5 signings who have failed to impress so far

This summer we saw many a club spend well in excess of a £100m in the transfer market. The value of players have been inflated astronomically this year and £40m is now the new £20m. With such money being spent, the pressure on these players has inflated too. Many expect them to now hit the ground running and anything less is deemed a failure.

The players on this list were all hyped up to the moon before coming but life hasn’t been easy for them since making the switch. The modern game doesn’t give players a transition period like it used to, instead the fans want to see what the club paid so much money for straightaway. Unfortunately for these players, they haven’t proved to be worth their price tag, yet.

Here are 5 signings who have failed to impress thus far.

#5 Bernardo Silva

The fact that Manchester City have so many bright young attackers, it was expected that they were always going to leave some stars on the fringe. Bernardo Silva has become a casualty of that squad depth, failing to make an impression so far.

This season, Bernardo Silva has only started 1 Premier League game, making 4 substitute appearances. That equates to only 148 minutes of football in six gameweeks.

If the Portuguese star had impressed in those cameos, he’d be starting. Pep Guardiola is not a manager scared of dropping big players, as he showed with Agüero last season.

Silva has been billed as Portugal’s most creative midfielder since Deco, however, so far, he hasn’t proved that. Instead, he’s gradually blending into the periphery of Manchester City’s talented squad.

#4 Victor Lindelöf

Mourinho hopes Lindelof will find his feet soon

The Swede was meant to be United’s answer to a defensive crisis, instead, Phil Jones, a man seemingly on his way out last summer, has stepped up to the plate.

After becoming Manchester United’s most expensive defender ever, there were high hopes for Lindelöf but since then, the Swede hasn’t played a single minute of Premier League football.

It’s not as if the Swede is injured either, Jose Mourinho just doesn’t feel he’s up to the desired standard of Manchester United, yet.

Till date, he’s been a flop and he has a lot of work to do before he can break into Mourinho’s well-oiled defensive machine.

#3 Renato Sanches

This might be Sanches' last chance to prove his worth to the big fish

Life has been tough for the Portuguese star over the past few years. Since winning the Golden Boy award in 2016, Sanches has failed to live up to the expectations placed on him.

He had a stop-start first season at Bayern Munich, resulting in Ancelotti shipping him to Swansea in Wales. His connection to Paul Clement facilitated the deal in shocking fashion.

However, since arriving in Swansea, he’s made 2 starts in the Premier League, scoring 0 goals, providing 0 assists and created no chances.

He’s well and truly failed to live up to the hype, again. Paul Clement’s faith in youth will guarantee him a starting place but regardless, he’s certainly failed to impress thus far.

#2 Sandro Ramírez

Sandro has 36 goals in his senior career

As one of Spain’s most exciting young talents, life for Sandro Ramírez at Goodison Park hasn’t gone swimmingly. Before he came, many said his exceptional off the ball movement and composure in front of goal would help tear apart the Premier League.

Instead, he’s drawn blanks in every game he’s played for Everton so far. In 209 minutes of league football, Sandro has attempted 7 shots, only mustered 1 shot on target and not created 1 chance or scored a goal.

It’s been a tough start for the Spaniard and the Premier League is not a so forgiving place. This league will just pass you by if you fail to make an impression.

He’s cut a frustrated figure in a Toffees’ shirt and if care’s not taken, he’ll find himself back in Spain by next August.

#1 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has only played 67 minutes of PL football this season

When a player takes a £65,000-a-week pay cut to further his career, he should be commended not abused. Ever since switching the Emirates for Anfield, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has received nothing but abuse from the football community.

However, his performances haven’t done enough to negate that criticism.

The whole reason Chamberlain chose Liverpool over Chelsea was due to his desire to play in central midfield, not at right wing-back. His brief substitute cameos haven’t convinced Jurgen Klopp to play him in the middle.

Since joining, he’s only played there once and it was his worst performance of the season yet, as he helped Liverpool lose 2-0 to Leicester City in the EFL Cup.

The Englishman hasn’t started one game yet for the Reds in the league. Because for one, he hasn’t proved himself as a CM and he’s failed to impress the fans & Klopp this season.