Football moves quickly. When the Premier League transfer window slammed shut in early September – a little more than eight months ago – almost all of the campaign was still to be written.
Chelsea were feeling optimistic after new American owner Todd Boehly splashed the cash in a lavish summer spending spree.
Former Manchester United star Jesse Lingard, on a free, spearheaded the significant and ambitious Nottingham Forest recruitment drive, and Arthur Melo arrived at Liverpool hoping to shore up Jurgen Klopp’s midfield crisis.
Fast forward to May and a lot of the players that had fans brimming with optimism are now the same ones that have rueful supporters shaking their head in dismay.
And below, Mail Sport picks out an XI of the Premier League’s worst signings of the season – and considers who may already be on their way out.
Jesse Lingard spearheaded the ambitious Nottingham Forest recruitment drive last summer
Aston Villa’s permanent signing of Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona was a massive statement
But fast forward to May and several big buys have been disappointing – below, Mail Sport picks out an XI of the Premier League’s worst signings of the season, including four Chelsea flops
Mail Sport’s worst signings XI (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper: Thomas Strakosha (Brentford), free
It may be harsh to name Strakosha in the line-up, given he was signed for free. He’s been injured a lot of this season and played well in Serie A at Lazio. Indeed, he may become No 1 next season if current first-choice David Raya leaves.
But he’s only played two games in all competitions, once in a League Cup win against lowly League Two Colchester and once again West Ham in the FA Cup – where he conceded the only shot on target he faced in the entire match.
Right back: Djed Spence (Tottenham), £20m
Again, Spence may well come good in future, whether at Tottenham or elsewhere. But £20m for someone who’s played just four times in the league is not a brilliant return on investment.
He’s clearly talented, and former Spurs boss Antonio Conte’s refusal to play him seems bizarre – but the club now probably regret signing him.
Kevin Mbabu has underwhelmed at Fulham, too, while Ryan Fredericks has not made much impact at Bournemouth.
Tottenham’s £20m signing Djed Spence is talented but has only played four league matches
Centre back: Duje Caleta-Car (Southampton), £8.5m
It feels like Croatia international Duje Caleta-Car was linked with top Premier League clubs for several years before Southampton eventually snapped him up for what appeared to be a bargain £8.5m.
Southampton have one of the league’s worst defences, yet Caleta-Car has only started three games in a row once, and even that was down to injuries. Even Jan Bednarek, brought back after an underwhelming loan at Aston Villa, is ahead of him.
Centre back: Kalidou Koulibaly (Chelsea), £33m
It must have been difficult for the horde of Chelsea incomings to adjust to life in a new country and at a new club, given all the instability behind the scenes and the crisis engulfing the club.
That said, Koulibaly – a proven international player and experienced top-level star – has thoroughly underwhelmed. Indeed, the Blues could look to cut their losses and get rid of him this summer.
Defender Kalidou Koulibaly has thoroughly underwhelmed at Chelsea despite costing £33m
Left back: Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), £60m
Is there one player that sums up Chelsea’s muddled recruitment better than a frantic-looking Cucurella – who seemed great in a clever and clearly defined tactical system at Brighton – running around like a headless chicken amid all the chaos?
The Seagulls must be laughing all the way to the bank after getting £60m out of owner Todd Boehly’s wallet for the Spaniard.
At Manchester City, Sergio Gomez clearly isn’t trusted by Pep Guardiola, though he may eventually improve and become more of a regular contributor. At West Ham, £15m arrival Emerson looks off the boil.
Centre midfield: Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), £42m
True, it does take a lot of Man City signings a year or so to adapt to Guardiola’s method of playing. But it also helps if you’re actually on the pitch to aid that adaptation.
Phillips, admittedly troubled by several injuries, has barely played enough to guarantee him a medal if City go on to win the title. He could well leave this summer, with Liverpool among the clubs interested.
Meanwhile, Spurs’ Yves Bissouma has looked a different player to the one at Brighton as well, and not in a positive sense.
Kalvin Phillips has barely played enough to guarantee him a medal if City go on to win the title
Centre midfield: Jesse Lingard (Nottingham Forest), free
A sole assist, in the second game of the season, is the only attacking return Jesse Lingard has managed at Forest. Zero goals, two minutes played in their last nine games, one big mistake.
Given his hefty wage packet, Forest are definitely not getting a return on their investment – even if they did pick him up for free. He looks a shadow of the sparkling, confident loanee at West Ham.
Centre midfield: Arthur Melo (Liverpool), season-long loan
The Brazilian may only have joined Liverpool on a season-long loan last summer, but Reds chiefs must still be struggling to piece together how the move has gone so badly wrong.
The Juventus midfielder came in to freshen up Klopp’s engine room, which has been a subject of criticism throughout most of the season, and yet has failed to register a single minute in the Premier League.
Although his start to the campaign was blighted through injury, Arthur has been back in training since February and has still yet to earn Klopp’s trust. It’s hard to think of a worse loan move in the history of the Premier League.
Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling’s four goals and three assists is a measly return on his vast talent
Right wing: Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), £48m
Raheem Sterling was meant to be one of the figureheads of Chelsea’s summer spend, the oven-ready, ‘plug-and-play’ forward who was starring for England and would surely do the same for the Blues… right?
A measly return of four goals and three assists in the league is a small return on his vast talents.
Admittedly, he’s been shunted all over the pitch under four different managers, but he would be the first to admit his disappointment at how this season has gone.
Honest Man United fans will admit Antony hasn’t had the impact his price tag has warranted too.
Left wing: Richarlison (Tottenham), £60m
Poor old Richarlison. He’s been denied goals for marginal offsides or VAR so many times, it’s become a running joke.
Admittedly, Spurs are heavily underperforming – putting Harry Kane’s (magnificent) goalscoring statistics into perspective – but just one goal in the league is pretty poor. Serves him right for celebrating with the chicken dance, I suppose.
Plus, winger Goncalo Guedes seemed a statement signing for Wolves but was so poor they farmed him out on loan in January.
Misfiring £60m Tottenham forward Richarlison has almost become a figure of fun for rival fans
Striker: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Chelsea), £10m
Things started off badly for Aubameyang when the manager that brought him in, Thomas Tuchel, was sacked five days after signing him.
The 33-year-old looks unfit, utterly disinterested and has only managed one goal and zero assists in his ill-fated spell at Stamford Bridge.
Elsewhere, Everton flop Neal Maupay has been absolutely horrendous given his £15m price tag.
The Frenchman has scored once in 25 games and has been overtaken in the pecking order by 22-year-old Ellis Simms, recalled from a loan in the Championship because Maupay was doing so badly, and a barely half-fit Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Gianluca Scamacca looks destined to join the scrapheap of failed West Ham strikers, too.
source: dailymail.co.uk
