As the transfer window opens either at the end of the season or during the mid-season window,clubs scramble to pick up the best bargains, often leaving fans brimming with excitement over the latest big-money import.
Now its been months after the transfer windows have swung shut, and we take a look at which deals and players seem to have proved to be the worst of value for money spent.
As the league season comes to an end, at this business end of the season, we look at which players have offered the least to their respective football clubs, in England.
10 - FERNANDO
Porto to Manchester City
One
of two Manchester City entries after a summer which saw Manuel
Pellegrini’s side go backwards. Fernando is one-paced, doesn’t impose
himself on games and is a man out of his depth, particularly in the
Champions League. Porto must’ve laughed all the way to the bank when
losing Fernando and Mangala.
Any better than Javi Garcia? Well guys, am not so sure.
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| Brazilian midfielder Fernando has struggled to make an impact at Manchester City since his summer move | |
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| Fernando (right) looked out of his depth during City's Champions League campaign | |
9 - RICKIE LAMBERT
Southampton to Liverpool
Who
knew that a striker who spent most of his career in the lower divisions
probably wasn’t going to be cut out for life at Anfield? Well, quite a
few actually. But that didn’t stop Brendan Rodgers taking him from
Southampton for £4m last summer.
Perhaps
at that price it was worth taking a punt on Lambert but the former
Bristol Rovers frontman has had no tangible effect on the side and been
reduced to becoming a glorified lump up front in the final moments if
Liverpool are chasing a game.
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Rickie Lambert's dream move to Liverpool hasn't worked out the way he would have hoped with just two goals all season.
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8 - ANGEL DI MARIA
Real Madrid to Manchester United
This
list is all relative. If you pay £60m for one of the world’s
superstars, there is a reasonable expectation that he wins you a few
games; but good performances of Di Maria’s can be counted on one hand
and he hasn’t been able to get to grips with English football.
Louis
van Gaal has quite rightly persisted with the former Real Madrid man,
although we have witnessed just why Carlo Ancelotti wasn’t overly fussed
about him leaving the Bernabeu.
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| Former Real Madrid star Angel di Maria (right) seems to have lost his way at Manchester United | |
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| Di Maria is shown a red card by referee Michael Oliver during United's 2-1 FA Cup defeat by Arsenal | |
Free agent to Everton
The epitome of everything that’s been wrong at Everton during Roberto Martinez’s tricky second season in charge.
On
paper an excellent signing - particularly for free - but Barry’s
inability to drive forward from midfield has slowed Everton down.
They're not the most patient lot at Goodison Park and he has been no
stranger to the fans’ ire.
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| Everton midfielder Gareth Barry (right) has endured a tough season at Goodison Park | |
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| Barry is shown a red card for a late challenge on Willian during Chelsea's 1-0 victory against Everton | |
6 - MARIO BALOTELLI
AC Milan to Liverpool
It
just hasn’t worked, has it? Balotelli’s difficulties at Anfield have
actually shone quite the light on how well Roberto Mancini did in charge
of the tempestuous striker at Manchester City. The £16m fee sounded a
snip at the time, but Rodgers hasn’t been able to get anywhere near
what’s required.
The Italian is a completely different player to that fearsome forward of Euro 2012. Move him on.
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| Mario Balotelli has struggled for a first-team place after several poor performances for Liverpool | |
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| The Italian striker has scored just four goals for Liverpool since his summer move from AC Milan | |
5 - MAURO ZARATE
Velez Sarsfield to West Ham United
The
prerequisite to any signing is that they’re capable of buying into
whatever ethos that club’s manager has. In this case Sam Allardyce makes
his players do a bit of running. Zarate doesn’t do running.
He
clearly has the ability required to be a success in the division - the
Argentine was hugely impressive on his debut away at Crystal Palace -
but he doesn’t appear willing to work on his fitness. Just ask QPR, who
contemplated sending the forward back to the Hammers after landing him
on loan in January.
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| Mauro Zarate has made just 11 Premier League appearances for West Ham and QPR | |
4 - RADAMEL FALCAO
Monaco to Manchester United (loan)
Remember
the fuss that was made when Manchester United swooped on deadline day
for the Colombian? Seems a long time ago now. It is absurd to think that
Van Gaal could even contemplate making the loan move permanent at the
end of the season.
Just
four goals for a man heralded as one of the best finishers in the
business has meant Falcao even got a run out for the Under 21 side a few
weeks ago. Does not justify the astronomical wages United pay him.
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| Colombian striker Radamel Falcao has endured a terrible season at Old Trafford, scoring just four goals | |
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| Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal (right) looks likely to end Falcao's loan spell at the end of the season | |
3 - RIO FERDINAND
Free agent to QPR
Another
one for the QPR conveyor belt of wasted money. The club’s transfer
policy of bringing in ‘experienced’ professionals on high wages was
perhaps unfortunate when they suffered relegation from the Premier
League two years ago, but this time it was downright foolish and has
left them in serious financial trouble.
Even
Clint Hill - he of crouching on his haunches fame - is preferred to
Ferdinand, who has looked anything but match fit and failed the basics.
That tells the whole story, and this looks to being a desperately sad
way to end a stellar career.
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| Rio Ferdinand hasn't been able to find his feet during a relegation battle with Queens Park Rangers | |
2 - ELIAQUIM MANGALA
Porto to Manchester City
Abysmal.
To think Manchester City paid £32m for the central defender beggars
belief, and heads will undoubtedly role from a recruitment point of
view.
Hasn’t
been helped by the continuing slide of Vincent Kompany, but Mangala is
supposed to be a big imposing brute of an enforcer and there can be no
excuses for a rank average first season in the Premier League.
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| Eliaquim Mangala (left) cost Manuel Pellegrini's side £32million, but has failed to live up to the price |
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| Rolando Aarons beats Mangala for pace before scoring for Newcastle against City in October, 2014 | |
1 - EMMANUEL RIVIERE
Monaco to Newcastle
He
didn’t come cheap, costing more than £5m from Monaco, and for what?
Poor misses, the inability to shake off markers and a source of constant
frustration for supporters who want their team to attack with gumption.
Seventeen Premier League games without a goal means Riviere has the dubious honour of becoming Sportsmail’s worst signing of the 2014-15 season.
A
special mention must go to Siem De Jong as well, who can’t fulfill his
duties as a professional footballer by virtue of never-ending injuries.
But Riviere pips the Dutchman for some downright disgusting displays.
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| Riviere's only two Newcastle goals came during the 3-2 Capital One Cup victory against Crystal Palace | |
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| Emmanuel Riviere (centre) has been a source of frustration at St James' Park this season | |
What do you think people? Who do you think is the worst signing of the season? Make your comments below.
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