wonder why they didn't secure Ayew's services in the summer, with Swansea facing a fight to keep him on board in January.
2) Dimitri Payet, West Ham, undisclosed
The French winger had featured in all of West Ham's Premier League fixtures until a nasty challenge from James McCarthy ruled him out for at least three months. Before then, Payet boasted five goals and three assists in 12 matches, leaving the Hammers toothless in his absence at White Hart Lane on Sunday. The 4-1 thrashing at Spurs, when West Ham rarely posed any attacking threat, highlighted Payet's importance to the Irons. Slaven Bilic is desperately working out how to halt his team's slide down the table now that Payet is unavailable over the coming months.
1) Toby Alderweireld, Tottenham Hotspur, £11.4m
It's an old cliche that good teams are built on solid foundations and nowhere has this been more evident than White Hart Lane. Following the arrival of Belgian international Alderweireld, Spurs are unbeaten in 12 Premier League matches since the opening day defeat at Old Trafford. Only Man United themselves have conceded fewer league goals, thanks in no small part to Alderweireld's partnership with compatriot Jan Vertonghen. The pair lined up together for Belgium 3-1 win over Italy this month, five days after starring in Tottenham's draw at Arsenal, and one week before Sunday's comfortable win over West Ham. Alderweireld proved he can also be a handful in the opposition's penalty box with his team's second goal against West Ham. The £11.4m Spurs paid Atletico Madrid in July is looking more like a bargain every time he plays.
Source: ITV Football