The Telegraph has compiled an interesting list of the 20 worst value for money signings of the Premier League season…
Below, we’ve included some analysis of each player on their list and our ow opinion. Do you think the Liverpool players included in this list are fairly placed, Reds? And if not – where should they be?
20) Mauro Zarate (West Ham & QPR) Free
How can they put a player who didn’t cost any money on the list?! Filipe Luis cost £15.8m (BBC Sport) and can’t get in Chelsea’s team, and Mathieu Debuchy is approaching 30 and behind Hector Bellerin in the Arsenal pecking order, and cost £12m (via Guardian)!
19) Abel Hernandez (Hull City) £10m
Fair enough. Waste of money for the probably relegated Tigers, just like the rest of their summer signings.
18) Brown Ideye (West Brom) £10m
Ideye’s been shoddy, but you feel he could eventually blossom under Tony Pulis.
17) Juan Cuadrado (Chelsea) £23.3m
Another example of a talented player ruining his career at Chelsea. We feel sorry for him.
16) Steven Caulker (QPR) £8.5m
Not the rock-solid centre-back QPR hoped for… To think, he has an England cap!
15) Jack Rodwell (Sunderland) £10m
The former Toffee is not going to maximise this rumoured potential Everton once never shut up about. Deserves a spot on the list.
14) Ben Davies (Tottenham) £10m
Stuck behind Danny Rose for Spurs, Davies hasn’t been given many chances, but his price was definitely inflated.
13) Jake Livermore (Hull) £8m
Livermore should be higher on this list, considering he’s going to get banned for snorting cocaine (via Telegraph)… Silly boy.
12) Calum Chambers (Arsenal) £11m
A little harsh on Chambers, this! Started well, earned England caps, before he fizzled out. No worse than the players beneath him on this list.
11) Dejan Lovren (Liverpool) £20m
Obviously Lovren’s name was going to pop up on this list, but the writers probably were basing it on the Croat’s first two thirds of the season – rather than his last. He’s been handy recently, and has cemented himself a space in the side – whether it’s as part of a back three or four. We’re quietly confident ahead of next season.
10) Emanuel Riviere (Newcastle) £6m
One season, one goal. His price-tag wasn’t huge, but he’s been woeful.
9) Sandro (QPR) £6m
A typical Harry Redknapp signing! Sandro injured himself in his first training session by trying a knee slide celebration. Sums QPR’s season up, that.
8) Lazar Markovic (Liverpool) £20m
The Serbian wasn’t given any chances early on, but during our run of good form midway through the season, Markovic began to show why we spent such a vast sum on him. His talent is undeniable, and when he matches his speed and dribbling with consistent decision making – he could prove a good signing. We’re not giving up on a 21-year-old yet, anyway.
7) Wilfried Bony (Manchester City) £28m
City stockpile forwards, but none of them can ever take Aguero’s place, so it seems a little pointless. We’d take Bony, or even Edin Dzeko off their hands – no question.
6) Danny Welbeck (Arsenal) £16m
Four goals in 25 Premier League starts. That’s only three more than Balotelli, and in plenty less matches.
5) Luke Shaw (Man United) £27m
We scoffed when United spent £27m on Shaw. Even if he maximises his potential and becomes the world’s best left-back, he still won’t be worth such a horribly enormous sum. We’re surprised he’s not higher.
4) Radamel Falcao (Man United) £6m loan fee
Falcao’s such a barbaric waste of money due to his wages, as well as his loan spell. The once World-class Colombian has notched just the four league goals – his worst tally since 2006/07.
3) Eliaquim Mangala (Man City) £32m
The third most expensive defender in the history of football behind David Luiz (gulp) and Thiago Silva proves that City have too much money for their own good. Surely he’s a worse signing than anybody, value for money wise?
2) Mario Balotelli (Liverpool) £16m
We can’t argue too much with this selection to be fair. The Italian was our gamble – and it many ways, his utter failure to fit in has cost our season. More haircuts than goals says it all. Brendan Rodgers has cut his losses, and we can only hope the transfer committee don’t make the same mistake again.
1) Angel di Maria (Man United) £59.7m
It’s great to see United flops making up three of the top five spots. The most expensive signing in the history of British football sits on the bench behind Marouane Fellaini. Brilliant.
