Wind. Rain. Michael Buble songs on Spotify. The countdown to Christmas is on, and with the celebrations in full swing, summer could feel like an eternity.
But just as the Christmas period is about taking stock of what you have, the halfway point of the Premier League season is just as good a time for reflection.
Namely, which of the many, many acquisitions in the summer transfer window have impressed so far.
Here are five businesses that seem to have served their purpose.
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) December 22, 2024
Nikola Milenkovic (Nottingham Forest)
With a towering height of 1.80 m, Milenkovic is hard to miss. But the Serbian defender’s impact since joining Forest from Fiorentina is equally remarkable.
While Chris Wood has grabbed the headlines with 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 no-nonsense defensive style.
Alongside Murillo, Milenkovic was the foundation on which Forest catapulted themselves to fourth place in the table.
Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace)
Palace may have had a largely unremarkable season so far, but centre-back Lacroix has given Eagles fans plenty to cheer about.
The Frenchman has been an integral part of Oliver Glasner’s defense this season and the 24-year-old is quickly gaining admirers for his mix of physicality and composure.
£21 million (plus add-ons) from Wolfsburg already seems like a smart deal.
Amadou Onana (Aston Villa)
Fifty big Everton games seemed, at least at first glance, to be a high price for the 23-year-old Belgium international to pay in the summer.
But Onana has more than justified his price tag with his confident performances as a defensive midfielder as Villa have largely impressed so far this season.
In the age of social media showreels, tough tactics and tireless work ethic can often go unnoticed. However, these are qualities that make Onana stand out. Traits that allow Unai Emery’s more attacking midfielders such as Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers to thrive.
Feels 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 Caterpillar, it is a story well known to many.
But how about the rise and fall and rise again of Sancho? It certainly seems that this could be the case if the winger is anything to go by to start at Chelsea.
The 24-year-old, on loan from Manchester United, has impressed as Enzo Maresca’s side look more and more like genuine title contenders. Perhaps a resurgence at Stamford Bridge?
Yankuba Minteh (Brighton)
At just 20 years old, Minteh has all the hallmarks of a budding star. The fast, skillful and hard-working Seagulls, who have a knack for nurturing young talent before selling them for big money, could have another moneymaker on their hands.
The Gambian scored ten goals and provided five assists in just 27 Eredivisie appearances last season. After acquiring his services for just £25 million, it already feels like Brighton have bagged themselves a bit of a bargain.
