In the Premier League, home to 20 teams and 532 players, a remarkable 66% of these players are from abroad, which translates to 351 players.
In this tactical analysis, we will focus on three players who have recently joined the Premier League and are looking to fight for silverware while progressing in their careers, with a scout report on each.
We will provide an analysis of Savio, who joined Manchester City for €50m from Troyes, Joshua Zirkzee, signed by Manchester United for €50m from Bologna, and Julián Araujo, who made the move to AFC Bournemouth from Barcelona for €10m.
Three players are making the most significant impact at their clubs.
Foreign talent elevates the English game, with players from all over the world dreaming of playing in the Premier League.
This influx of talent makes the league more exciting to watch and strengthens teams as they compete in European competitions.
Who comes to mind when you think about the best players to have graced the Premier League?
Cristiano Ronaldo—Portuguese; Mohamed Salah—Egyptian.
Who is the current standout player in the league?
Erling Haaland—Norwegian.
It’s always intriguing to watch foreign players join the league.
Can they adapt to the pace and physicality of the Premier League, or will they be shipped off sooner than expected?
These are discussions that happen every transfer window.
Now, let’s look at how Savio, Zirkzee, and Araujo have impacted their clubs this season and kicked off their Premier League careers.
Savinho (Sávio) Scouting Report At Manchester City
Savinho’s style of play is as a flashy winger with plenty of Brazilian flair.
He can be direct to goal or take defenders on the outskirts of the pitch, leaving them behind as he cuts inside.
He’s a player who uses stop-motion dribbling, calculates each step, analyses the opponent, and carefully plans his next move.
The moment the defender hesitates or stands too flat-footed, Savio is already blasting past them.
He had a standout season at Girona, notching nine goals and 10 assists in the 2023/2024 La Liga campaign, playing a crucial role in the club’s qualification for the UEFA Champions League.
Now at Manchester City, he’s made an impressive start, featuring in critical games and already contributing three assists in five Premier League matches, leaving fans excited about his potential impact.
Sávio Player Radar Chart
Savio’s radar chart highlights his player profile as a right winger for Manchester City.
Savio’s dribbling statistics are awe-inspiring.
He ranks in the 98th percentile for touches in the opponent’s penalty area and the 94th percentile for dribbles per 90 seconds.
He also ranks in the 94th percentile for passes received and the 95th percentile for passes per 90, with a 79th percentile for progressive passes per 90.
This highlights his confidence in carrying the ball and taking on opponents.
He thrives in duels and is particularly effective at getting into the opposition’s penalty box, where he enjoys making an impact.
His low defensive stats in duels can be attributed to Manchester City’s system, which often puts the team in attacking positions rather than focusing on tracking back and defending deeper.
Savinho Penetrating Carries Map
Looking at Savio’s Penetrating Carries map is staggering—37 penetrating carries in just five Premier League matches mean he drives into the box an average of seven times per match.
During the summer transfer window, Manchester City was on the hunt for a new winger on the right side.
After losing key players like Raheem Sterling, Cole Palmer, Gabriel Jesus, and Riyad Mahrez over the years, it was time to refresh that position, and Savio is delivering just that.
Man City wanted someone direct, someone who could drive towards the goal and also create a playmaker role on the wing.
They have Jack Grealish on the left, who excels in build-up play and controls the game’s pace, and Jeremy Doku, who brings speed and can break in behind for quick counterattacks.
But Savio offers a unique blend of both styles at the highest level.
He can be direct, creative, and lethal, fitting perfectly into City’s tactical setup.
Sávio Progressive Passes Map
Although it’s only been five games, Savio’s progressive pass map may look a bit sparse.
With just 293 minutes in the Premier League, the impact he’s making in creating opportunities for the team is already evident.
His playmaking abilities will certainly improve in a team like Manchester City’s, and you can see how dangerous and direct his passes are when he gets into the box.
Despite the limited game time, his ability to unlock defences and create chances is evident, and it’s only a matter of time before these qualities become even more refined within City’s system.
Savinho Heat Map
Looking at Savio’s heat map, we can clearly see his high intensity on the right side of the pitch, but what’s particularly interesting is the intense concentration of intensity inside or just outside the opponent’s box.
Typically, when you look at a winger’s heat map, you expect to see high activity in the middle of the pitch, with lighter areas around the top and bottom.
However, in Savio’s case, the heavy intensity near the opponent’s box suggests just how often he likes to penetrate into dangerous areas and cause havoc for defenders.
His presence in these advanced positions highlights his direct style of play and constant threat in the final third.
Joshua Zirkzee Scouting Report At Manchester United
Joshua Zirkzee came off a fantastic season at Bologna, where he recorded 11 goals and five assists in 34 matches for the Italian club, playing a crucial role both on and off the ball.
His contributions were vital in securing the team’s qualification for the Champions League in the 2023/24 season.
Joshua Zirkzee’s style of play isn’t your typical number 9; he’s more of a second striker, operating in a “9.5” role—think of players like Griezmann, Kaká, or Benzema.
Although he has scored just one goal in his first seven Premier League matches, his influence on Manchester United’s attacking play is significant.
He helps progress the ball into the penalty area and creates opportunities, but United’s current issues lie in finishing chances, which is a separate challenge we’ve discussed in another article.
Joshua Zirkzee Player Radar Chart
Zirkzee’s radar chart highlights his player profile as a centre-forward for Manchester United.
His expected goal contribution per 90 places him in the 52.95 percentile.
Although this number is currently low, he isn’t a pure 9, but it will certainly improve as he plays more in the Reds shirt.
Zirkzee ranks highly in possession-based metrics, with an 83.6 percentile in received passes per 90 and a 70.97 percentile in dangerous passes per 90, indicating his ability to help with link-up play and create chances for his teammates.
His dribbling and shot statistics are slightly lower, showing areas for potential improvement, but he will rank higher in goal contribution percentiles in the near future as he settles in a little more.
Defensively, Zirkzee performs well in duels, with a 73.9 percentile for defensive duels won per 90, suggesting that he contributes off the ball as well.
While his aerial duels stats are lower, his overall impact on United’s possession-based game and chance creation is evident.
Joshua Zirkzee Pass Map
Zirkzee’s pass map is a clear indication of just how effective his link-up play is in helping his team progress up the field.
He has been a crucial player for Manchester United, both on and off the ball, mirroring his style from Bologna, where he would drop into midfield to pick out passes and hold up play while the wingers advanced.
So far, he’s been playing as a lone striker in several matches, which isn’t where he thrives the most.
Once United can position him in his preferred second-striker role, we can expect him to shine even more.
Despite United’s poor start to the season, Zirkzee has been a positive addition, providing much-needed depth and adding versatility to the club’s tactics.
Joshua Zirkzee Heat Map
Zirkzee’s heat map illustrates his movement across the pitch, from the left-hand side to the right, even dropping deep into areas typically occupied by a number 6 or 8.
This highlights his impressive work rate off the ball, as he actively seeks to enter various zones to assist his team in progressing forward or dropping behind to defend.
It’s a quality not often seen in strikers, who can sometimes remain static or play lazily behind the ball.
However, Zirkzee is a crucial figure for Manchester United in both defensive and attacking situations, showing his versatility and commitment to contributing across the pitch.
Julián Araujo Scouting Report At AFC Bournemouth
Julián Araujo joined Barcelona in 2023 but never really got the chance to shine and show his skills, which led to a move to UD Las Palmas.
He played 25 matches in the 2023/2024 La Liga season, earning him a transfer to the Premier League.
With Bournemouth, Araujo has already played 5 out of the first seven matches, totalling 275 minutes.
This is a promising sign from the coach, indicating that he trusts Araujo.
If his performances continue to improve, his minutes will increase, and he may secure a regular starting role for the rest of the season.
Julián Araujo’s style of play is a very quick, albeit small, right-back who offers a lot going forward.
He’s a creative passer and excellent at creating chances from the wing.
Unlike some fullbacks who aimlessly send crosses into the box, Araujo picks his moments more carefully, showing his intelligence in the final third.
His contribution is crucial in the team’s build-up play, just as it was with his previous clubs.
If he continues to progress, Araujo has the potential to become one of the world’s best fullbacks.
Julián Araujo Player Radar Chart
Julián Araujo’s radar chart from his time at Las Palmas provides critical insights into his strengths as a right-back.
In possession, Julián Araujo style of play excels, with a standout 84.1 percentile for accurate passes per 90, showcasing his efficiency and precision in build-up play.
His dangerous passes per 90 rank in the 43.43 percentile, indicating that while he attempts some riskier passes to create chances, there’s still room for growth.
Additionally, his progressive passing is at the 32.85 percentile, showing his ability to help the team move forward, even if more development is needed in this area.
Defensively, Araujo holds his ground well, ranking in the 81.7 percentile for aerial duels per 90 and 63.4 percentile for defensive duels won, demonstrating his ability to win battles both in the air and on the ground.
His positioning is also a highlight, with an impressive 82.25 percentile, indicating his solid defensive awareness despite being a relatively smaller right-back.
Overall, Araujo’s radar chart paints the picture of a well-rounded fullback who is strong in defence, effective in possession and has plenty of potential to grow in his attacking play.
Julián Araujo Pass Map
Julián Araujo’s pass map clearly highlights his crucial role in the team’s build-up during possession.
The high volume of passes concentrated on the right-hand side of the pitch showcases his involvement in maintaining width and initiating attacks.
Many of these passes are progressive, demonstrating his ability to play the ball into space.
He often finds his striker or winger making runs.
Araujo’s vision and precision in these moments are crucial for advancing the play and creating opportunities from wide areas.
His intelligent use of space and ball distribution underlines his importance to the team’s overall strategy.
Julián Araujo Penetrating Carries
Julián Araujo’s penetration carries map highlights just how direct he can be toward the goal.
Not only does he make progressive runs down the wing, but he also consistently drives into the penalty box, with five penetrating carries into the box, even with some limited playing time.
With a more significant role, he will undoubtedly become even more of a threat and could develop into a dangerous wingback who contributes significantly to the attack.
Think of a player like Jeremie Frimpong, who can operate on both sides of the pitch effectively while being an extraordinary attacking threat.
Araujo’s ability to combine defensive duties with forward runs will make him a key asset in Bournemouth’s offensive transitions.
Julián Araujo Crossing Zones
In his last season in MLS, Julián Araujo averaged 3.11 crosses per game, while he’s now averaging just 1 per 90 minutes in the Premier League.
This could be attributed to LA Galaxy often being the more dominant side, allowing them more attacking opportunities compared to Bournemouth, where space and chances may be more limited.
His current 25% accuracy in crossing zones certainly has room for improvement and will be crucial in helping his team create chaos in the opposition’s box.
However, it’s still very early in his time in the Premier League, and as he continues to adapt to the pace and demands of the league, his crossing abilities will likely develop, becoming a key asset for Bournemouth in the near future.
Julián Araujo Heat Map
In his last season in MLS, Julián Araujo averaged 3.11 crosses per gaJulián Araujo’s heat map reveals intensity all along the right-hand side of the pitch, from the bottom right in defence to the top right in attack.
This coverage shows his involvement in both attacking and defensive duties, demonstrating his strong work ethic.
For a team like Bournemouth, who will likely be doing a lot of defending this season, Araujo’s work rate is essential.
His ability to contribute defensively and then quickly transition into attacking positions makes him a valuable asset.
Araujo is critical in counter-attacking situations, where he can burst forward to help create opportunities, but he’s equally essential in tracking back to defend on the other side of the pitch.
His two-way play will be crucial as Bournemouth looks to compete against stronger Premier League sides.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Savio, Joshua Zirkzee, and Julián Araujo have all made significant strides in their early Premier League careers, showcasing their unique skill sets while adjusting to the demands of the league.
Savio’s flair and direct attacking approach have made him a key figure for Manchester City.
At the same time, Zirkzee’s intelligent link-up play and work rate off the ball have added much-needed depth to Manchester United’s attack.
Meanwhile, Araujo’s versatility and involvement in both defensive and offensive phases make him a vital asset for Bournemouth.
Though each player is still settling into the Premier League, their performances thus far point to bright futures as they continue to adapt and elevate their respective clubs.
As these foreign talents grow and refine their skills, they will undoubtedly leave their mark on one of the world’s most competitive leagues.
