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#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
