Ahead of tonight’s televised game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Adrian Clarke has authored a great piece over at the Premier League’s official site acclaiming Bernd Leno as one of the best value signings of the past twelve months.

Fulham were in negotiations with Arsenal for almost the whole summer about bringing the German international to Craven Cottage and the goalkeeper’s outstanding displays since making the move show exactly why. As Clarke outlines, Leno has been the second busiest keeper in the division – making 92 saves – with Silva’s insistence on attacking football leading to the Whites having the highest number of Expected Goals Against in the league (30.07).

Opta’s calculations claim that Leno has prevented a further 7.8 goals already this season – second only to Alisson in the division. Leno has made 68 saves inside the penalty area – the most in the top flight – and an incredible eleven inside the six yard box. Little wonder that Silva praised his goalkeeper’s peerless performances during his pre-match press conference yesterday.

“Bernd has been brilliant for us. I have to mention my goalkeeper coach, Hugo [Oliveira]. He showed me he was the right guy for us, to go for him. We waited and waited to get him. We knew he would be key. Now working with him, every match I’m more impressed. For me, he’s one of the best three goalkeepers in the competition. Okay, you can say he’s my player and that’s why I’m saying that. But he is proving it. He has the quality, maturity and experience of the national team, top clubs in European competition. He’s a top professional.”

Clarke’s deep dive into the data also recognises that Leno’s overall save percentage this season (76.47%) is his highest in all of his five campaigns in English football. Statistics are just one measure of a player’s effectiveness – but after applying the eye test, there’s no doubt that Leno has made a massive difference to what had previously been a vulnerable Fulham rearguard at the highest level. To pay only an initial £3m for his services, arguably makes the German one of the best bargains in the club’s history.