5 – Dwight Gayle
Palace signed Dwight Gayle, 22, from Peterborough for £4.5million – which can rise to up to £9million.
The unknown 22 year-old remarkably set back the Premier League newcomers back such a large fee, despite being a signing contested by nobody else. He only cost Peterborough £500,000 in January, but his price tag has managed to inflate since then due to his 20 goals in 49 appearances.
Gayle could turn out to be great, as Peterborough and Palace believe he has potential which is why he is low down this list, but for a fee that can rise to £9million surely this is a very poor and risky move.
4 – Jonjo Shelvey
Swansea City signed Jonjo Shelvey, 21, from Liverpool for £5million.
From my years as a Charlton season ticket holder, I watched Jonjo grow in to the great player Liverpool saw potential in. But shortly before his move away from The Valley, the bald midfielder appeared slow, sluggish and lazy – it appeared like Jonjo knew he was better than the League One standard he was playing.
But a few years on, he was frozen out of Liverpool, Charlton were contesting for the play off places in the Championship, and now Jonjo has joined Swansea City. Moving to Wales seems like a poor move to me as I cannot see the first team football he desires coming his way due to the amount of central midfielders Laudrup has.
3 – Andy Carroll
West Ham signed Andy Carroll, 24, from Liverpool for £15.5million – rising to £17.5million.
Why? I just want to know why? It is thought Carroll is on over £75,000-a-week which one a way of tempting him to Upton Park permanently, on a six year deal.
Last season Carroll played ‘a key role’ in helping West Ham to 10th place, but I do not see it the way Hammers fans do.
Andy is injury prone, and was not wanted by Liverpool, so how was the gigantic fee justified? £35million was laughable when you think about it now, but £15million a few years later still seems as ridiculous.
2 – Fernandinho
Manchester City signed Fernandinho, 28, from Shakhtar Donetsk.
I believe the Brazilian does have a lot of ability, but at the age of 28 I feel the fee was excessive. Like City’s normal buying strategy, it appears it is a first rate fee for a second rate player.
Especially with the likes of Isco, Illaremendi and Thiago all available this summer, why would you spend so much on a player almost 8 years older, who is completely unproven.
1 – Stephen Dobbie
Crystal Palace signed Stephen Dobbie, 30, from Brighton for an undisclosed fee.
Yet another Palace signing, but this time I literally have no idea why they bothered. He is not Premier League standard and with all the available free transfers, why him?
I see this as the worst signing of the window. They have not spend big, and if he flops it is not such a big loss, but I do not see any reason to sign a Championship veteran, when they could have had Stephen Ireland cheaply as the 26 year-old is entering the last year of his Villa contract.