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Top five summer signings: Soccer Saturday's Charlie Nicholas offers his verdict on this summer's best buys

Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez
Image: Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez: Impressing after arriving from Barcelona this summer

Charlie Nicholas offers up his five best summer signings after Alexis Sanchez salvaged yet another win for Arsenal while Chelsea’s title charge got back on track midweek.

5) Graziano Pelle - Southampton

Some people thought he’d be a waste of money but he’s proved that he can adjust to English football, with his six goals helping Southampton defy their doubters and make a great start to the season. It appeared as though he could barely run or jump pre-season but now he’s looking strong and more than capable of coping with the pace of the Premier League. I know he’s not scored in a few games now but I still see him being a top player over the course of the season for Southampton, who put up a real fight at the Emirates on Wednesday night.

PFA Player of the Year odds: 40/1

4) Andrew Robertson – Hull

Some people might scoff at this selection but in terms of value for money, potential and making the step up to the Premier League, he’s a superstar find by Hull. He’s done brilliantly and, at just £2.85million and only 20 years old, looks a great investment. He deserves the acknowledgement and I’m proud as punch of the young lad.

PFA Player of the Year odds: 250/1

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3) Diego Costa - Chelsea

Diego Costa celebrates

He’s certainly hit the ground running and looks the perfect fit for Chelsea. They were crying out for a striker with his sort of attributes last season and boy has Jose Mourinho addressed that situation well, with Didier Drogba and Loic Remy also stepping up in Costa’s absence. When you’ve got the sort of creativity Cesc Fabregas and the other Chelsea midfielders offer, you’re always going to score goals and Costa is doing just that.

PFA Player of the Year odds: 7/2

2) Cesc Fabregas - Chelsea

Cesc Fabregas: Supplied a handful of excellent passes, but his influence on the game was slim to none. 5.5/10

For me it’s between two players and Cesc only just loses out, for reasons which I’ll come to. I was gutted he didn’t join Arsenal and if you look at the goals Costa is scoring, Cesc is either providing the assist or somewhere in the build-up. He’s got the ability to play that killer ball, whether it’s a short pass or 50 yards, and he does it in an instant. He’s an absolutely class act and Barcelona’s loss is Chelsea’s gain.

PFA Player of the Year odds: 7/2

1) Alexis Sanchez – Arsenal

Arsenal reached the last 16 of the Champions League by beating Borussia Dortmund 2-0 on Wednesday night

Every time I see him I genuinely think he’s going to do something. This little fella is like Suarez, although Suarez has slightly more all-round ability but is a bit more unpredictable. He has that desire and instinct in his head. When other players are struggling around him they must look at him and think ‘this guy is relentless’. There’s no sulking like other players, just absolute desire. He just edges Cesc, mainly because of the goals but also because he’s playing for a team who are lacking in form and fluency at the moment. With Sanchez playing as well as he is after just four months and with Mesut Ozil to come back, I’m backing Arsenal to finish in the top three ahead of Manchester United and Liverpool.

PFA Player of the Year odds: 8/1

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