Seven new signings yet to impress in the Premier League.
The Premier League is now four fixtures old for its 20 clubs, with a 2-2 draw between Hull City and West Ham United at the KC Stadium round off the latest batch of fixtures.
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Fans are already starting to assess the performances of their summer signings and whether they have proven to be value for money, with these seven yet to live up to their billing:
Remy Cabella (Newcastle United)
Midfielder Remy Cabella was seen as a possible replacement for Yohan Cabaye when he arrived at St. James’ Park this summer, with the former Montpellier man’s creativity badly needed in a pedestrian Newcastle team. Things haven’t got off to a good start for either club or player, however, with Cabella struggling to impact on games and Magpies fans already turning on unpopular manager Alan Pardew.
Luke Shaw (Manchester United)
Manchester United broke the world transfer record for a teenager when they signed Luke Shaw from Southampton this summer, but fans are still waiting for the injured star to make his United debut. Things did not get off to a good start for Shaw at Old Trafford when he was told that he was “unfit” by manager Louis van Gaal and barred from training with the first team squad until he shaped up.
Dejan Lovren (Liverpool)
The £20 million fee that Liverpool paid to Premier League rivals Southampton for centre back Dejan Lovren this summer always looked to be significantly over the odds – and it has proven to be the case so far. Lovren has looked better than Mamadou Sakho and Martin Skrtel, admittedly, but lacks the positional sense and intelligence to really shore up a Liverpool defence that was their Achilles heel last season.
Muhamed Besic (Everton)
Bosnia and Herzegovina international midfielder Mo Besic had possibly the worst first touch of all time in an Everton shirt – attempting an audacious backheel with his side already trailing 5-3 against Chelsea at Goodison Park. The ball went straight to John Obi Mikel and, within moments, Diego Costa was slamming in the Blues’ sixth. Things can only get better for Besic.
Brown Ideye (West Bromwich Albion)
West Bromwich Albion broke their transfer record to sign striker Brown Ideye from Dynamo Kiev this summer, but the Nigerian is yet to find the net for Alan Irvine’s side and has generally struggled to adapt to the English Premier League. With the pressure already mounting on his manager, Ideye needs to step things up soon if the Baggies are to avoid a season-long relegation scrap.
Rio Ferdinand (Queens Park Rangers)
Former Manchester United and England centre back Rio Ferdinand was the marquee signing for Harry Redknapp at Queens Park Rangers this summer, but the experienced defender is yet to find form at Loftus Road. He has featured in two 4-0 thrashings on the road so far, as Rangers were taken apart at Tottenham Hotspur and then given another beating on Ferdinand’s return to Old Trafford.
Bojan Krkic (Stoke City)
Despite impressing during Stoke City’s pre-season campaign and plenty of fanfare having accompanied his summer arrival from Barcelona, Bojan Krkic is yet to score his first competitive goal for Mark Hughes’ side and has largely been anonymous during his three Premier League appearances for the Potters.