Under The Radar

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Under the radar: three underrated Premier League summer signings that made an instant impact in 2022-23

Under the radar: three underrated Premier League summer signings that made an instant impact.
Under the radar

With the January transfer window just around the corner, here is a look back at the summer window, with three signings that made an instant impact for their respective teams in the early 2022-23 season.

Oleksandr Zinchenko (Arsenal)

While Brazilian and former Man City teammate Gabriel Jesus will take all the plaudits, the role played by Oleksandr Zinchenko in his new team cannot be underplayed. Arsenal are chasing their first title in 20 years, boasting Premier League winner odds of 11/5 before the international break. The Gunners were five points clear of City before the World Cup, and Mikel Arteta will be hoping his side can extend that run.

After a period of rest due to Ukraine's absence in Qatar, Zinchenko will be among pundits' Premier League betting tips to make numerous goal contributions in the new year. The 25-year-old has already made a huge difference to Arsenal's back line, though, with the Gunners keeping four clean sheets in the seven matches that Zinchenko has started. Beyond his impact on the pitch, the Ukraine international has helped instil a winning mentality in the Arsenal players from his time in Manchester, as Arteta transforms them into real Premier League winning candidates.

Nick Pope (Newcastle United)

Another surprise package in this season's Champions League places has been Newcastle. Eddie Howe's side paused for tournament football sitting pretty in third, and it has been an achievement largely based on defensive strength. Key to those displays has been Nick Pope who, along with the help of January signing and England teammate Kieran Trippier, has helped the Magpies maintain the league's joint-best defensive record along with leaders Arsenal.

Pope has kept a staggering seven clean sheets in 15 Premier League games this season, as Howe's side entered the international break off the back of a winning streak of five matches. Their most recent success came at home to Chelsea, whose Champions League spot Newcastle could well end up claiming. To do so they will need Pope to continue his early season form, which included back-to-back player of the month awards for his club and earned himself a call-up to Gareth Southgate's England squad.

Joao Palhinha (Fulham)

Many Premier League fans had written off Fulham before a ball was kicked in 2022-23, thanks in part to their recent record of yo-yo-ing between the Premier League and Championship. However, the Cottagers have been flying high under Marco Silva, sitting just inside the bottom half before the World Cup break. One man in midfield has made a particular impact.

Joao Palhinha has started every one of Fulham's league matches this campaign and has only been brought off for seven minutes all season. The 27-year-old has scored a couple of goals in that team - now one shy of his tally for the entirety of 2021-22 for Sporting - although his ability to win the ball back and link up play has been crucial for Silva's side. His performances in the Premier League and beyond even earned the midfielder a call-up to Portugal's World Cup squad, although he only featured in the dying embers of their opener against Ghana.

Teams up and down the table will be looking to recruit further this winter, while also hoping that players brought in during the previous window can establish themselves even more. With much of the league campaign and plenty of domestic competitions to play for in 2023, it is set to be a busy January transfer window.