Here is our line-up of the worst transfers this season. Some have just been awful, where they haven't met their transfer fee while others haven't worked because of issues with club and owners. Let us know after you've read if you agree and any other names that should be on this list.
GK: Yann Sommer
The 34 year old finally secured his long-awaited move to Bayern Munich in January, following Manuel Neuer's season-ending broken leg. Sommer had headlined against the reigning Bundesliga champions last season ,for Borussia Monchengladbach, where he broke the record for most saves in a game (19). However, he has struggled to replicate Neuer's ability to play out from the back and has looked susceptible to a mistake when in possession of the ball. Long renowned as one of the Bundesliga's best goalkeepers, he has underwhelmed for the Bavarian side making just five clean sheets in 15 appearances.
RB: Sergino Dest
After a promising breakthrough at Barcelona, the managerial change of Xavi saw Dest's development come to an abrupt holt. His new manager re-signed club legend Dani Alves and side-lined the 23 year old, with the American full-back immediately linked with an exit. When AC Milan snapped him up on loan this summer it was supposed to be his gateway to redemption , proving to Xavi that he was one of the most promising stars in the world but it hasn't quite happened. Instead, his defensive vulnerabilities and lack of physicality has made him unpopular in Italy and he has been forced to battle with Calabria and Florenzi for a starting position. His two starts in Serie A this season, have only further weakened his reputation and chances of playing at Camp Nou again.
CB: Eric Bailly
The centre-back made just 45 league appearances, in five injury plagued seasons at Manchester United and it was the right time to leave. After playing understudy to Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, a loan move to Marseille appeared the perfect chance to rise from the shadows and prove himself. However, it became apparent very quickly his stint in France would be dampened because of a trigger clause in his contract. If Marseille played the Ivorian in more than 19 league games than the deal would become permanent. As a result, after consistent spells in the starting line-up he was exiled all of a sudden, to not trigger the buy option which meant he has been side-lined for nearly two months.
CB: Thilo Kehrer
The 26 year old was always an understudy at Paris Saint Germain, often deputising at left-back or having late cameo appearances. His £10m escape route to West Ham, promised the opportunity for the former Schalke defender to take the spotlight and find consistency in the starting eleven. However, it has been a car-crash. He has looked erratic and nervous defending at centre-back, and has often looked unwilling to get on the ball. It's been clear the adjustment to the Premier League has come as a shock to the German and it's evident he is overthinking as a result of a lack of confidence. The positive is that he could still lift the Europa Conference League meaning a trophy in his debut season, but he needs to take more responsibility now he's away from Paris.
LB: Marc Cucurella
Chelsea leapfrogged Manchester City in prioritising the signing of Marc Cucurella from Brighton. The Seagulls player of the season, last campaign, had showed he was a versatile and talented full-back who was combative and skilful. However, the £60m switch to Chelsea has been a nightmare, with the 24 year old appearing erratic and lost on the pitch, with an inability to defend. In his defence, the managerial on slaught at Chelsea has disrupted his development where he has been forced into centre-back, full-back and wing-back. He looks overwhelmed in a pressurised environment, where he looks weak and unstable everytime he goes near the ball. His early blunders have seen him restricted to a benchwarmer in recent months, but hopefully the next manager can get the best out of the Spaniard.
CM: Paul Pogba
Where do we start? After a unsavoury exit from Manchester United after six years of drama, Maximiliano Allegri offered a reunion at Juventus to rejuvenate the midfielder. It was clear he had lost the fight and hunger at Old Trafford and he had become nothing but a difficulty in the dressing room and for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The return to Turin has been plagued with long-term injuries, where since his arrival in July he has played just 58 minutes and is yet to start a Serie A game. In October, he was embroiled in a blackmail scandal including his own brother where he was threatened with extortion and throughout this season his commitment and focus has been criticised. Their is a eagerness from Juventus supporters to re-live the Paul Pogba of 2015 in a bid to inspire another Scudetto, but at the moment in time he looks a shadow of the silky creative Frenchman he once was.
CM: Ryan Gravenberch
The Ajax starlet has struggled to acclimatise to life at Bayern Munich, where he has struggled to penetrate the midfield partnership of Goretzka and Kimmich. He has gone from a captain at the age of just 19 in Amsterdam, where he was hailed as world-class and instilled with freedom and confidence under Erik Ten Hag, to being wasted on the bench in Germany and homesick. The 20 year old has made just one start under Julian Naglesmann this season and already looks intent on leaving in the summer in a bid to find first team football. Liverpool and Arsenal are interested in offering a rescue for the Dutch international, to save him from becoming yet another young prodigy sucked into the void at Bayern. There could be hope under Thomas Tuchel, where he will gradually see more opportunities but only time will tell.
CAM: James Rodriguez
A cacophony of whistles echo around the Maracanã, as a young Colombian flicks the ball over his head and unleashes a 30 yard volley into the net. The 2014 World Cup was James Rodriguez's tournament, quickly after he became a Galactico in a £63m move to Real Madrid. Since, his career has been rollercoaster of what ifs and surprises as he's experienced spells at Bayern Munich and Everton. He has the ill-temperament and arrogance of a player who rose to the top too soon and it's this superior attitude that has lead to his downfall. His decision to join Al-Rayyan was fuelled by greed and after one year he realised he still had a burning desire to play in Europe, joining Olympicakos. Instead, of thriving off the fans excitement and bringing his stardom to Greece he has been seen in strip clubs, missed training and had continual poor fitness. After just eight months, his contract has been terminated.
RW: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
After exiling £97m record signing Romelu Lukaku back to Inter Milan, Chelsea were desperate to fill a void at centre forward. In signing Aubameyang for £15m from Barcelona, they ignored the alarm bells from his difficult divorce with Arsenal and epitomised the naivety of Todd Boehly transfer recruitment. After, 13 goals in 24 appearances for La Blaugara their was promise that his return to London would be successful where he could avenge his scorned reputation. Instead, he has never really been favoured by all three Chelsea managers this season. In the few games he has played, he has lacked movement and anticipation appearing lethargic and nonchalant upfront. Under Graham Potter he did feature at all due to disciplinary and fitness concerns and started his first game in seven months under Frank Lampard. It's clear he will be offloaded in the summer, all he has become is an expensive burden to Chelsea.
LW: Sadio Mane
It was a shock, when Mane announced his intent to leave Liverpool after a decorative six years including winning the Champions League and Premier League. It divided opinion on his intent to depart Jurgen Klopp; some believed he wanted to be the star, others presumed he seeked a new challenge and the Bundesliga was his perfect opportunity. After a bright start scoring 10 goals before the World Cup, his form was de-railed after a knee injury that ruled him out of Qatar 2022. He became second-best to Eric Choupu-Moting and did not score in the Bundesliga for six months, where in recent weeks he has been lodged on the bench. After, news of an apparent bust-up with teammate Leroy Sane it's clear the Senegalese captain is a frustrated figure in Germany and some sources claim Bayern Munich are prepared to sell him this summer.
ST: Charles De Ketelaere
AC Milan fell into the trap of splashing money on the roulette that is the Belgian Pro League. There are successes like Leandro Trossard and Romelu Lukaku ,but there are far more disappointments who just can't live up to expectations in a top league. De Ketelarere joined AC Milan from Club Brugge for £32m in the summer and represented the next generation to succeed the ageing Giroud and Ibrahimovic. They promising 22 year old is yet to score a debut goal for the Rosseneri after 37 appearances and has struggled with the toughness of Italian football. Pioli has kept faith in the youngster in a bid to break his curse and acclimatise him to Serie A, but currently it's not working and he's running out of time before they ship him out.
Comments