And for more than one reason. Here below is a progress comparison showing the respective Castrol Edge rankings of both Moussa Dembele and Luka Modric:

The controversial rankings are hardly a perfect science, but are based on an objective analysis of key passes and pitch movement and touches relative to a final outcome. Dembele was 16th in the Premier League for pass accuracy last season, and averaged a respectable key pass average of 1.4. He has clearly improved in leaps and bounds over the course of last season.

He has already continued his form from last season with 84 touches and a 96% successful pass rate against Manchester United in a man of the match performance:

The beige X’s represent successful fouls, and the beige hexagons successful take-ons (screen shot courtesy of FourFourTwo’s Stats Zone app).

At 15 million pounds, this is tremendous money for value, particularly considering the timing and the fact Rafael Van der Vaart’s transfer valuation is roughly the same at 14 million, a player strongly linked to Hamburg (whatever that means). It was also done without the usual annoying argle-bargle at this time of year, as Lyttleton noted:

#THFC confirm signing of Dembele. That’s how to do a deal, quietly & without rancour. Shows Levy/Macintosh can do it. Poor old Luka & Clint

— Ben Lyttleton (@benlyt) August 29, 2012