Coming into the 2020-21 season, it was expected that there will be minimal transfer spend from Premier League owing to the revenue meltdown from the global pandemic. However, it was the opposite case as clubs like Chelsea, Manchester, and Leeds United splashed over £450m on new players.
Safe to say, when we look at recent big transfer flops like Alexis Sanchez, Nicolas Pepe, Phillipe Coutinho & Fernando Torres, you’d find that money is not a guarantor for success. This season, players like Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Pierre Emile Hojberg (Tottenham), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa) have impressed one and all, there have also been others who have failed to live up to the hype.
We pinpointed the newly transferred players who have flopped in the 2020/2021 Premier League this season so far.
Willian:
Free transfer from Chelsea to Arsenal.
Willian’s time at Chelsea will be remembered with mixed feelings from fans. Acknowledged as one of their best wide players during his time there, however, fans complained about inconsistency and his decision-making.
He refused to renew his contract and made a switch to their London rivals, Arsenal. He has now played lesser game time and lesser role since joining Arsenal and has not even reached half his performance levels while at Stamford Bridge. Willian is probably the worst signing of the 2020/21 EPL season as Arsenal had very high expectations for the Brazilian winger leading their attack and since the EPL’s opening day he hasn’t been able to repay the club and fans for their faith in him, he has registered just 7 assists in 33 games so far.
His time at the North London club might come to an end sooner or later if he doesn’t improve.
Donny van de Beek
£39million – Ajax to Man United
Did Donny Van De Beek make a very poor transfer move?
Before moving to Manchester United, Donny played amazing football in sensational seasons with Ajax, he reached the Champions League semifinals in 2018-2019 with the Ajax Team. He caught the attention of clubs like Tottenham Real Madrid but opted to stay another season with Ajax.
In the 2020-2021 season, surprisingly and with Edwin Van Der Sar’s influence, he decided to sign for Manchester United. Questions popped up of his importance to Manchester United with Bruno Fernandes occupying his natural position and because Real Madrid was very interested in him.
Manchester United Midfielders like Pogba, McTominay, and Fernandes are up the pecking order and even in his natural position, he must contend with Bruno Fernandes which makes it extremely difficult for him as Fernandes is in the form of his life.
Donny Van De Beek’s contribution to Manchester United amounts to 1 goal and 2 assists in a combined 33 apps.
Kai Havertz
£71million – Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea
The most expensive player of the 2020 summer transfer window with so much hype and expectations, Kai Havertz joined Chelsea coming at the back of a fantastic season in Bundesliga, where he had made 27 goal contributions.
This convinced Frank Lampard to splurge £71million to Bayer Leverkusen for the 21-year-old. Kai Havertz has failed to live up to his hype and has given very poor performances. The appointment of Thomas Tuchel has seen his form rise slowly, but overall assessment will still put him as a big transfer flop for this season.
So far so good, Havertz has scored 8 goals and 9 assists in 41 games played.
Nathan Ake
£41million – Bournemouth to Manchester City
One of the big summer signings, Nathan Ake joined Pep Guardiola’s Man City in the hope to impress and lead their Premier League charge.
However, after playing few matches and with Pep seeing his defense still shaky, he opted to sign Ruben Dias to bolster his option.
Nathan Ake’s tough ride at Manchester City started after he suffered an injury on a boxing day match where Manchester City won Newcastle 2-nil.
Ake knows the fact that he knows the central combination of John Stones and Ruben Dias would hard to break down and he knows that he’s behind Aymeric Laporte in the central defender pecking order.
Rhian Brewster
£23.5 million – Liverpool to Sheffield United
Sheffield United spent a club-record £23.5 million on Rhian Brewster, a player who was yet to make a single Premier League appearance.
Rhian had scored 11 goals in 22 games during his brief loan spell at Swansea City in the 2019-20 Championship season. in 29 games so far, Rhian Brewster has contributed zero goals and as many assists.
Timo Werner
£47.5 million – RB Leipzig to Chelsea
Timo Werner is another German Star whose form plummeted after joining Chelsea for £47.5 million.
Timo bagged 34 goals and 13 assists in his last season with RB Leipzig. He has failed to adapt to the physicality of the EPL.
He makes good runs and has been great with assisting his teammates to score goals, however, he has been consistently missing big and clear-cut chances. His returns have been meagre for Chelsea with just 12 goals and 13 assists in 47 games.
Thomas Partey
£45 million – Atletico Madrid to Arsenal
Thomas Partey joined Mikel Arteta’s side from Atletico Madrid on transfer deadline day for around £45 million.
He was added to solidify Arsenal’s midfield after dominant displays in Atletico Madrid. However, Partey has struggled with fitness since joining.
Partey has suffered two hamstring strains and a hip injury since joining Arsenal and has played in less than half of their Premier League games this season.
Is there a premier league player signed in the 2020/2021 window you think has not performed well during the season?
Leave a comment below to let us know!
