With the January transfer window closing at 11 pm on Thursday, the next couple of days could shape the season for some Premier League clubs. Fulham would probably not be in the division this season were it not for the fact they signed Aleksandar Mitrovic this time last year. However, not all transfers are equal – as Fulham proved in the summer. Wrong moves in the market can be hugely costly as proven by this XI, who cost more than £200m in fees last summer but have not lived up to their promise.
Danny Ward, Leicester City
When Leicester signed Ward for £12.5m last summer, they did so at a time when Kasper Schmeichel was being linked with a move away from the King Power Stadium. Ward’s arrival from Liverpool appeared to pave the way for the Dane’s exit, but Schmeichel stayed and Ward has had to make do with appearances in cup competitions. The 25-year-old is yet to feature in the league and, while he’s still young, the fans are yet to see any real return on what was a significant investment.
Caglar Soyuncu, Leicester City
Sticking with Leicester, Turkey international Soyuncu has also failed to impress this season. The 22-year-old could be classed as “one for the future” but he would have been hoping for a bigger role. He has been unable to displace 35-year-old Wes Morgan at center-back, however, and has been the fourth choice in his position, having arrived for around £19m. He has started more games for Turkey in the Nations League than he has for his club in the Premier League.
Ben Gibson, Burnley
The former Boro captain’s arrival at Turf Moor was a curious one given Burnley were strong at the back last season. Burnley cannot really afford to sign a player for £15m and equal their club record transfer on a defender who sits on the bench. He, like Soyuncu at Leicester, has been fourth choice. Gibson has started one game in the league, a 5-1 defeat to Everton in which he scored.
Alfie Mawson, Fulham
Alfie Mawson, another former England Under-21 player, signed for Fulham when injured, which has not helped his case. The Fulham defence has looked stronger with him in it but that isn’t saying much. Having picked up another injury, the 25-year-old has started just 12 league games following his £15m move from Swansea.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Brighton
Alireza Jahanbakhsh is the latest example of an Eredivisie player who has struggled to adapt to the English game. He has not featured for Brighton since the start of November, partly because of a hamstring injury and partly due to his run to the Asian Cup semi-finals with Iran. Even before that the winger failed to make an impact. He has neither scored nor set up a goal in 10 league appearances for Brighton, having had a direct hand in 33 goals for AZ Alkmaar last season.
André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Fulham
After an impressive season with Marseille, André-Frank Zambo Anguissa cost Fulham £20m in the summer, but the 23-year-old midfielder has done little to live up to that price tag. He has started just seven games and hasn’t featured since being sent off against Manchester United in early December, with ankle injuries hampering his impact. Fulham picked up just one point in his seven starts.
Fred, Manchester United
By far the most expensive signing in this XI, Fred has failed to establish himself under two managers at United. The 25-year-old started Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s first home game in charge – a 3-1 win against Huddersfield – but he was replaced early in the second half and hasn’t played a single minute in the league since. The Brazilian has completed just three matches this season, which is disappointing to say the least for a player who cost £52m.
Mohamed Elyounoussi, Southampton
To class the £16m signing of a 24-year-old who had only ever played in Norway and Switzerland as a gamble is putting it lightly. Mohamed Elyounoussi had Champions League experience with Basel and plenty of international caps with Norway but it is not particularly surprising that he has struggled to step up. The winger has shown flashes of his ability but no end product in a Saints jersey, without a single goal or assist to his name in 12 league appearances, and he has played just 93 minutes in the league under new manager Ralph Hasenhüttl.
Bobby Reid, Cardiff City
Bobby Reid scored 19 goals for Bristol City last season, which convinced Cardiff to sign him for £10m in the summer. The 25-year-old had scored just five league goals in the two Championship seasons before the 2017-18 campaign, so placing their survival hopes on his shoulders was a risk. It hasn’t paid off yet, with Reid scoring just twice and starting only nine of his 17 league appearances.
Matej Vydra, Burnley
Matej Vydra has had a hit and miss career in English football. Burnley were hoping he would kick on and show greater consistency at Turf Moor but, as has often been the case with the Czech forward, he has struggled to pick up enough minutes on the pitch in the Premier League. The 26-year-old was the top scorer in the Championship last season at Derby with 21 league goals, having managed only eight in 64 appearances in the two previous seasons. He hadn’t started a Premier League match since the 2013-14 season, when he was at West Brom, before his move to Burnley and he has added just three starts since, scoring just one goal.
Adama Diakhaby, Huddersfield
For Huddersfield, who are already punching above their weight, any player who costs £10m has to make some impact. He may only be 22, but unfortunately Adama Diakhaby has done no such thing. The winger is yet to play the full 90 minutes for the club his season and he is also yet to score for the club. He will be hoping is form improves under new boss Jan Siewert as Huddersfield embark on Mission Impossible II.
(Bloomberg)
