What have been the worst transfer moves of 2014, find out in this nine-piece countdown…
So here we are, almost at the end of 2014. There have been some truly incredible transfers this year – from big-money moves for Luis Suarez and James Rodriguez, to some ridiculous shenanigans at Man United and Liverpool, who have spent close to £300m between them this year.
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As always, there have been some successes, and some failures – but what were the nine worst moves of 2014? See if you agree with our list – all involving Premier League teams:
9) Radamel Falcao (AS Monaco to Manchester United)
United fans were understandably excited when the free-scoring Colombian arrived at their club, but Falcao has failed to settle to life in England – struggling for form and fitness, with an old knee injury causing him particular problems.
8) Jermain Defoe (Tottenham to Toronto FC)
Despite offers from several Premier League clubs, Defoe chose Toronto and the MLS after leaving Tottenham. The former England international subsequently cost himself a spot at the 2014 World Cup, and has endured a frustrating spell in the States.
7) Robert Snodgrass (Norwich City to Hull City)
You have to feel sorry for Hull, who didn’t have much luck with this one. The 27-year-old joined the Tigers for an undisclosed fee, believed to exceed £6m, on a three-year contract, only to dislocate his knee cap on debut – out for the season.
6) Eliaquim Mangala (Porto to Manchester City)
Man City’s big-money summer buy, Mangala cost the Premier League champions £31.8m from Porto, but has failed to impress so far. Twelve appearances have been marked by six yellow cards, one red card, and not an awful lot else.
5) Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United to Queens Park Rangers)
The former Manchester United and England defender was picked up on a free transfer by QPR this summer, but Rangers have looked distinctly better without him in the team. Perhaps he shouldn’t focus quite so much on his punditry duties.
4) Mohamed Salah (Basel to Chelsea)
Signed in January from Swiss side Basel, but has struggled to secure regular first-team football at Stamford Bridge, and has already been linked with a move away. He has made just five appearances this season, only two of them in the Premier League.
3) David Luiz (Chelsea to Paris Saint Germain)
Despite being under the watchful eye of Financial Fair Play officials, PSG paid out an extraordinary £50m – a record for a defender – for a player who was struggling to even get in Chelsea’s team. Bare in mind as well, that he captained the Brazil team that conceded seven against Germany this summer.
2) Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kiev to West Brom)
West Brom took a sizeable gamble on the little known Nigerian, when they paid a club record £10m to land the striker from Dynamo Kiev. But Ideye has struggled at the Hawthorns, making just eight appearances – scoring once in the League Cup.
1) Mario Balotelli (AC Milan to Liverpool)
An unprecedented disaster – the £16m man from AC Milan is yet to score in the Premier League this season, has spent the last few weeks sideline through injury, and now faces an FA ban for a controversial post on social media.
SEE ALSO:Liverpool transfer news