Strike pairings shine among 10 most improved players in Europe

While it’s fair to say that many of the usual suspects among Europe’s elite have made typically blistering starts to the season, we take a look at those that have exceeded expectations thus far following on from their performances in the previous campaign.

We rundown the ten players to have seen their WhoScored.com rating increase the most from last season to this in Europe's top five leagues, counting only those to have made over half of the available appearances in each.

10. Jonas Hofmann (Gladbach)

Before this season it appeared as though Hofmann had lost his way at Gladbach, having never really made the grade at Borussia Dortmund beforehand either. The 26-year-old has not been a first team regular until now but is certainly profiting from an extended run in the side for high-flying Gladbach. Five goals and three assists in the midfielder’s first 11 Bundesliga appearances have seen his rating leap from 6.48 last time around to 7.13 this.

9. Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint Germain)

While the teenage sensation by no means underwhelmed in his debut season at PSG, he did face criticism at times but no one could possibly question his form this time around. The World Cup winner has made an exhilarating start to the current campaign, with 11 goals and four assists in just nine Ligue 1 outings, with the former tally just two shy of his total last year. A rating of 8.19 ranks third in Europe’s top five leagues and is an increase of 0.65.

8. Mario Hermoso (Espanyol)

A relative late comer to first team football, Hermoso started 22 times in his debut LaLiga season last time out but is very much a regular in the Espanyol side now. The 23-year-old’s form recently earned him his first Spain call-up as La Roja look to replace Gerard Pique, and he has as good a chance as any as things stand. His physical presence in both boxes has helped the Barcelona-based club to fifth in the table, scoring twice and leading the way for the team in both clearances and aerial duels won. His rating has jumped from 6.58 to 7.23 as a consequence.

7. Rodrigo de Paul (Udinese)

With six goals and three assists this season, it’s fair to say that Udinese would be in a desperate situation were it not for the contribution of De Paul. The Argentine has had a direct hand in 75 per cent of the team’s goals as they linger just one point above the relegation zone. His efforts earned a senior international call-up last month, with 24-year-old really realising his potential so far this season having been steady if unspectacular in his previous two seasons in Italy following a switch from Valencia.

6. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)

If there is one player that has really kicked on for the Premier League champions this season it’s Bernardo Silva, whose form has ensured the absence of Kevin De Bruyne through injury has hardly been felt thus far. He’s picked up a knock of his own of late but scored three times and registered three assists in the league previous, creating 2.3 chances per 90 minutes (up from 1.8). If his debut season was one of integration, this has been his breakthrough in English football.

5. Sebastien Haller (Frankfurt)

Much like Silva, Frankfurt front man Haller settled into his new surroundings with a solid debut season in Germany’s top-flight but has taken the Bundesliga by storm this time around. His tally of nine goals is the joint lead in the division and already matches his total from the previous campaign, while he also shares top spot for assists, using his height and strength to help fire Frankfurt into the top three. A direct hand in 15 league goals this season is something only Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar can match in Europe’s top five leagues.

4. Wissam Ben Yedder (Sevilla)

If there is one striker that can feel a little hard done by the limited playing time he has been given in recent seasons it may well be Ben Yedder. The Frenchman started just 48 goals in the league and European competitions in his first two seasons with Sevilla, returning an impressive 30 goals, and this season has been no different thus far. The 28-year-old already has six goals and three assists to his name in LaLiga, despite starting just seven of ten appearances, while his figures for shots, key passes and dribbles per 90 have all grown year-on-year in Spain.

3. Thorgan Hazard (Gladbach)

Having this week claimed top spot in the European player form rankings it’s perhaps little surprise to see Hazard rank so highly amongst the most improved players after a scintillating start to the campaign. The Belgian has been the real driving force behind Gladbach’s sensational form, with eight goals and five assists in 12 appearances. In what is his fifth season in the Bundesliga, the 25-year-old is well on course to post his best figures in both regards having scored ten times last time around and registered seven assists way back in 2014/15.

2. Andre Silva (Sevilla)

After a nightmare season at AC Milan following a big money move from Porto, Silva has rediscovered the form that saw him earmarked as one of Europe’s top young strikers since a loan move to Sevilla. The Portugal international scored just twice in Serie A, restricted more often than not to substitute appearances, but already has eight this time around. He’s forged an impressive partnership with the aforementioned Ben Yedder and their understanding will no doubt be convincing the Spanish club to pay the €35m fee in order to make the move permanent.

1. Luka Jovic (Frankfurt)

While Jovic had caught the eye with Frankfurt last season, scoring eight goals despite starting just nine of 22 league appearances, the 20-year-old has been a revelation this time around. He’s already bettered last season’s goal tally in the Bundesliga, notching nine times and registering a further three assists from just ten outings. In the second of a two-season loan from Benfica, the youngster will be in hot demand in the summer, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he didn’t build on just the two league appearances he has made for the Liga NOS side.