5 record buys from this Premier League season, and how they have fared

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang & Alvaro Morata respectively cost Arsenal and Chelsea their transfer records

With just 4 games left in the season, the picture in the Premier League has become a bit clearer; Manchester City have already been declared champions while Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are almost certain of playing in the UEFA Champions League next season.

The two transfer windows of the 2017/2018 Premier League season will go down as some of the craziest in the history of a competition that keeps pushing the envelope when it comes to transfer splurges.

The 20 clubs involved in this season's instalment of the world's richest football league spent a cumulative total of almost £1.82b in both, the summer and winter transfer windows.

Quite a number of clubs in the league; about 11 in total broke their transfer records for various talented players which these teams felt will help them in achieving their objectives.

On that note, here is a look at 5 of these players who cost their respective teams record transfer fees, and how they have fared this season:

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#5 Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton) - £45 million

Sigurdsson has had a poor first season for the Toffees

Previous Record: Romelu Lukaku (from Chelsea) £31.8 million

Following a good first season under the Dutch manager where the club finished in 7th place, there was genuine optimism around Goodison Park about the team's chances this season and the £75 million received from Manchester United for Lukaku gave the club a bigger war chest to pursue the dream of making it to the UEFA Champions League.

The signing of the Icelandic midfielder from Swansea City was meant to be the final piece of the puzzle that then-coach Ronald Koeman was building with the Toffees.

Sigurdsson had thrived at the Liberty Stadium in a number 10 role just behind the main striker and it was expected that he would fulfil the same role at Everton.

Safe to say, the transfer has not worked out for both the player and the club. Both managers, Koeman and Sam Allardyce have refused to play the midfielder in his preferred playmaking role and have shunted him out to the wings at certain times in order to accommodate Wayne Rooney and sometimes Davy Klaassen.

The bad form of the team and the absence of reliable wingers and strikers who could feed off his creativity have also severely hampered the Icelandic genius' output.

His statistics of 4 goals and 3 assists in 27 games so far tell its own story and given the injury he suffered, this season will count as something of a write-off for both the player and club.

Rating: 2/10

#4 Marko Arnautovic (West Ham) - £25 million

The Austrian genius has been the Hammers' best player

Previous Record: Andre Ayew (from Swansea City) £20.5 million

Known as a talented but high-maintenance player who performed only when he felt like it, it came as a shock to most pundits when the Hammers chose to break their transfer record for the Austrian forward.

His statements about wanting to leave Stoke City as the London club were a more ambitious club incurred the wrath of the Potters' fans and seemed like big talk from an overrated player.

His early days under the former manager Slaven Bilic were not memorable as disciplinary issues and the team's messy dynamics meant the fans didn't get to see the best of the 28-year-old for the first few months.

Following the sacking of Bilic and the recruitment of his replacement, David Moyes, Arnautovic has been by far the best player for the Hammers who have been struggling this season.

His dynamism, pace, power, and finishing have been instrumental in West Ham's climb from the relegation places and if the team survives, he will have played a starring role as his statistics attest to.

Rating: 7/10

#3 Davinson Sánchez (Tottenham Hotspur) - £42 million

The young Colombian has been brilliant and will only get better

Previous Record: Moussa Sissoko (from Newcastle United) £30 million

Eyebrows were raised when Spurs decided to break their transfer record to sign the young Colombian defender from Dutch club AFC Ajax.

This was because the central defence wasn't seen as one of the core areas of the team which needed big-name reinforcements. The Belgian duo of Toby Aldeweireld and Jan Vertonghen had possibly been the best pairing in the Premier League the season before and Sánchez felt like an unnecessary addition.

This belief, however, has proven to be unfounded as the 21-year-old has been colossal since he arrived in North London. His potent mix of power, pace and aggression have served the team well despite the absence of the impressive Aldeweireld.

While he has had some error-strewn performances, as can be expected from a player this young, his ability and space for development mean that the club will be well served for the nearest future.

Rating: 7/10

#2 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) - £60 million

#YoPierre has given a faltering Arsenal side a huge lift

Previous Record: Alexandre Lacazette (from Lyon) £46.5 million

Arsenal's season was already falling apart before the January transfer window came around as the team were already outside the top four with minimal hope for the title or making the top four.

The 28-year-old Gabonese international was brought in from Borussia Dortmund as an uplifting signing for the team following the acrimonious departure of Chilean winger Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United in an exchange with Armenian midfielder Henrik Mkhitaryan.

His presence in the team has somewhat lifted the team as his pace, finishing and generally, unselfish play has given the team a new attacking dimension although it has not really led to an upturn in results as the team's porousness at the back mean that his good work upfront has been fruitless more often than not.

Due to a loss of form and injuries, the previous record signing, Lacazette had not performed as expected but Aubameyang has provided a lift and will expect to be even better next season.

His tally of 6 goals and 2 assists in just 8 Premier League games tells the story of a striker at the top of his game and the fans of the Arsenal will hope the superstar is given the support needed to deliver even more next season.

Rating: 6/10

#1 Álvaro Morata (Chelsea) - £70 million

The Spanish striker has not lived up to expectations

Previous Record: Fernando Torres (from Liverpool) £50 million

The most expensive player on the list (not the most expensive this season, though, as that honour belongs to Romelu Lukaku), much was expected from the Spaniard following his trophy-laden performances with hometown club Real Madrid.

Brought in as a replacement for wantaway countryman Diego Costa, Morata's aerial ability, hold up play, finishing and ability to play with the midfielders was greeted with enthusiasm by the Blues' faithful as in him, they saw the perfect replacement to add a new edge to the team's attacking play.

He started like a house of fire as he looked to be a justified purchase. He scored a number of goals in his first few games of the season (all of which were headers assisted by countryman Cesar Azpilicueta).

Injuries and a loss of form followed as the early promise has seemingly fizzled out and he has, in recent times, been a pale and sometimes irritating shadow of the confident player who started the season.

With 11 goals and 6 assists in 28 Premier League appearances, Morata's debut season in England has been disappointing and he will certainly need to do better next season.

Rating: 4/10