Over the summer we saw some influential transfers in the Premier League and we definitely saw some major flops who haven’t seemed to do anything in the right few months. As the January transfer market is quickly approaching, I’ll be looking at the Premier Leagues top 10’s, best and worst transfers over the summer.
Arsenal:
Best Buy: Mesut Ozil
Since the German midfielder joined for a hefty £42.5 from Real Madrid on deadline day, he has been one of Arsenal’s most influential players and looks as if he’s worth every penny. His link up play with the Gunners other attacking players is a delight to watch and with 4 goals and 7 assists in his 13 games since he joined the club, he could be the difference between winning the title and missing out once again.
Biggest Flop: Yaya Sanogo
All in all, Arsenal thought thoroughly about the 4 signings they made over the summer but Yaya Sanago hasn’t made an impact since his arrival. In the 3 matches that he has played, he hasn’t scored any goals or made much of an impact. Plus, he’s even behind Nicklas Bendtner in the pecking order! I shouldn’t judge him too much though as we haven’t seen too much action from the French striker due to injury and with little experience at 20 years old, he should have plenty of time to mature at the club or elsewhere.
Liverpool:
Best Buy: Mamadou Sakho and Simon Mignolet
Both these buys in the summer have helped Liverpool immensely in creating a solid looking defense. The Reds now sit near the top of the table as Christmas arrives. Sakho was bought for £17 million and his all-round power and heading makes him a centre back to be reckoned with, minus the few mistakes he’s made. Simon Mignolet joined for £9 million as a replacement for the aging Reina and has carried on his good form from former club Sunderland. Looking at the Premier League’s statistics, Mignolet is currently the 4th best keeper in the league with 70 saves and 5 clean sheets. Money well spent Liverpool.
Biggest Flop: Iago Aspas
This looks like £7 million wasted, as the former Celta Vigo player looked poor in recent performances and lacks technical ability. He hasn’t scored or made an assist for the side since his arrival and has been overlooked by Sturridge and Suarez’ impressive form. Aspas doesn’t look like making his way into the team anytime soon, so expect either a loan move or a transfer away from the club come the end of the season.
Chelsea:
Best Buy: Andre Schurrle
This bright young talent has been a breath of fresh air and the club, bringing a different dynamic and scoring some good goals. He will also be hoping to carry forward his good International form with 4 goals in 2 games. Schurrle is slowly working his way into the first team and, if he keeps up his good performances, will be hoping for a place in the first team week in, week out.
Biggest Flop: Willian
This £30 million winger has looked nothing like worthy of his price tag this season, but who can blame him if the manager barely plays him? However, he has begun to show some glimmers of his true potential with his debut Premeir League strike against Norwich and will be wanting more match time if he really wants to make a big impact at the club.
Manchester City:
Best Buy: Alvardo Negredo
Manchester City used their fortune wisely over the summer; spending £65 million on the trio containing Fernandinho, Jesus Navas and their star signing: Alvardo Negredo. The Spanish striker has created a devastating partnership with Sergio Aguero and his 7 goals and 3 assists so far this season have helped City become the top scoring team in the League. His great form was evident in City’s recent performance against Fulham as he held up the ball well and the outside of the boot cross for the 4th goal was just sublime.
Biggest Flop: Stevan Jovetic
Costing £25 million, the appearances have been sparse and when he has played he, quite frankly, has been terrible (e.g against Aston Villa).
Everton:
Best Buy: Romelu Lukaku
Since his move from West Brom over the summer, Lukaku has been on top form scoring 8 goals and notching 3 assists for the Toffees. The Daily Mail worked out the league standings without the goals of loan players and results show that Everton would drop to an astonishing 11th place if it wasn’t for Lukaku’s goals. He appears to be an all-round great footballer; strong, powerful, good in the air and a top finisher. The list goes on. Even Jose Mourinho is keen to get the man on loan back at the club.
Biggest Flop: Arouna Kone
Kone showed he had the potential to perform at the top level last season with Wigan, so a £7 million move looked like a good move for the striker. However, he’s been overshadowed by the prolific Lukaku and hasn’t even managed to get his name on the score sheet. Martinez handed the Ivorian his first Everton start in the midweek Capital One Cup match against Stevenage, seemingly a perfect opportunity for him to prove his talent from the previous season. However, he endured a miserable evening against the League One side. His link-up play was occasionally decent but his finishing was extremely poor. He did little to convince Martinez – or the Everton fans – of his worth. Even that price tag is turning out to be too much at this rate
Manchester United:
Best Buy: No one
David Moyes only bought two players over the summer and one of them was Marouane Fellani who hasn’t exactly been impressive.
Biggest Flop: Marouane Fellaini
This is one of the most obvious flops on the list, after a huge £27.5 million move from Everton in the summer. What seemed like a promising move on deadline day has turned out to be diabolical, with no goals or assists for the club. I personally think Moyes should stick the giant upfront as his aerial dominance will cause a threat and his hold up play is good. However, in the centre of the park he lacks the vision and technical ability to cause much damage. Far too much money paid was spent on the Belgian, but that’s football nowadays.
Newcastle:
Best Buy: Loic Remy
Since his move from relegated QPR, Loic Remy has made a huge difference to the club scoring 8 goals out of Newcastle’s 21 this season. The 26 year-old looks very skillful on the ball and his goals from outside the area is something that’s new to his game. Alan Pardew is happy with the signing – “he’s a natural goalscorer, he gets the bulk of the chances. He is playing very well and we have just got to hope that continues.”
Biggest Flop: No one
Not because the signings have all played well, but because they only bought one other player, Olivier Kemen. He’s only 17 and hasn’t been given enough of a chance in the limelight to show what he’s got to offer.
Tottenham:
Best Buy: Christian Eriksen
The 21-year-old cost £11.5 million in the summer and has turned out to be one of Tottenham’s best buys. He shows creativity in the middle of the park and although he hasn’t’t scored yet, suits the Spurs style of play perfectly.
Biggest Flop: Roberto Soldado
There’s a lot to choose from, but costing a huge £26 million Robert Soldado hasn’t impressed, with only 4 goals from 12 appearances, 3 of them coming from the penalty spot. The 3rd most expensive transfer, Erik Lamela has also been a massive flop for the club costing £30 million. After the huge sum of money they’ve spent on them and they could partly be to blame for the departure of AVB.
Southampton:
Best Buy: Dejan Lovren
In all honesty it was hard to choose between Dejan Lovren and Victor Wanyama for the best singing, as they have both helped the Saints achieved an astonishing defensive record. I’ve chosen Lovren purely for the fact that he’s getting more game time and has made more on an impact on the team. It’s always good if a CB can poach a goal or two and that’s what he’s done. Manchester City should take a leaf from his and the Saints’ defensive style.
Biggest Flop: Dani Osvaldo
Since Osvaldo joined in summer he has made little impact for the club, scoring only one goal since his arrival. The one goal he did score was against Manchester City and boy was it a good goal. Hopefully he can show more of what he has to offer in the remaining half of the season. I wouldn’t say that he has been a flop at the club, just less of an influence than other signings.
Stoke:
Best Buy: Stephen Ireland
Stoke didn’t really go to town on finding the best players of the summer but the loan deal of Stephen Ireland is turning out to be a little bright spark. Forgetting about his previous flops at other clubs, his impressive performances and 2 goals in 6 games has led Mark Hughes to try and buy the Irish man on a permanent deal and help Stoke continue their good form.
Biggest Flop: Erik Peters
Not much is known about the £3 million signing of Peters, but he is yet to make an impact at the club.
*LEAGUE TABLE CORRECT ON THE 22nd OF DECEMBER*
Whats your views? Who do you think is the biggest flop this season?
Merry Christmas!
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