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Sadio Mane, Christian Benteke... but no Zlatan or Pogba - pundits' top summer signings

Pundits pick their best summer signings

As the Premier League takes a break, we challenged the Soccer Saturday pundits to pick their top summer signing.

Paul Merson, Charlie Nicholas, Phil Thompson and Matt Le Tissier have all delivered their verdict but while one Liverpool player has caught the eye, Manchester United's star names Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have made less of an impression.

Read on to find out who the pundits have plumped for - and tell us your top signing so far by leaving a comment below or tweeting us @SkyFootball... 

Merse picks: Nathan Redmond

This is a leftfield one, but I'm going for Nathan Redmond. He played up front at the start of the season and it didn't really work, but he gave it everything and now he's in a supporting role and a key to Southampton's impressive form.

For what they paid for him - around £10m - and the prices in football these days, he's a bargain. People will say Zlatan Ibrahimovic as he was on a free but he's not when you're paying him £300,000 a week. He's costing Manchester United a year what Southampton are paying Redmond for five seasons. 

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See how Nathan Redmond found the net on his Southampton debut

I also think he's bang unlucky not to be in the England squad. He's performed every time he's been in the England U21s and now Gareth Southgate has made the step up, he's got to be thinking 'why am I not in his squad? What do I have to do?' It's a no-brainer for me.

Charlie picks: Christian Benteke

This is not just because he's scoring goals again but because he changes the philosophy of this Crystal Palace team.

Also See:

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 24: Christian Benteke of Crystal Palace celebrates scoring his sides third goal with his team mates during the Premier Leag
Image: Christian Benteke has made an immediate impact at Palace

His presence in the box is something they've desperately needed for a number of season and gives Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend an additional option.

Charlie's Sky Bet tip
Charlie's Sky Bet tip

Find out what Charlie is tipping up at 14/1 in his World Cup qualifier acca here.

They started the season with back-to-back losses without scoring and are unbeaten in five since Benteke arrived, so if there's a team that have been transformed by a signing then it is Palace.

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Watch Benteke strike in Crystal Palace's 1-1 draw at Everton

Thommo picks: Sadio Mane

If you're looking at a player who has transformed a side and injected what they needed then it's Sadio Mane.

People talk about this Liverpool team suddenly challenging for the title but what's the difference really been? I think it's all about Mane and the pace he has injected.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 24: Sadio Mane of Liverpool celebrates scoring his sides third goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Hu
Image: Sadio Mane has scored three goals in six starts since signing for £34m

It is the one thing this Liverpool team lacked. Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana have all been great but they were all there last year and he's brought the best out of them.

His pace to drag defenders back allows these players play and I think he's had a massive impact. In a footballing sense, this guy does everything at 100 miles per hour.

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Re-live Mane's solo stunner against Arsenal

He destroyed Arsenal in that second half and all of us said he was overpriced but he's looking like a snip at a fraction of Paul Pogba's price.

Le Tiss picks: Sadio Mane

As much as it hurts me, I'd have to go with Mane as well. He has been outstanding in his first few games at Liverpool.

I think him and Adam Lallana were the two most painful to lose as I enjoyed watching them. They're the guys that get you on the edge of your seat and are who the fans pay the money to watch.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MAY 15:  Sadio Mane of Southampton celebrates scoring his team's first goal  during the Barclays Premier League match between Southa
Image: Mane scored 11 goals in his final season for Southampton

I think if he finds the consistency that was missing at times at Southampton, and he did have periods where he didn't look particularly interested, then he certainly gives Liverpool a better chance of winning the league.

Who gets your vote? Leave a comment if you're reading on skysports.com or tweet us @SkyFootball...

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Le Tiss predicts
Le Tiss predicts

Find out what Le Tiss is tipping up at 20/1 for England v Malta here.

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