Souness top five transfers
With the first half of the season complete, Graeme Souness picks out his top five Premier League signings of last summer.
A number of new additions to the league have made impacts while there have also been significant contributions from players transferred between British clubs.
Here are the five who have impressed Souness most this season...
Petr Cech - Joined Arsenal from Chelsea
After making a surprise move across London, former Chelsea goalkeeper Cech has proved to be a key player for Arsenal.
Charlie Nicholas said in early December that he has given the defence "reassurance and calmness" and in the recent 2-0 win over Bournemouth he set a new Premier League clean sheets record.
He has now kept 170 clean sheets in 352 appearances, putting him clear of second-placed David James (169 clean sheets) and Mark Schwarzer in third (152). He has kept eight clean sheets in the league for Arsenal since joining in a £10m deal.
Toby Alderweireld - Joined Tottenham Hotspur from Atletico Madrid
An ever-present in the Premier League this season, Alderweireld has formed a sold partnership at the centre of the defence with Belgium team-mate Jan Vertonghen.
The 26-year-old, who spent last season on loan with Southampton, has helped Spurs keep seven clean sheets while also chipping in with two goals and an assist.
With just 15 goals conceded in 19 matches, Spurs have the best defensive record in the league at the halfway stage.
N'Golo Kante - Joined Leicester from Caen
He might have been a relative unknown when he signed last summer, but Kante has quickly established himself as one of the top defensive midfielders in the Premier League.
He leads the way when it comes to tackles (72) and interceptions (76) and is only behind Liverpool's Lucas when it comes to tackles won (52).
Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have grabbed most of the headlines but Kante has been another important factor behind the Foxes' impressive first half of the season.
Yohan Cabaye - Joined Crystal Palace from Paris St-Germain
Undoubtedly one of the biggest coups of the summer as Alan Pardew managed to lure Cabaye away from the Parc des Princes and to Selhurst Park.
The France international became Palace's record signing when he signed for £10m and he has not disappointed, playing an influential role in the midfield.
He has scored five goals in 18 league games, has made the second most interceptions and his display against Southampton in early December was described as a "masterclass" by Pardew.
Dimitri Payet - Joined West Ham from Marseille
Another player who made the move from Ligue 1 in the summer, Payet did not take long to settle as he became a vital player for West Ham before suffering a year-ending injury against Everton in November.
At the time of the injury he had been involved in 35% of West Ham's goals, created three times as many chances as any of his team-mates and created more chances than anyone in the league aside from Mesut Ozil.
The Hammers have won just once without him and his return early in the new year should give them a major lift.
With the first half of the season complete, Graeme Souness picks out his top five Premier League signings of last summer.
A number of new additions to the league have made impacts while there have also been significant contributions from players transferred between British clubs.
Here are the five who have impressed Souness most this season...
Petr Cech - Joined Arsenal from Chelsea
After making a surprise move across London, former Chelsea goalkeeper Cech has proved to be a key player for Arsenal.
Charlie Nicholas said in early December that he has given the defence "reassurance and calmness" and in the recent 2-0 win over Bournemouth he set a new Premier League clean sheets record.
He has now kept 170 clean sheets in 352 appearances, putting him clear of second-placed David James (169 clean sheets) and Mark Schwarzer in third (152). He has kept eight clean sheets in the league for Arsenal since joining in a £10m deal.
Toby Alderweireld - Joined Tottenham Hotspur from Atletico Madrid
An ever-present in the Premier League this season, Alderweireld has formed a sold partnership at the centre of the defence with Belgium team-mate Jan Vertonghen.
The 26-year-old, who spent last season on loan with Southampton, has helped Spurs keep seven clean sheets while also chipping in with two goals and an assist.
With just 15 goals conceded in 19 matches, Spurs have the best defensive record in the league at the halfway stage.
N'Golo Kante - Joined Leicester from Caen
He might have been a relative unknown when he signed last summer, but Kante has quickly established himself as one of the top defensive midfielders in the Premier League.
He leads the way when it comes to tackles (72) and interceptions (76) and is only behind Liverpool's Lucas when it comes to tackles won (52).
Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have grabbed most of the headlines but Kante has been another important factor behind the Foxes' impressive first half of the season.
Yohan Cabaye - Joined Crystal Palace from Paris St-Germain
Undoubtedly one of the biggest coups of the summer as Alan Pardew managed to lure Cabaye away from the Parc des Princes and to Selhurst Park.
The France international became Palace's record signing when he signed for £10m and he has not disappointed, playing an influential role in the midfield.
He has scored five goals in 18 league games, has made the second most interceptions and his display against Southampton in early December was described as a "masterclass" by Pardew.
Dimitri Payet - Joined West Ham from Marseille
Another player who made the move from Ligue 1 in the summer, Payet did not take long to settle as he became a vital player for West Ham before suffering a year-ending injury against Everton in November.
At the time of the injury he had been involved in 35% of West Ham's goals, created three times as many chances as any of his team-mates and created more chances than anyone in the league aside from Mesut Ozil.
The Hammers have won just once without him and his return early in the new year should give them a major lift.