From Chelsea‘s Radamel Falcao to Manchester United‘s Anthony Martial, a number of the Premier League’s big-guns have taken a significant risk in the transfer market over the summer.
Take a look at the biggest gamble signings this season…
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7. Radamel Falcao – Chelsea
After a terrible season at Manchester United, there were certainly a few scratching their heads over Jose Mourinho’s decision to secure the striker on a similar temporary deal this summer. He got off the mark with a goal against Crystal Palace last weekend, but his link up play with his new team-mates has been poor and he looks far inferior to first-choice centre-forward Diego Costa.
6. Christian Benteke – Liverpool
Many Liverpool supporters weren’t too pleased when their club’s board decided that Benteke was worthy of his £32.5m release-clause written into his Aston Villa contract. He scored a fine volley to open his account for the Reds in pre-season and got his first Premier League goal against Bournemouth. However, while he has introduced a new threat to the side, with Liverpool noticeably increasing the number of crosses into the box, his significant price-tag means that any less than 20 goals this season would be unacceptable.
5. Roberto Firmino – Liverpool
Another of Brendan Rodgers’ summer signings with a sizeable transfer fee to live up to. The Brazil international looks some way off the pace of the Premier League, and Liverpool fans could grow impatient if he doesn’t start to deliver quickly. He may well have been the most creative player in the Bundesliga over the past two seasons, but England is whole new ball game, and the pressure to perform will be high on the 23-year-old.
4. Aleksandar Mitrovic – Newcastle United
Described as a ‘a five-year-old trapped in a monster’s body’, Mitrovic has a reputation as an unpredictable hothead, which has already been established in just three games for Steve McClaren’s side. The 20-year-old has racked up two yellow cards and one red card in as many appearances for the Toon, and could be a huge risk every time he steps out onto the pitch.
3. Abdul Baba Rahman – Chelsea
When Jose Mourinho brought on exciting youngster Kenedy in place of Cesar Azpilicueta against Crystal Palace last weekend, many were left wondering why the Portuguese boss bothered to spend £22m on Baba Rahman when they have a promising teenager already in their ranks. In fact, some may be furious that the Blues have – once again – ignored the talent in their youth system. Such an investment on the Ghanaian could prove questionable, particularly if his appearances for the club – as expected – are minimal.
2. Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City
Yes, we all know how fantastic De Bruyne was for Vfl Wolfsburg – but have we forgotten just how much of a failure he was at Chelsea? It is exciting that the Belgium international has returned to the Premier League to prove that Jose Mourinho was wrong to let him go, but the £55m fee that the Citizens have parted with is a huge gamble given he failed miserably in England first time around. This is certainly a signing that could go either way for the in-form side.
1. Anthony Martial – Manchester United
No surprise which summer signing comes out on top. Reports have claimed that such was Manchester United’s desperation to secure a marquee signing before the close of the summer window that they paid treble of Monaco’s valuation on Martial. The 19-year-old has played just eight full games in his professional career, and £36m is certainly a staggering price to pay for a player that offers little more than potential on his CV.
