Fans asked to pick the Premier League signing of the summer after the transfer window slammed shut on September 1 last year probably would have gone through a multitude of names before settling on Joao Palhinha.
Manchester City snapped up Norwegian striking demi-god Erling Haaland, Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Raheem Sterling left City for Arsenal and Chelsea respectively, forwards Darwin Nunez and Richarlison made big-money moves to Liverpool and Tottenham, and Manchester United splashed out £70m on Casemiro.
It might be a surprise, then, that a 27-year-old defensive midfielder at a promoted side is drawing the plaudits and in genuine contention to be considered signing of the season.