As reported by the Daily Mail, CIES Football Observatory have compiled the top 12 signings of the season in the top five European leagues for rigour, take-ons, recovery, chance creation, distribution and shooting - using statistics to analyse and narrow them down.
When observing the results, it would seem there are a few surprises in store...
Although he has taken time to settle into a star-studded Barcelona team, it seems that Luis Suarez is the season's best signing in terms of assists provided.
In fact, it will come as a surprise to some Premier League followers to know that the prolific Uruguayan has overtaken Chelsea playmaker Cesc Fabregas in terms of the amount of assists provided so far this season.
It is a new found selflessness, which was sometimes lacking when he was Liverpool's star front-man, which has contributed to Suarez leading the way when it comes to creating goal-scoring opportunities for team-mates Neymar and Lionel Messi.
Barcelona's great rivals Real Madrid have also got some quality assisters in their ranks, as both Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez make the top five in the "chances created" indicator.
Finally, it would appear that Swansea's star man Gylfi Sigurdsson has been just as prolific as Barca and Madrid's players, with the Iceland midfielder coming in at an impressive third place.
However, Blues fans should not worry too much about Fabregas's apparent current slump in form, as the report has also revealed that the Spanish playmaker is in second place on the "chances created" indicator. Not too shabby when one considers this is a table comprising the top five European leagues...
Diego Costa tops European shooting charts
In terms of shooting, it is Chelsea striker Diego Costa who tops the table with the Brazilian forming a deadly combination with Fabregas to net an impressive 18 Premier League goals so far this season.
It is Costa's incredible scoring run which has contributed to Chelsea's successes this season, notably their victory in the Capital One Cup and their all-but-certain clinching of the Premier League title.
The Chelsea striker is joined in the "top five shooters" by Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann who has also enjoyed a fine debut season in the Spanish capital following his £24 million move from Real Sociedad. The French winger has been in incredible form this season, netting an impressive 14 La Liga goals.
Otherwise, more surprising names on the shooting list come from Fiorentina, Villarreal and Eibar in the shape of "unknowns" Khouma Babacar, Luciano Vietto and Felipe Caicedo with West Ham's bargain buy Diafra Sakho coming in just outside the top five in seventh. Despite his recent goal drought, Arsenal's star signing Alexis Sanchez comes a respectable 12th in the table.
Angel Di Maria second for take-ons,
It may come as a surprise to find out that Manchester United's Angel Di Maria, who has enjoyed a muted debut season on English soil, comes second in the table for take-ons.
The Premier League is well-represented in the category, with Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez and Southampton's Sadio Mane also featuring in the top five.
Elsewhere, although Liverpool's Dejan Lovren has endured a tough start to his time on Merseyside, he has come out on top in the table for "ability to minimise goal opportunities for opponents through robust duelling."
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