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A new season comes with its own set of aspirations for players and managers alike and in a bid to improve from the year before, new signings are made by managers. They are expected to take the team to the next level and thereby improve their credentials.
However, many a time players find it difficult to adjust to new surroundings and get in tune with the new methods deployed by their managers.
Also, they may find it an arduous task to establish a relationship with new teammates, as it is a process that takes a bit of time for many.
On that note, we look at 5 players who have failed to live up to the hype this season and have not enjoyed the best of starts at their new clubs.
#5 Andre Silva (AC Milan)
Andre Silva's rise to fame was very quick. He caught media attention in the 2016-17 season with Porto when he scored 21 goals in 44 games for the Portuguese outfit.
He was scouted by some of Europe's biggest clubs and AC Milan won the race for his signature in 2017. They paid close to £35 million for his services.
However, upon his arrival in Italy, he found the going tough and has failed to live up to the hype. AC Milan had a major transfer overhaul last summer with many names coming in and this may be the primary reason for their struggles this season.
He has scored just 2 goals in 21 games in the league and has also been demoted to the bench on many occasions. AC Milan have scored only 43 goals in the league this season and are currently 7th in the table.
Silva's struggles in front of goal have been a major reason for their poor output.
He will be determined to make amends and will be hoping that he can prove his doubters wrong next season.
#4 Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona)
There were question marks over Barcelona's decision to replace Neymar with teenager Ousmane Dembele last summer. Neymar was an established player and one among the best in the world while Dembele is still a work in progress.
Dembele enjoyed an incredible 2016-17 season with Borussia Dortmund as he scored 10 goals and racked up 21 assists in 49 games for the German club. His incredible form earned him a call-up to the French national team and also to Barcelona who were desperate to replace Neymar, coughing up in excess of £100 million to land him.
But, Dembele has underwhelmed all season and perhaps it was too big a stage for the 20-year-old. He also suffered a thigh injury that kept him out of the game for more than three months which further derailed his progress.
He has not been able to replicate the form he exhibited at Dortmund and has played only 19 games in all competitions, scoring just twice. Also, Ernesto Valverde has been reluctant to start him regularly and this may have dampened his confidence as well.
He still has his career in front of him and there is no question about the talent he boasts. Sometimes, certain players need a bit of spark from somewhere and with Dembele, it is just a matter of time.
#3 Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid)
Last summer's transfer window was one to forget for the Real Madrid faithful. Fan favourites like James Rodriguez, Alvaro Morata and Pepe all made their exit, and the club struggled to buy suitable replacements for them. Perhaps their most high-profile signing was Dani Ceballos who has been far from impressive this season.
The attacking midfielder made a name for himself at Real Betis while operating as their chief playmaker and caught the attention of Real Madrid. They bought him in July 2017 for a reported €18 million.
However, he has endured a gruelling debut season and has failed to deliver. He has started only 2 league games all season and has scored just twice.
Zidane has had his own difficulties this season, tweaking his system often to accommodate Isco and Gareth Bale. Ceballos has been largely frustrated with a lack of playing time and there are even reports of him seeking a move away from the club.
Madrid are set to spend big this summer which may prove to be fatal for Ceballos' Madrid career.
#2 Tiemoue Bakayoko (Chelsea)
Perhaps the primary reason for Chelsea's fall from grace this season is their decision to sell Nemanja Matic to Manchester United. It wouldn't have been a bad decision had they bought a quality replacement. But, Bakayoko, who was bought to replace the Serbian, has been underwhelming, to say the least.
Bakayoko played a crucial role in Monaco's incredible league triumph in 2017 and helped them to reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League as well. Chelsea snapped him up in July 2017 for £40 million.
Despite making 37 appearances in all competitions, he has been susceptible to silly mistakes and has often been on the receiving end of harsh criticism, even from his own fans.
We have seen players failing to adjust to the intensity of the Premier League and Bakayoko maybe one such player. He faces an uphill task of resurrecting his career and with a possible managerial change at Chelsea, he will be hoping to start afresh.
#1 Renato Sanches (Swansea City)
Who would believe Renato Sanches is a Golden Boy winner? The Portuguese attacker won the award in 2016 but his career has suffered a disastrous downward spiral ever since.
He caught the eye of Bayern Munich as a result of his exploits with Benfica and the German club signed him for an initial fee of £31.50 million. After just 26 appearances for Bayern, he was sent on loan to Swansea City ahead of this season.
A primary reason for the move was the high profile arrivals of James Rodrigues and Corentin Tolisso at Bayern which meant he would have his playing time limited. Thus, he was sent away to gain playing time under his belt and develop further. But, sadly, things have turned out differently.
He has started only 9 times in the league this season and is yet to score or make an assist in all competitions. He also suffered from recurring injuries which have worsened the situation.
He will be eager to go back to Germany and resurrect his career because it has simply been a year to forget for the talented 20-year-old.
