5 most successful signings of 2017

2017 has seen some crazy transfer business in European football. Premier League clubs spent a record £1.4bn during the summer transfer window while Spanish, German and Italian clubs spend close to £3bn.

PSG stunned the world when they paid a record €222 million for Neymar. They went big again for Kylian Mbappe with a €180 million deal.

Clubs like Manchester City, Manchester United, AC Milan, Barcelona, Everton, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain spent more than €150 million in the summer transfer market.

We are halfway through the season and not all of the big money signings have justified their price tags.

Big money signings like Leonardo Bonucci, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Victor Lindelof, Bernardo Silva, Federico Bernardeschi, and Danny Drinkwater have not had the best starts at their new clubs while Romelu Lukaku, Alvaro Morata, Kyle Walker, Ederson, Paulinho, and Corentin Tolisso have shone for their new clubs.

On that note, let's have a look at 5 of the most successful signings of 2017.

#5 Simone Zaza (Valencia CF)

Former Juventus player and West Ham loanee, Simone Zaza, is making headlines in La Liga with his sensational form for Valencia. With 10 goals already this season, only Lionel Messi has scored more than the Italian international in the La Liga.

It has been quite the turnaround for a player who struggled a lot over the last few years at Juventus and West Ham.

Zaza is a typical modern-day striker with great aerial ability, strength and has enough pace to trouble some of the best defenders in the world.

The 26-year-old is proving his doubters wrong with some stunning performances for Valencia. Los Che is third in the La Liga table, behind Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, thanks in no small part to the goals from Zaza.

His good form for Valencia has earned him an Italy recall and a good performance in Russia will him on par with some of the best strikers in the world.

Simone Zaza Stats:

Appearances - 14

Goals - 10

Chances created - 9

#4 Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)

The young Brazilian has taken to European football like a fish to water

The latest news coming from England is that Gabriel Jesus has agreed to a new five-year £100,000-a-week Manchester City deal which is surprising considering he only joined in January.

The former Palmeiras forward who arrived at the Etihad in a £27m deal has established himself as one of the best strikers in England. He developed a connection with Pep immediately after his arrival and has shown the Premier League what he is capable of.

The Brazilian international is renowned for his pace, dribbling skills, creativity, movement, and work ethic. He is a deadly finisher and can play anywhere on the frontline. He has already made 17 appearances for Brazil and scored 6 times.

He is one of the key players in the Manchester City side and at only 20, Jesus has a long way to go. It was a masterstroke from Pep to sign the Brazilian forward.

Gabriel Jesus stats:

Appearances - 32

Goals - 17

Assists - 6

#3 Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)

Undoubtedly the best youngster in the world, Mbappé has been sensational in 2017

Kylian Mbappe turned heads with his sensational form for AS Monaco when he led the French side to Ligue 1 title and semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League last season. He was brilliant throughout the 2016/17 campaign and become the youngest ever player to score 10 goals in the Champions League

He switched his allegiance to the capital side when Paris Saint-Germain agreed to a one-year loan deal with Monaco with a compulsory option to buy for €180 million next season.

For a very young striker, Mbappe shows a lot of maturity and his decision making has been nothing short of phenomenal. He has tremendous pace and is excellent with his head.

The Golden Boy of European football is having a great time in the French capital. His partnership with Neymar and Edinson Cavani is terrorizing defences across Europe. PSG are running away with the Ligue 1 title and are having a great season in Europe. At only 19, Mbappe has all the time in the world to become a great footballer.

Kylian Mbappe stats:

Appearances - 20

Goals - 12

Assists - 11

#2 Neymar Jr (Paris Saint-Germain)

The world's most expensive player has been a success

The golden boy of Brazilian football and the one player who is being tipped to break the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly, Neymar has been exceptional since his move to Paris.

He has grown in leaps and bounds since he made his groundbreaking move to Barcelona at the age of 21 and formed one leg of the famed MSN striking trident of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and himself.

PSG broke the bank for Neymar in a world record deal during the summer transfer window and the Brazilian international has not wasted any time in showing why PSG paid €222 million for his signature.

Neymar has scored 11 times and assisted 9 more in the Ligue 1 this season. Given the freedom to play anywhere he wants like Messi has at Barca, he has created 55 chances in the league. He was brilliant in the Champions League as well with 6 goals and 3 assists in 6 group stage games.

Neymar stats:

Appearances - 20

Goals - 17

Assists - 12

#1 Mo Salah (Liverpool)

Liverpool v Southampton - Premier League

Just 4 months into the season, Mohamed Salah has been hailed by many experts as the best signing of 2017. Signed from AS Roma for an initial fee of €42m plus bonuses, Salah became an instant hit at Anfield.

The Egyptian international is a versatile forward and plays primarily on the right flank. His first touch and ball control have been simply outstanding and allied with his pace, he has become a real threat to opposing defences.

His finishing has improved a lot since he was the talented but streaky teenager who turned up at Chelsea a few years ago and currently leads the Premier League's goalscoring charts with 14 goals in 16 starts.

The 25-year-old holds the key to Jurgen Klopp's Champions League dream and a top 4 finish in the Premier League this season.

Mo Salah stats:

Appearances - 24

Goals - 19

Assists - 4