Recruitment from the transfer market is meant to reshape and change the fortune of respective clubs that splash the cash either in the Summer or the January Window to bring in top players to make their team more competitive.
Whilst that is a fact, new recruitment from the transfer market doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to be an instant success or failure for the team. However, some have gone on to be an instant success for their club, while some failed to live up to expectations.
Here are 10 Premier League Players that failed to deliver despite arriving with a lot of expectations
- Matt Doherty – (Tottenham Hotspur)
The Republic of Ireland international was one of the pivotal figures in the Wolverhampton Wanderers team under Nuno Espirito Santo right from the Championship and also take that form to the topflight. He featured in over 95 games in all competitions since Wolves returned to the topflight in 2018, contributing 15 goals and 15 assists to the progress of the team.
Following the appointment of Jose Mourinho by Tottenham, the Portuguese gaffer listed some of the reinforcements that will join him as he embarks on his quest in taking the North London club to the next level. Ahead of the 2020-21 season the Irish defender joined Tottenham for a reported fee of £15m, signing a four-year contract with Spurs.
As earlier said that he was one of the key figures at Wolves, expectations were high as many believe he’s coming into the Tottenham team to make it solid by hitting the ground running.
Unfortunately, the Irishman has struggled to fit in, and even fail to hit the ground running at Spurs since he joined, he now finds himself on the bench behind the Ivorian Serge Aurier whom he was supposed to replace due to his potential move away from Spurs.
- Thiago Alcantara – (Liverpool)
Thiago was coming from the back of winning a treble last season to join Liverpool this summer for €22m, as expected been a fantastic player he was for Bayern Munich throughout his seven-year stay with the Die Roten, expectations were high in the camp of Liverpool when he joined.
Before he joined Jurgen Klopp’s led side, they were talks in the media about how he’s going to improve the team and fit in perfectly to the gengen-pressing style of play the German tactician adopted.
Apparently, with the few games, he’s been able to play for Liverpool, he hasn’t shown that he’s the same player that makes Die Roten midfield thick and compact with his defense splitting pass.
With how badly the Anfield side has fared in the Premier League and Europe this season, we can unanimously say the Spaniard hasn’t lived up to the excitement and expectations of the fans and the neutral who expected him to come into the team and turn things around.
- Alex Telles – (Manchester United)
When the Brazilian left-back joined United from Porto on a four-year contract for €15m with the option of a further year, expectations were very high that he’s going to be a proper backup for Luke Shaw.
He scored 26 goals and made more than 56 assists in 193 games for the Portuguese Champions since joining from Galatasaray in 2016, but surprisingly the former Porto left-back hasn’t lived up to the billing.
Sometime in March while speaking to the club’s official website, Telles hinted that he’s set for the long haul at Old Trafford amidst news that he could be on his way out.
However with the reborn Shaw arguably the best left-back in the Premier League and obviously the go-to man for Ole Gunnar Solskjear, Telles could leave United in the summer since he’s not been able to break into the team ahead of the England international.
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- Gabriel Magalhaes – (Arsenal)
When the Brazilian joined from Lille for €26m he looks like the real deal having impressed in the early part of the season, but surprisingly his brilliant form dwindle and he was dropped down the pecking order.
The former Lille center-back is physically strong, standing at 6ft and very a quick defender with the ball very comfortable at his feet, unfortunately for him he has failed to make use of all the qualities he has to make the Gunners solid defensively.
Gabriel may be integrated back into the team next campaign, but this season with his below-par performances having joined the Gunners with a relatively decent amount of money that comes with expectations, then you would agree that the Brazilian deserve to be on this list.
- Rodrigo Moreno – (Leeds United)
Leeds United under Marcelo Bielsa was a team that was just coming back from Championship to the topflight having been away for a long time, as such it is expected of them to sign a top striker despite having a decent striker in Patrick Bamford who did fantastically well for them in the Championship.
However, some were of the opinion that if Leeds really wants to compete with the big boys they must sign a top striker who could lead the line for them. As expected getting to the topflight, the side from Elland Road went into the transfer market and got themselves a supposed upgrade to Bamford in the person of Rodrigo from Valencia for €30m.
Right now the Spaniard has been a shadow of himself with just 6 goals in 26 games in all competitions, and one assist despite coming into the team with a lot of high hopes.
Surprisingly for him and many who thought he’s going straight into the team to bench Bamford, he has failed to achieve while the Englishman has been the go-to man for Bielsa-led side with 15 goals.
- Fabio Silva – (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Wolves with their knack for signing Portuguese players in recent time because of the club’s relationship with the top agent Jorge Mendes saw them went further to complete the deal of another Portuguese in Silva for €40m last summer.
The club broke their signing record to bring the 18-year-old to the Molineaux from Porto, and since he joined he has not contributed anything tangible to the Nuno Espirito Santo side. In the current campaign, he has only scored four goals and two assists in 29 Premier League matches.
Apparently, a more positive impact was expected of the Portuguese when he joined Porto, but as it stands what is expected of him hasn’t been fulfilled. Although next season is still very much open for him to correct his wrong with brilliant performances and a lot of goals.
- Donny Van De Beek – (Manchester United)
Those who saw Van De Beek donned the shirt of Ajax Amsterdam both in the Eredivisie and the Champions League would agree that the Netherlands international was an amazing player, orchestrating things in the middle of the pack for the Dutch giant.
From the back of that performances on the home front and Europe, the Dutchman was linked with top clubs in Europe but he eventually joined the Red Devils for €40m from Ajax. Van De Beek was expected to come into United’s midfield and make the team stronger, unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to displace the three usual suspects in Ole’s midfield.
Since he joined United he has spent most of his time on the substitute bench playing sparingly for the Old Trafford side. Should he fail to get into the starting eleven and likewise impress the United fans with top-notch performance, it won’t come as a huge surprise if United sends him on loan or sell him outrightly elsewhere.
- Thomas Partey – (Arsenal)
Thomas Partey in the shirt of Atletico Madrid was a beauty to behold in the middle of the pack. However, since he moved to Arsenal the Ghanaian has been a shadow of himself with a below-par performance that can’t be compared with his time at the Wanda Metropolitan.
When he moved to the Emirates Stadium for €50m, it was hoped that his arrival would be a massive upgrade in the midfield to whatever the Gunners have in their rank. No doubt he has been an upgrade to whatever Arsenal has in the middle, yet his performances for Los Rojiblancos can’t be compared with his performances at Arsenal.
Hopefully, we would see the best of Partey if the Arsenal board spend wisely in the transfer market to get top players that would complement his efforts in the team.
However, his stats for this campaign isn’t something you would expect from a player that did impress lots of fans at Atletico compared to his stats now at Arsenal with just two assists in 33 games in all competitions.
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- Nathan Ake – (Manchester United)
Before Ake switched Bournemouth for Manchester City, he was in the form of his life with then Eddie Howe’s side with brilliant performances that got Pep Guardiola interested in signing him for €45m.
Since switching Bournemouth for City, the Dutch full-back has fallen behind the pecking order due to injuries to the likes of Stones, the rave of the moment Ruben Dias and Laporte. Though he’s been getting playing time recently due to congestion of fixtures in the league and Europe, however, he hasn’t lived up to expectations.
Much more would be expected of Ake next season with much more to play, in the Premier League, League cup, and the Champions League. So for Ake to get more playing time he needs to be up and doing and also stay fit.
- Hakim Ziyech – (Chelsea)
Like Ziyech, like Van De Beek. The Moroccan was also instrumental in Ajax’s league triumph before moving to Chelsea for €40m. Though he has found his form under the new manager in Thomas Tuchel compared to when Lampard was in charge, scoring the only goal that got them qualified for the final of the FA Cup against Manchester City.
However, considering what is expected of him due to what he did back at Ajax, the Moroccan playmaker hasn’t really given a good account of himself and he has also struggled to hold down a starting spot in Tuchel’s team.
This season he has contributed six goals and four assists, and if we’re to juxtapose his performances with the Blues and that of his performances with the Dutch giant, Ziyech hasn’t lived up to the billing.
The Champions League final against Manchester City is very much open for the Blues to win, obviously, his services would be needed if Tuchel dims it fit to start him.
