Emile Smith Rowe

Key strength: Vision and passing

Creative playmaker

Perched in 11th place with their WDLLW form hinting at greater ambitions, Fulham are proving that shrewd recruitment can reshape a mid-table narrative—and Emile Smith Rowe is Marco Silva's €28 million testament to that philosophy. The 25-year-old England international, signed from Arsenal last summer, has slotted seamlessly into the Cottagers' engine room as their creative orchestrator, racking up 5 goals and 2 assists across 38 appearances and nearly 2,000 minutes of Premier League football. Operating from his favoured number 10 berth, Smith Rowe's 70-rated passing vision has become the supply line for Fulham's wide threats, developing an almost telepathic understanding with Harry Wilson and Alex Iwobi. With a goal contribution every 284 minutes and a contract running until 2029, this is clearly a long-term investment in craft over chaos. Currently valued at €20 million, the Hale End academy graduate has rediscovered the form that once made him an England regular, wearing the number 32 shirt with the confidence of a player reborn. As Fulham look to convert their promising platform into a genuine European push, Smith Rowe's ability to unpick stubborn defenses in the tight contests ahead could prove the decisive factor in whether this season sparks into something truly memorable.