Nine Premier League Players Stealing A Living Including Arsenal And Manchester United Midfielders

The players on top wages who never play.

Everyone remembers the tale of Winston Bogarde at Chelsea, with the defender refusing to leave and earning £40,000-a-week for four years to play in the reserves.

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Well whilst there is no one quite as bad as that currently in the Premier League, here are nine players stealing a living due to their significant wages and lack of appearances.

Anderson, Manchester United

With one start and two appearances in total to his name this season it’s clear that Louis van Gaal would like a midfielder who once cost the Red Devils £20m, off the books as soon as possible.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Tottenham Hotspur

It’s easy to forget this Cameroon international is still at White Hart Lane and with Ben Davies and Danny Rose both ahead of him for a place at left-back, his wages are a complete waste of money for Spurs.

Abou Diaby, Arsenal

It’s not Diaby’s fault that he is perennially injured, but having made 23 appearances in the past four years there is little chance of the Frenchman getting a new contract when his current one expires this summer.

Shay Given, Aston Villa

Once considered one of the best goalkeepers in the division, now aged 38-years-old and Irishman is earning a pretty packet to warm the bench at Villa Park behind Brad Guzan.

Wilson Palacios, Stoke City

Made his name at Wigan Athletic and was considered to be underutilised at Tottenham, but now at Stoke and the midfielder’s career has gone completely flat and where Palacios goes next is unclear.

Scott Sinclair, Manchester City

Was a key figure for Swansea City when they first earned promotion to the top flight in 2011, but like so many before him was tempted by the huge funds of City and since moving to the Etihad Stadium in 2012 has made 20 appearances for the Citizens.

Adel Taarabt, QPR

Full of skills, but his attitude and at times waistline are somewhat questionable and offloading the Morocco international is proving a difficult task for the Hoops, who spend a huge amount on very average players.

Ricardo Vaz Te, West Ham United

Once had a purpose at the Boleyn Ground, but with Andy Carrol, Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia and even Carlton Cole ahead of him in attack the 28-year-old has certainly fallen from grace at the Hammers.

Shaun Wright-Phillips, QPR

We’ve already mentioned how much the Rs waste and it’s shown here by the fact they are the only side with two representatives on this list and this former England stalwart would now struggle to get a game in the Championship.