Adrian Clarke looks at summer signings and what impact they will have at their new clubs.
Player analysis: Jefferson Lerma (CRY)
Midfield reinforcements were a top priority for Crystal Palace this summer, so the arrival of Jefferson Lerma on a free transfer from AFC Bournemouth represents an astute piece of business.
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Prior to his departure from the Cherries, Lerma was named Player of the Year at the Vitality Stadium, providing strength and drive throughout 2022/23.
The 28-year-old is primarily a central-defensive midfielder, but he can adapt to play in a box-to-box role, or drop in as an auxiliary central defender.
Midfield steel
Palace ended last season using a 4-2-3-1 formation and if they persist with that shape, Lerma could pair with Cheick Doucoure in a strong-looking double pivot.
Doucoure is an aggressive ball winner with a similar skill set to Lerma.
On a per-90-minutes basis there is very little to separate Doucoure's average of 7.11 ball recoveries from Lerma's 7.19. This highlights how effectively they could break up play as a pair in the heart of Palace's midfield.
With an assortment of skilful, attacking midfielders ahead of them, a Lerma-Doucoure axis has potential to provide Palace a solid platform.
Midfielder recoveries/possession won 22/23
| Ball recoveries | Poss. won in defensive third | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rice | 334 | Rice | 140 |
| Rodri | 301 | Gueye | 119 |
| Gueye | 266 | Lerma | 116 |
| Lerma | 260 | Neves | 107 |
| Caicedo | 248 | Rodri | 91 |
Only three Premier League midfielders regained possession more than Lerma in 2022/23.
Economical with his movement, he ranks 86th for "distance covered", Lerma possesses excellent positional sense, and this helps him pick up a lot of loose balls.
Lerma also naturally drops in alongside his centre-backs when his side put bodies behind the ball.
Declan Rice, who does this better than anybody else in the division, leads the way for regaining possession in the defensive third, but Lerma ranks third, with only 24 fewer regains.
Repelling danger
Lerma is outstanding at clearing crosses that come into his box from both open play and set-pieces.
Taking up good positions he is often in the right place to stave off dangerous attacks.
Indeed, last season no other top-flight midfielder made more clearances than Lerma, who also made 10 more headed clearances than anyone else.
Midfielder clearances comparison 22/23
| Clearances | Headed clearances | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Lerma | 88 | Lerma | 52 |
| Neves | 82 | Soucek | 42 |
| Soucek | 68 | Casemiro | 42 |
| Casemiro | 60 | Neves | 41 |
| Palhinha | 59 | Billing | 38 |
Lerma scored a career-high five goals in 2022/23, two of which came after he latched on to loose balls inside the box from a corner.
His other three goal came when he gambled on making late runs and converted passes that were cut back to him inside the penalty area.
Lerma's classy, curled finishes against Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur suggest he is a more accomplished finisher than the statistics suggest.
Lerma's goal v Leeds
How it all started ✨
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) May 1, 2023
A lovely finish from the local man 🔥#BOULEE // @HendyGroup pic.twitter.com/i9AxaqYgWr
Palace were light on numbers and quality i their central midfield last season, regularly struggling to assert their authority in that part of the field.
Their new signing plays with great resolve and determination, and is a proven driving force at Premier League level.
Lerma alongside Doucoure could be the kind of defensive midfield partnership that makes Palace a tougher proposition to face in 2023/24.