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The summer transfer window of 2014 saw a flurry of activity from the big clubs as previously unheard of transfers suddenly got the green light. David Luiz’s £50 milion transfer to PSG, Suarez’s £70 million move to Barcelona and Angel Di Maria’s last-gasp move to Manchester United were the highlights of a transfer window that saw many more high-profile moves.But amongst the good and the great, there were some signings that appeared to be a match made in heaven, but for one reason or the other have failed to shine. We take a look at the 5 high-profile summer signings who have failed to impress so far
#5 Filipe Luis
From: Atletico Madrid
To: Chelsea
Transfer fee: £16 million
An ever-presence in the title-winning Atletico Madrid side that narrowly missed out on the UEFA Champions League, left-back Filipe Luis had a sensational 2013/14 season. But the 29-year-old was tempted by the advances of Chelsea and Jose Mourinho in the summer of 2014 and with Atletico set to receive a fee of £16 million, the deal was done in record time.
Luis was expected to replace the departing Ashley Cole and make the leftback slot his own, much like he did at Atletico Madrid. But fierce competition from Cesar Azpilicueta, a rightback equally at home on the left flank, and the emergence of Branislav Ivanovic as a genuine attacking threat from the right flank has led to the Brazilian being relegated to third-choice fullback at Chelsea.
This season, Luis has feaured in only 5 Premier League matches – three of them as a substitute – and has mainly been used in the Champions League. And the lack of first-team football, compared to last season, has shown in the Brazilian’s play. The intensity and aggression that made him a threat for opponents seems to be missing, and the price-tag is suddenly looking like money wasted, rather than invested.
Still, with Chelsea expected to fight on many fronts, both domestic and European, Luis will get more game-time as the season progresses. Hopefully we will get to see the same level of performances as those that earned him a nomination for best La Liga defender last season.
#4 Dejan Lovren
From: Southampton
To: Liverpool
Transfer fee: £20 million
One of three Southampton players Liverpool signed in the 2014 summer transfer window, centre-back Dejan Lovren was supposed to be the answer to Liverpool’s defensive conundrum. The 2013/14 season saw Liverpool blitz the opposition and score goals at will, but they were always vulnerable at the back, as they conceded 50 goals over the EPL season – an average of 1.3 goals per game.
A front-foot defender comfortable with the ball, Lovren was expected to slot right into Rodgers’ system, with the defender already well-versed in building play from the back while at Southampton. Add to that the Croatian’s physical attributes and it seemed like a solid signing for Liverpool.
Instead, Liverpool have regressed significantly in defense this season, conceding an average of 1.4 goals per game. Lovren himself has underperformed compared to last season, and the £20 million price tag is suddenly being questioned.
The defender’s WhoScored rating of 6.9 suggests he still has a long way to go to fullfilling the expectations that come with a signing of this magnitude.
#3 Eliaquim Mangala
From: Porto
To: Manchester City
Transfer fee: £32 million
Manchester City sought to reinforce their title-winning team with the signing of Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala for a whopping £32 million. The sum represented a significant outlay for a player of his age and reputation.
Nevertheless, the logic of the transfer was sound. City needed a strong, convincing presence alongside club captain Vincent Kompany, and with Martin Demichelis on his last legs and Matija Nastasic not considered experienced enough, the signing of Mangala was supposed to be the last piece in the jigsaw puzzle that is the City defense.
But instead of bringing order and stability, Mangala’s early performances for City have brought disorder and chaos. The Frenchman has been guilty of mistakes that have directly led to an opponent scoring, and his playing style has often been characterized as rash and inconsistent – the exact opposite of what manager Pellegrini wanted when he signed the defender.
Still, it’s early days in the 23-year-old’s City career, and one hopes the mistakes will be ironed out eventually. But a £32 million price tag generally comes with a lack of patience and the expectation of instant results, so Mangala is treading a thin line.
#2 Falcao
From: Monaco
To: Manchester United
Transfer fee: N/A (On loan)
Manchester United fans were treated to a magnificent time during the transfer window as the club spent upwards of £150 million on Angel Di Maria, Ander Herrera, Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo and Luke Shaw. Falcao, though, cost United nothing in terms of transfer fees, although a £50 million future fee has been mentioned.
The transfer was something of a coup, with the likes of Real Madrid and Chelsea interested in the Colombian’s services. And for good reason, since the Colombian had been one of Europe’s most prolific strikers in the past three seasons.
But the major problem with the transfer has been a question mark over the player’s fitness, especially after coming back from a career-threatening ACL injury. Falcao’s time at Manchester United has been marked by a few minutes of game-time and a lot of time spent either on the treatment table or recovering from injury.
True, Manchester United haven’t paid a penny (yet) for Falcao, but with the Colombian reportedly on wages of over £200,000-a-week, it does represent a significant outlay for the club. And the returns have been poor so far, with just 1 goal and 2 assists in 6 games.
#1 Mario Balotelli
From: AC Milan
To: Liverpool
Transfer Fee: £16 million
After losing out on the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Loic Remy, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers finally settled on Mario Balotelli as his main man following the departure of star striker Luis Suarez to Barcelona. Balotelli’s signing was met with much fanfare and excitement, with the Liverpool manager assessing the new arrival as follows:
"He has scored goals in the Barclays Premier League, in Italy, in the Champions League and for his country at international level. I believe we have the infrastructure, culture and environment to get the best out of him and help him achieve his true potential.”
While Liverpool were more than happy to ignore the Italian’s previous indiscretions off the field, it is the striker’s on-field performances that have left a lot to be desired and has caused the supporters a fair share of confusion.
Balotelli has appeared rusty, uninterested and unwilling to adapt to a team that requires all individuals to be involved in the defensive side of the game. While he could be forgiven for not being as industrious as Suarez, his form in front of goal has been pretty poor, with just 2 goals in 14 appearances so far. A pathetic return on £16 million.
And Rickie Lambert’s recent performances in the first team suggest Brendan Rodgers too has had it with his star striker. With little patience for poor performances in the modern game, Balotelli will need to up his game in the second half of the season if he is to still be considered as one of the better players in world football.
