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The 2019/20 Premier League campaign is set to come to a dramatic end on July 26. The race for UEFA Champions League spots, Europa League spots, as well as the relegation battle, are all yet to be decided on what could be an exciting day.
The transfer window for the English top-flight is set to open soon after the end of the ongoing league season. Clubs have already commenced their summer business, with Chelsea, in particular, getting off to a flying start in the window. The Blues have already secured the services of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner, and are reportedly closing in on the signature of Kai Havertz.
In the summer and winter windows of 2019/20, the Premier League as a whole saw a total expenditure of €1,736,033,181. Approximately 140 new players arrived at English clubs in what was a frantic transfer season. While some of them excelled, some of them failed to leave a good account of themselves.
Here, we take a look at ten summer transfers who have failed to impress in the 2019/20 season.
#10 Dan James | Manchester United | €17m
Manchester United capitalised on Dan James' failed move to Leeds United by signing him up ahead of the 2019/20 season. The Welshman got off to a flying start to life as a Red Devils player, having scored three goals in his first four league games.
However, his impact quickly faded away as the season wore on. James then struggled to find the back of the net for over 30 games and was primarily used as a super sub. He is yet to score a league goal since September. Since the restart, the 22-year-old lost his place to Mason Greenwood, who quickly solidified his slot in the preferred XI with some excellent performances.
James scored three goals and set up six more in 26 starts at Old Trafford, and a further seven games off the bench. The €17m signing did not arrive with high expectations, but after a fast start, James has underwhelmed for Manchester United.
#9 Patrick Cutrone | Wolves | €22m
Perhaps the player with the shortest stay in the league on this list, Patrick Cutrone had a forgettable spell in England with Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Italian was brought in from AC Milan to give Wolves another option at the tip of the attack along with Raul Jimenez.
Despite the attributes and potential that the Europa League contenders paid €22m for, Cutrone lasted just 12 games in the Premier League. The 22-year-old earned only three starts in the league and came off nine times off the bench, scoring twice — against Chelsea and West Ham.
He didn't appear to have settled into life in England and looked for a swift return to his homeland when Fiorentina came calling and took him on a loan deal. Cutrone has done well for the Viola, scoring four in eight starts in Serie A, and eight substitute appearances. However, his nightmare English spell was remarkably poor.
#8 David Luiz | Arsenal | €8.70m
David Luiz made headlines after his comical cameo against Manchester City upon the return of football. The former Chelsea defender committed an error leading to a goal, conceded a penalty, and got sent off — all in the space of some 30 minutes of football. Since then, he's grown into a leader at the back and has taken his performances up by a few notches.
That being said, he has also been one of the ever-present figures in Arsenal's porous defence. The Brazilian has started 31 games for Arsenal, scoring two and assisting one, and racked up 2721 minutes for the Gunners at centre-back.
His lapses in concentration and Arsenal's lack of a solid defensive structure has seen them concede 46 goals in 37 games. Only Burnley (48) and Chelsea (54) have conceded more in the top half. Luiz has earned himself a new deal and could be a necessary option for the Gunners in the future, given his prowess with the ball at his feet. However, on an overarching note, he's endured a disappointing 2019/20 campaign.
Also check out: the Premier League Winners by season
#7 Nicolas Pepe | Arsenal | €80m
Nicolas Pepe was at the heart of a prolonged transfer saga in the summer of 2019. The likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Napoli, and other clubs were all keen on signing him after his breathtaking 2018/19 Ligue 1 season.
The Ivorian announced himself to the world with 22 goals and 11 assists in 38 games for LOSC Lille. Upon his move to England, he has struggled to settle in quickly. The 25-year-old is one of the most prolific dribblers in the league and is fearless with the ball at his feet. Yet, his end product has left a lot to be desired.
In 30 league games for the Gunners (21 starts), he's racked up five goals and six assists, with only one of his strikes coming against a team in the top half of the table. In Europe, he has two goals and as many assists in six games. Although all the signs point to the best of him still yet to come, Pepe has failed to do justice to his price-tag and would hope for a stellar 2020/21 season under Mikel Arteta.
#6 Moise Kean | Everton | €27.5m
Everton's ambition drew massive praise upon the signing of promising Juventus youngster Moise Kean for €27.5m. The Italian had a reputation of being a razor-sharp finisher who could find the back of the net with either foot. He scored five goals in nine games for the Italian U-21 side.
Despite the hype, Kean endured a terrible season at Goodison Park. He barely got a look-in under former Toffees boss Marco Silva, receiving just two starts from the Portuguese tactician. The Italian hoped for a turnaround when his compatriot Carlo Ancelotti was appointed at the helm, but that wasn't the case either. Kean saw just three starts under Ancelotti, and started only two league games in 2020.
Overall, the €27.5m man saw five starts and 23 (!) substitute appearances, scoring only one goal and assisting two in roughly 800 minutes of league football. The 20-year-old made headlines when he claimed he hoped to score at least seven goals this season, and even by his ambition, he's fallen short considerably.
#5 Sebastian Haller | West Ham United | €50m
There was a lot of anticipation surrounding Sebastian Haller's move to the Hammers in the summer. The French striker played a pivotal part in Eintracht Frankfurt's successful 2018/19 season. They went all the way to the semi-finals of the Europa League, a run in which Haller scored five and set up three more in nine starts. In the league, the 26-year-old scored 15 and set up nine in 29 games.
The towering Frenchman, however, could not replicate his commendable form in England. Haller has put in significant shifts for West Ham, and has worked tirelessly to help out his team with neat link-up play and aerial prowess. Yet, he could only muster seven goals and an assist in 31 games for the relegation-threatened Hammers.
The West Ham faithful would have hoped for Haller's arrival to mark the end of their dismal luck with centre-forwards. Based on the 2019/20 season, their wait for a top-class striker to lead the line is set to continue.
#4 Joelinton | Newcastle United | €44m
Newcastle parted with a whopping €44m in the summer of 2019 to purchase Joelinton from the Bundesliga. The Brazilian did not have the most prolific of campaigns with Hoffenheim, but impressed due to his ability to dominate opposition defenders and link-up play.
Upon his arrival at St. James' Park, though, none of those attributes shone through. Joelinton cut a frustrated figure for large parts of the Magpies' season, being isolated at the tip of their attack with little to no service. Newcastle would have hoped for him to spark a useful partnership with Allan Saint-Maximin, and while the latter has been superb, Joelinton has underwhelmed.
The 23-year-old centre-forward has featured in 37 league games, of which he started 32, scoring only two goals and assisting a further two. This record is disappointing for a player at a Premier League level, and it's even more questionable given the price the Magpies paid for him. A thoroughly frustrating transfer for everyone involved.
Also read: Ranking Barcelona's 2019/20 signings from worst to best
#3 Alex Iwobi | Everton | €30.4m
An Arsenal player right from his academy days, Alex Iwobi broke onto the scene as a promising youngster who could help solve their winger crisis. His departure from the Emirates came as a direct consequence of Arsenal's lavish expenditure on Nicolas Pepe. Iwobi departed in fear of losing out on game time, and Everton came calling with a €30.4m fee for the Nigerian.
The 24-year-old has had a remarkably dismal season with the Toffees and offered them next to nothing in attack. Iwobi was never prolific, to begin with, but 2019/20 has been statistically his worst ever league campaign. The former Arsenal winger scored just one goal in 25 appearances for Everton (19 starts), failing to register even one assist.
Whether it's in crosses, key passes, defensive contribution, or any other facet of a modern winger — Iwobi has failed to deliver in any particular aspect notably. Given Arsenal's current shortage of wide players, Iwobi would have been better suited to wait at the Emirates. All in all, his debut campaign at Goodison Park was thoroughly underwhelming.
#2 Joao Cancelo | Manchester City | €30m + Danilo
Eyebrows were raised when Joao Cancelo arrived at the Etihad Stadium to replace the outgoing Danilo, with Juventus agreeing a player plus cash offer. Kyle Walker has been Pep Guardiola's staple right-back since his arrival at the club, and it was unlikely for Cancelo to feature too often.
That was precisely the case, as the Portuguese full-back failed to make any sort of a mark in Manchester. He has earned 12 starts from Guardiola in the league, with only two of them coming against top-six opposition. Cancelo has provided more of an attacking threat down the right, but has not managed to register a goal or an assist for the Cityzens in the league. His versatility, perhaps, is the only exclusive asset the 26-year-old offered his side.
There are rumours that Cancelo could be on his way out of the Premier League with Barcelona interested in his services. A potential player swap deal including Eric Garcia, Cancelo, and his compatriot Nelson Semedo is on the cards. As far as his spell in England is concerned, it was truly a baffling move which bore no fruit, especially given City's shambolic season by their standards.
#1 Tanguy Ndombele | Tottenham Hotspur | €60m
There was little doubt that Tanguy Ndombele was one of the most exciting midfielders available in the market in 2019. The dynamic Frenchman had an excellent campaign with Olympique Lyonnais and was viewed as the future of France's midfield. He arrived at the home of Champions League finalists Tottenham Hotspur with great promise.
However, the move was anything but what was expected of it after what an abysmal season in North London. It's not necessarily the 23-year-old's fault, though, as Spurs have undergone a transitional period in 2019/20. Mauricio Pochettino's departure, followed by Jose Mourinho's arrival, saw the club struggle for form and witnessed a complete shift in team dynamics.
Whether it was under the Argentine or the Portuguese, Ndombele astonishingly failed to make his presence felt at the club. The 23-year-old's decision-making, lapses of concentration, and knack of dwelling on the ball for too long have drawn criticism from all over. He's played 21 league games for Spurs (12 starts) and scored two goals, assisting a further two.
The Frenchman's ongoing feud with Mourinho has only worsened matters, and Ndombele is reportedly on his way out with Barcelona interested. Overall, considering the price, performances, expectations, and the final result, Ndombele's €60m move to Spurs was certainly a disappointing one. He could go on to have a brilliant season and potentially many more, but judging by his debut campaign, Ndombele is unlikely to remain in North London for too long.
Also read: 5 Most valuable U-23 forwards in the world
