Fernando Torres is the latest in a long line of failed record signings by Premier League clubs…
So Fernando Torres’ Chelsea career has come to an end, and so with it ends one of most tumultuous spells of any Premier League signing, particularly one that cost a club record £50m.
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But the Blues are far from the only team to regret a big-money purchase. In fact, numerous record signings have been failures. Here, we rate every Premier League team’s record signing as either a success of failure. Or, in some special cases, we might vote for a ‘jury’s out’ verdict:
Arsenal
Mesut Ozil – £42.5m from Real Madrid (Summer 2013) – FAILURE
The German World Cup winner has shown flashes of the brilliance everyone knows he’s capable of, but has otherwise endured an underwhelming start to his Gunners career, and has spent most of this season on the sidelines.
Aston Villa
Darren Bent – £24m from Sunderland (January 2011) – FAILURE
The former England international arrived at Villa Park with a big reputation and a big price tag, but after a bright start he quickly fell out of favour with manager Paul Lambert. Now on loan in the Championship with Brighton.
Burnley
Steven Fletcher – £3m from Hibernian (Summer 2009) – SUCCESS
Failed to prevent Burnley’s relegation from the Premier League, but was the club’s top scorer that season, and was sold to Wolves for £6.5m the following summer. The Clarets could hardly complain after doubling their money.
Chelsea
Fernando Torres – £50m from Liverpool (January 2011) – FAILURE
Never rediscovered his Liverpool form, although did win the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge, and set a club record by scoring in seven different competitions during the 2012-13 season.
Crystal Palace
James McArthur – £7m from Wigan Athletic (Summer 2014) – JURY’S OUT
Has formed a promising partnership alongside Mile Jedinak in the centre of midfield, but his influence has not halted Palace’s drop down the table or saved Neil Warnock from being the first Premier League manager to be sacked.
Everton
Romelu Lukaku – £28m from Chelsea (Summer 2014) – JURY’S OUT
Was excellent on loan last season, and has found the net this season, but considering the price tag Everton fans could be forgiven for expecting more from the former Chelsea striker. Lukaku and Everton need to do more.
Hull City
Abel Hernandez – £10m from Palermo (Summer 2014) – JURY’S OUT
Started brightly, but then missed several weeks through injury. Has recently returned to the team, and has helped lift Hull back out of the relegation zone. A promising start, but too soon to tell for sure.
Leicester City
Leonardo Ulloa – £8m from Brighton (Summer 2014) – SUCCESS
Looks by far the Foxes best chance of staying up this season. His goals have dried up somewhat in recent weeks, but so has Leicester’s form. If they can keep a steady supply of chances coming his way the goals will come.
Liverpool
Andy Carroll – £35m from Newcastle (January 2011) – FAILURE
Carroll endured a miserable time of it Anfield. The price tag looked crazy in 2011, and still looks crazy today considering his lack of goals and his terrible injury record. A £20m loss following his sale to West Ham was inevitable.
Manchester City
Sergio Aguero – £38m from Atletico Madrid (Summer 2011) – SUCCESS
You could be forgiven for running out of superlatives to describe Sergio Aguero, who is quickly establishing himself as one of the best players in the club’s history. Won them their maiden title and scores goals for fun.
Manchester United
Angel di Maria – £59.7m from Real Madrid (Summer 2014) – JURY’S OUT
Started very strongly after his record breaking move, but has been out injured for the last couple of months. The Argentine has world class abilities, and it would be surprise if he did not go on to be a success.
Newcastle United
Michael Owen – £16m from Real Madrid (Summer 2005) – FAILURE
Newcastle spent heavy on the former Liverpool and Real Madrid man, but were never truly rewarded in terms of games or goals. Owen struggled with injuries, and his record has probably contributes to United not spending so big again.
Queens Park Rangers
Christopher Samba – £12.5m from Anzhi Makhachkala (January 2013) – FAILURE
Was a spectacular failure at QPR, as he failed to prevent their relegation from the Premier League. However, Rangers did at least manager to sell him back to Anzhi for £12m that summer, limiting the damage.
Southampton
Pablo Dani Osvaldo – £15m from Roma (Summer 2013) – FAILURE
The Italian struggled for goals at first, but then things got even worse. A training ground bust up and falling out with the manager soon shipped out on loan, and it seems unlikely that he will ever step foot at the club again.
Stoke City
Peter Crouch – £10m from Tottenham (Summer 2011) – SUCCESS
Has been a steady scorer for Stoke over the last three years, and was recently described by Mark Hughes as ‘irreplaceable’. There are very few ‘big men’ in the same league as Crouch, and he has been a huge success.
Sunderland
Steven Fletcher – £14m from Wolves (Summer 2012) – FAILURE
Has struggled with injuries, and has been exposed this season as he’s failed to score the goals Sunderland so desperately need. With the Black Cats set to dip into the transfer market in January, his time could be up.
Swansea City
Wilfried Bony – £12m from Vitesse (Summer 2013) – SUCCESS
The Premier League’s top scorer in the 2014 calender year, there is no doubting that the Ivorian has been a huge success at the Liberty Stadium. He will be sorely missed when he departs for the Africa Cup of Nations early next year.
Tottenham Hotspur
Erik Lamela – £30m from Roma (Summer 2013) – FAILURE
Just one Premier League goal in 18 months says it all. The Argentine has been steadily improving this season after missing much of the previous campaign through injury, but he still needs to do more to justify that price tag.
West Bromwich Albion
Brown Ideye – £10m from Dynamo Kiev (Summer 2014) – FAILURE
The Baggies took a huge gamble by signing the Nigerian this summer, and bar a couple of moments of quality, he’s failed to impress. Needed to score goals, and has struggled to do so, leaving Albion in plenty of trouble.
West Ham United
Andy Carroll – £15m from Liverpool (Summer 2013) – FAILURE
Has spent much of his time at West Ham out through injury, after making his loan move from Liverpool permanent. Has scored a couple of goals this season to suggest he might be turning thing around, but needs consistency.
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