N’Golo Kante played a pivotal role in Leicester City’s Premier League title triumph last season, and ever since his flawless debut season at King Power Stadium, every team went looking for a player who could fill the same role. Kante, of course, signed for Chelsea, and has been a revelation in their current run to the top of the table.

Further north, one of the notable transfers of the summer was Everton’s purchase of Idrissa Gueye from Aston Villa. According to WhoScored.com stats, the 27-year-old Senegalese star leads Premier League midfielders in total tackles and interceptions so far this season.

Ronald Koeman has an eye for players in Gueye’s position, having bought Morgan Schneiderlin to Southampton in 2008 and then acquiring the Frenchman from Manchester United to Goodison Park this week. The Schneiderlin-Gueye combination should provide Everton with a solid midfield and tighten their defensive woes for the latter half of the season.

Sticking with the Koeman influence, Oriol Romeu, who stepped into midfield at Southampton after Schneiderlin was sold to United, also features in the top five.

As for Kante, he’s slipped to third, although given that Chelsea are top of the table, the Frenchman surely won’t mind.