Soldado v Negredo: Who has hit the ground running?

Roberto Soldado

The summer transfer window this year highlighted something of a power shift among the top leagues in Europe as La Liga suffered what can only be described as an exodus of players.

The Bundesliga reaped the benefits in some cases, but the Premier League took advantage of the situation massively, with Tottenham and Manchester City looking to Spain for attacking reinforcements.

Valencia’s Roberto Soldado headed to London in a deal reported to be worth £26 million, while City brought in Alvaro Negredo from financially-troubled Sevilla for an estimated £22m.

Alvaro Negredo

Ironically enough, for the past few years the two have been in competition with one another as they both looked to solidify places in the Spanish national team, and now they will be battling it out at the top of the Premier League.

In their final league matches for Valencia and Sevilla they actually played against each other and Negredo came out on top as he netted four goals in a 4-3 win, with Soldado scoring two.

Over the course of last season Negredo accumulated 25 league goals to Soldado’s 24, but the latter’s chance conversion rate of 26.7 per cent dwarfed his counterpart’s record of 19.5%.

Soldado’s average shot accuracy in the league was 57%, once again far better than Negredo who could only get 45% of his efforts on target. But how have they settled into life in the Premier League?

Soldado’s shot map this season

Negredo’s shot map this season

At a glance Negredo seems to have made a more notable impact so far, but there is a long way to go and Soldado’s Valencia record demands respect.

Both Spaniards have made seven league appearances, but from Soldado’s six starts he has only managed two goals – both of which were penalties – while Negredo began four games and has three strikes to his name.

Negredo’s start to the season has seen him improve in many areas from last season as shown by his 50% average shot accuracy and a 25% chance conversion rate.

Negredo’s chance conversion

Soldado too has seen his shot accuracy increased with 64% of his attempts finding the target, but where he has regressed is his converting of those opportunities. After seven matches he has finished 18.2% of his chances, even less than Negredo’s total last term.

Where the former Valencia man really comes out on top, however, is his overall productivity regarding his team-mates.

While Negredo has created a total of four chances for his side, Soldado has laid on 11 opportunities at Spurs, suggesting that he has settled into their attack quite well, even if he has not been prolific himself.

Soldado’s chance creation

Soldado can feel safe – for now – in the knowledge that he has been brought in to be their main forward. Maybe he has been too relaxed, but once he hits a purple patch he could be unstoppable.

Negredo has significantly more competition at City, yet that seems to have suited him perfectly. He has come in to fight and at the moment the Beast of Vallecas looks determined to make himself a nuisance.