The 2014/15 season has seen some hit and miss transfers – the likes of Cesc Fabregas signing for Chelsea and Alexis Sanchez for Arsenal have excelled at their new clubs – yet there have been some shockers…
Now the January transfer window has opened, Premier League clubs are looking to bring in reinforcements and some are in need more than others of some serious new signings.
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Here’s a list of the biggest transfer flops so far in the 2014/15 season featuring some huge disappointments:
Jack Rodwell – Sunderland
Jack Rodwell signed for Sunderland from Manchester City in a £10m move after struggling to even get a place on the bench with the Manchester club. The 23 year-old lost his place in the starting line-up after six games with The Black Cats and has struggled to get in the side since. Gus Poyet now wants Rodwell to step up and prove his worth.
Brown Ideye – West Brom
The Nigerian striker became West Brom’s record signing in the summer paying £10m for the 26 year old from Dynamo Kiev. He has made five starts and five substitute appearances for the Baggies with one goal to his name, yet critics question the forward’s worth. Ideye has vowed to prove his worth but needs more playing time to do so.
Mario Balotelli – Liverpool
Liverpool made the shock move for Mario Balotelli in the summer signing the Italy striker from AC Milan for a fee of £16m. However, the Italian has so far been unimpressive, failing to recapture the form he showed at previous clubs Inter Milan, Manchester City and AC Milan. With not a single league goal for the Reds – many are calling the signing a mistake.
Emmanuel Rivière – Newcastle
Emmanuel Rivière joined Newcastle in a reported £5m deal from Monaco with then Newcastle manager Alan Pardew stating “We know he will score goals.” The striker, however, is yet to get off the mark in the Premier League after 11 appearances. While the 24 year old averaged a goal every four games in Ligue 1 it once more goes to show that signing unproven strikers in the Premier League can backfire.
Sandro – QPR
Harry Redknapp is known for signing players he has worked with before, so it came as little surprise when Sandro reunited with former Spurs boss at QPR for £6m. The Brazilian’s career has been blighted by injury and the midfielder has struggled with injuries since his arrival – something Redknapp should have remembered from his time working with Sandro at Tottenham.
Abel Hernández – Hull City
After signing from Palmero for £10m Abel Hernández’s career at Hull City got off to a flyer with the striker netting a beauty on his debut against West Ham. With Nikica Jelavic’s injury Hernández was forced to play up-front on his own, which hasn’t suited the 24 year old. Still struggling to find form, the Uruguayan has scored just three times in 12 league appearances.
Rickie Lambert – Liverpool
Rickie Lambert made his dream move to Liverpool from Southampton for a fee of £4m after spending five years at Anfield in the youth team. Lambert couldn’t believe he was making a return to the club, yet it hasn’t quite been a dream come true for the 32 year old. The striker has started only five league games, making 11 appearances from the bench. With Daniel Sturridge having been out injured for most of the season, Lambert has failed to step up in his absence, scoring just one goal in the defeat to Crystal Palace.
Rémy Cabella – Newcastle
Midfielder Rémy Cabella signed from Montpellier on a six year deal for a fee of £8m in July. The attacking midfielder is yet to score for Newcastle after making nine starts and nine substitute appearances. Former Magpies boss Alan Pardew stated that the 24 year old simply isn’t ready for the Premier League.
Zeki Fryers – Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace signed Zeki Fryers on deadline day for a fee reported to be around £2.5m. The left-back has made just two appearances for the Eagles – a late substitution in the 3-2 victory over Everton and played the full 90 minutes in the league cup defeat to Newcastle – but the defender has not made an appearance since. The 22 year old is likely to make a loan move in January if new boss Alan Pardew gives the go ahead.
Rio Ferdinand – QPR
Rio Ferdinand arrived at QPR on a free transfer with his contract having expired with Manchester United – and the defender took a huge pay cut to join the side and extend his career. The 36 year old is yet to impress in a QPR shirt with a number of shaky performances, most recently against Sheffield United in the FA Cup. Some have suggested the former Manchester United and England captain should have retired at the end of last season.
Dejan Lovren – Liverpool
Dejan Lovren was considered by Brendan Rodgers as the perfect replacement for Jamie Carragher, yet the £20m signing from Southampton has not lived up to the high expectations of the Reds boss. The Croatian centre-back has been too error-prone in his time so far at Anfield, and Mamadou Sakho has taken his place in the starting line-up.