'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Demarai Gray
Demarai Gray is not a new name to the Premier League audience. Five years ago, he moved from Birmingham City to Leicester City, who were in their fairytale campaign under Claudio Ranieri. Leicester paid his release clause of £3.7m to add depth to their squad and expected the youngster to flourish in the future.
But until 2020 he could never truly become the breakout star at the King Power and made more league appearances from the bench than the ones he started. Finally, after a brief spell at Bayer Leverkusen for six months, Gray came to Everton as a rather uninspiring signing for a mere £1.7m.
Little did the Premier League know what to expect from the Englishman, who has made that price look like an absolute bargain. This time the winger has developed himself behind the scenes in the best possible manner for the Premier League. He's exploiting his quick pace and slick passing ability to skid past defenses in a flash.
Everton were short on natural wingers, but with Gray's arrival and superb form, they are probably looking at a man who can start 30+ games for them this season. He can also constantly feed players in the attacking third. There's an end product to his game this time, which was absent during his spell with Leicester.
The winger has scored three goals so far and assisted oncee in six games. His seven key passes from open play are the best in the Everton squad. Everton are currently only one point shy of the top spot in the Premier League.
#2 Shane Duffy
When an individual is not in his ideal mind space, however hard they may try, their body doesn't move the way they wish it to move. Last year has been quite horrendous for Shane Duffy, who has had to deal with personal loss and his declining form. The fans at Celtic, where he was on loan, weren't making life easy for him.
Duffy had been playing for Brighton since 2016 and was even their Player of the Season for the 2018-19 season. A dip in form saw him shift down the pecking order with Ben White becoming more prominent. But this season, with Ben White's departure and other injury issues, Duffy received his first start. A solid display saw him get his confidence back and he has since started all six games for Brighton. Duffy has proved to be a strong leader in the backline.
Duffy has settled as boss in that Brighton back-three and has not given Graham Potter a moment of slack. He's been a very effective presence aerially, eager to attack the ball from set piece situations He made it back to the starting XI of Northern Ireland as well. His goal in the World Cup qualifiers, an equalizer against Azerbaijan, earned them their first points. He also scored against Watford in the Premier League.
#1 Andros Townsend
Not every player's exit as a free agent from a club is rued by its supporters. Neither does every free agent get a warm reception on their arrival to new clubs, especially when they are 30 or above. Willian's recent flopping in the Premier League belongs in the that category. Similar was the case with Andros Townsend.
When he left Crystal Palace after making almost 185 appearances for them in all competitions, there was little showering of love from the Eagles faithful. There was no fretting upon losing an experienced man for free. For Everton fans, it was yet another financially beneficial signing that they did not know what to make of.
Townsend had a habit of producing moments that could send the Premier League into a frenzy. He is good at scoring from way outside the box, but that is not why you buy a player. The player is happy to join manager Rafa Benitez, who he knows from his time at Newcastle United. That has made all the difference.
The experienced English winger has already scored four goals and assisted another three in the Premier League. He is being allowed to play much higher in the system, which has seen Everton benefit from his directness and his ability to feed crosses.
When the former Crystal Palace man joined, he said he wanted to prove that he wasn't finished and that he had the ability to notch some crucial goal contributions in the Premier League. Good going then, mate.
