The Premier League has witnessed some of the greatest sporting moments in history with star players earning adulation from supporters with skill and elegance. It’s what makes English football so attractive to fans all over world but for every success story there are plenty of badly thought out transfers that have ended less than ceremoniously.
While there are players who grace us with their flair and talent, and set the standard for how football should be played, there are those whose failures have been so costly that their careers have dwindled into obscurity and their clubs have lost millions.
From shockingly overpriced transfer fees to inexplicable failures by supposedly top class players, fans from all over the country have witnessed their clubs careless transfer antics. The majority of players are signed with the best intentions but it’s the transfers that defied logic that are remembered most fondly by fans.
With so many wonderful failures to choose from, it’s time for a gentle waltz down memory lane to reminisce over some of the 15 Worst Thought Out Transfers in Premier League History.
Click on Steve Marlet below to get the ball rolling
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Making transfers within the boundaries of the Premier League is always a difficult process. Due to the assurance that any player in question is already tried and tested at the top level and acclimatised to the very physical and unique style of the English top flight, any fee is bumped up and over-priced, often by dizzying proportions.
It creates a problem for English clubs, whom often source talent from on the continent, with the most recent trend being to bring in cheaper stars from La Liga and Ligue 1, in an eternal struggle to keep cumulative transfer fees and the wage budget as low as possible.
Well, this summer, the Premier League’s big clubs, namely, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and Everton, don’t have to, as we’ve complied a list of the Ten stars already plying their trade in the top tier of English football, but would not command a huge fee come the imminent transfer window.
Click Here or on Julio Cesar to reveal the Ten Premier League bargains top clubs should plunder
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Leeds United striker Joe Gelhardt may earn opportunities under Jesse Marsch than he did under Marcelo Bielsa, according to journalist Joe Donnohue.
The lowdown
The young striker played the final half-hour as the Whites fell to a 1-0 defeat at Leicester City in the American’s first game in charge on Saturday.
The 19-year-old, who has 18 goals in 27 games for Leeds at under-23 level, has featured in the Premier League matchday squad 20 times this season but only made 11 appearances (totalling 411 minutes) and has been awarded just two starts up to this point (via Transfermarkt).
Freelance sports journalist Pete O’Rourke told Give Me Sport on Saturday that ‘the Leeds fans have been crying out for him to be given more of a chance’.
The latest
Donnohue feels it was significant that, in his first game as Leeds manager, Marsch turned to Gelhardt ahead of Tyler Roberts and Patrick Bamford, even if the latter was ‘lacking match fitness’.
The journalist tweeted on Saturday evening: “With the game poised at 0-0, Jesse Marsch turned to Joe Gelhardt from the bench. He’s worked with him for less than a week, but was summoned ahead of Roberts & Bamford – albeit lacking match fitness – today. Impression made, and rewarded.”
In a corresponding article for Leeds Live, Donnohue stated: “If his first thought when seeking a breakthrough was to turn to Gelhardt, this certainly bodes well for the young striker’s first-team prospects.”
The verdict
Gelhardt should arguably be given a start against Aston Villa on Thursday night.
Bamford returned to the bench on Saturday but he may not be ready to play from the off just yet, having been out injured since early December and also had a prolonged absence during the autumn.
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As for Roberts, he could well miss the game after ‘struggling’ with an apparent injury he sustained after coming on at the King Power Stadium yesterday.
If Gelhardt is to break into the team, Rodrigo should be the man to make way from the starting line-up. In the words of BBC Sport’s Raj Chohan, ‘he makes too many mistakes with his final pass or shot’, so the Spaniard may yet find himself as Marsch’s fall guy.
In other news, this duo looked ‘nervous’ in Marsch’s first game
Rangers boss Gio van Bronckhorst may look to shake up his squad tonight in an attempt to return to winning ways in the Premiership.
The Gers have been held to a draw in both of their last two outings in the league and these frustrating results could tempt the boss into making some key selection decisions.
However, he will be without at least five of his first-team players after he revealed the latest injury news ahead of their clash with St. Johnstone.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, the Dutch head coach said: “Ramsey, Davis, Amad, Jack and Helander are not available for tomorrow.”
How many changes will he make to the team? Here is our predicted XI…
We are predicting that he will make three alterations to the side, with Jon McLaughlin, Leon Balogun and James Sands coming in.
Firstly, McLaughlin could come in between the sticks to replace the underperforming Allan McGregor. The veteran was caught out at his near post for Motherwell’s second goal at the weekend and this latest error could convince van Bronckhorst to hand a chance to the ex-Sunderland shot-stopper.
Former Scotland international Charlie Nicholas has urged the club to stop playing the 40-year-old, writing this week: “Rangers can kiss goodbye to their title crown if they don’t drop Allan McGregor.”
We are predicting that the Dutch head coach will heed his warning and axe the goalkeeper from his starting XI tonight.
In defence, Balogun should come in for John Lundstram. The ex-Sheffield United man was caught out for Motherwell’s first goal as he played in an unnatural position to him at centre-back, which should result in him being moved back into the midfield.
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Scott Arfield could drop out of the team after a run of five games without a SofaScore rating higher than 6.6 – suggesting that he has struggled to put in good displays of late. This will then allow Lundstram to play in the middle of the park with Balogun partnering Connor Goldson at the back.
Finally, we are predicting that £14k-per-week gem Joe Aribo will be handed a much-needed rest. January signing James Sands could come in to replace him, with Glen Kamara and Lundstram joining him in midfield, and this match could be a huge chance for him to show that he has what it takes to make an impact in the Premiership.
AND in other news, GVB must brutally axe Rangers gem with “unbelievable strength”, he’s run out of steam…
Motherwell’s Ross Tierney has said that he warned Johnny Kenny about a potential lack of playing time at Celtic.
The lowdown
The 21-year-old midfielder has played with Kenny at youth level for the Republic of Ireland, with Celtic paying £135,000 to sign the 18-year-old from Sligo Rovers in the January transfer window.
However, he has yet to make his senior debut for the Hoops, with fitness issues and a positive virus test limiting his training.
The teenager admitted that the early part of his Celtic career has been a struggle, describing it as ‘a rough patch’ (via Herald Scotland).
The latest
Tierney understands the draw of Celtic but stressed that ‘there are a lot of players in front’ of Kenny, with the possibility of new arrivals perhaps pushing him further down the pecking order.
As quoted by Football Scotland, the Motherwell man stated: “I only thought about what would be best for my career. I spoke to Johnny about that. There was another club in Scotland interested in him.
“Obviously, you’d love to sign for Celtic. But are you going to play?
“Last year with Sligo he qualified for Europe, played first-team football and was involved in the international set-up.
“At Celtic, let’s be honest, you’re not going to go straight into the first-team. There are a lot of players in front of Johnny. And Celtic can go and buy players of a bigger stature.”
However, Tierney did accept that Kenny is probably focused on the long-term, saying: “It’s his career. He’s good enough to play for Celtic and is still young so he’s got time.
“But being injured wasn’t a great start for him. Johnny’s got a good head on his shoulders so I’m sure he’ll look after himself.”
The verdict
Consider who is actually head of Kenny in the current pecking order at Celtic.
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There’s Kyogo Furuhashi, the team’s top scorer, but he i’s bound to attract interest from elsewhere if he picks up where he left off upon his return from injury. Indeed, it has already been reported that Southampton are interested in the Japanese forward.
There’s also Giorgos Giakoumakis, who has somewhat flattered to deceive with seven goals in 20 Celtic appearances since joining last year; and Albian Ajeti, who is allegedly up for sale ahead of the summer transfer window.
It might not be long before the path clears and Kenny finds himself with an opportunity to impress. Whenever that comes, it’s largely down to him to take his chance and put his early Glasgow struggles behind him.
In other news, Celtic have been hit with this injury blow for tonight
Pundit Alan Hutton has made a claim on the future of Leeds United winger Raphinha, as per Football Insider.
The Lowdown: Wolves absence
Raphinha has been the Whites’ standout performer this season, as per WhoScored, contributing to 12 goals in 26 starts. However, the 25-year-old was missing on Friday night against Wolves after testing positive for a viral infection shortly before the trip to Molineux, and he will now miss out on representing Brazil during the international break.
Jesse Marsch then lost Patrick Bamford, Diego Llorente, Mateusz Klich and Illan Meslier through injury, but Leeds staged a dramatic late comeback from 2-0 down, with Luke Ayling smashing in a dramatic winner in stoppage time.
The Latest: Hutton’s comments
Football Insider relayed claims from Fabrizio Romano, who revealed last week that Chelsea, Liverpool and Barcelona are all keen on the Brazilian’s services ahead of the summer window.
Hutton, who contributes for BBC Radio 5 Live, was talking to Football Insider in a story published on Saturday morning about Raphinha, believing that Leeds are going to ‘find it very difficult to hold on to him’.
[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]
The former Scotland defender stated:
“It’s a much different situation to Kalvin Phillips.
“Phillips has ties to Leeds which go way back. He’s a fan, whereas Raphinha will definitely have urgent ambitions to play at a higher level.
“So if they do stay up, and there are offers from those types of teams, Liverpool and Barcelona – Leeds are going to find it very difficult to hold on to him.
“He’ll be thinking: ‘Do I want to be fighting relegation or fighting for winner’s medals at the highest level’.
“I think he would make that move, whereas Phillips – Leeds through and through – would want to fight for the cause.”
The Verdict: A worry
It doesn’t exactly come as a surprise to see some of Europe’s biggest clubs looking at Raphinha, making the next few months crucial towards his future at Leeds.
Of course, it’s a worry knowing that he could leave Elland Road two years after joining from Rennes, so it’s crucial that the Whites remain in the top flight.
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Relegation would reportedly drop Raphinha’s release clause from €75m (£62.4m) to €25m (£20.8m), so if a summer exit is to materialise, Leeds need to guarantee their Premier League status in the meantime.
In other news: Phil Hay makes big claim regarding future of ‘astonishing’ Leeds starlet
Leeds United winger Raphinha is in advanced negotiations regarding a move away from Elland Road this summer.
What’s the talk?
That’s according to a claim made by Fabrizio Romano, with the transfer insider revealing in a recent post on Twitter that Barcelona are now in advanced discussions with Deco – the 25-year-old’s agent – concerning a move to Barcelona at the end of the current campaign.
The journalist went on to state that, while discussions with the Brazilian are progressing quickly, official talks with Leeds regarding the forward’s transfer are yet to begin, with these negotiations expected to take a considerable amount of time.
Speaking about Barcelona’s interest in Raphinha, Romano said: “Barcelona are in well-advanced talks with Deco for Raphinha as [a] summer target since one month, but the official negotiation with Leeds won’t start now – it will take some time.”
Supporters will be devastated
While it would appear likely that, should Raphinha indeed go on to leave Leeds this summer, the Whites would be in line to receive a considerable fee for the 25-year-old – with it being reported that Victor Orta has informed Barca they will have to pay the winger’s €75m (£62.5m) release clause in order to prise him away from Elland Road – the news that the Brazil international looks to all but have agreed personal terms with the LaLiga side will nevertheless leave supporters devastated.
Indeed, over his 27 Premier League appearances this season, the £36m-rated sensation has been in breathtaking form for Leeds, scoring nine goals, registering three assists and creating nine big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.7 shots and making 2.1 key passes per game – which see him rank first in Jesse Marsch’s squad in both metrics.
These returns have seen the £63k-per-week forward average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.97, ranking him as the Whites’ second-best performing outfielder in the current campaign.
Furthermore, considering just how highly FBref rank the 25-year-old in a number of key metrics in comparison to every attacking midfielder and winger in Europe’s big five leagues – being in the top 14% for xA per 90, as well as the top 11% for progressive passes, the top 19% for dribbles completed, the top 26% for shot-creating actions and the top 29% for non-penalty xG over the last 365 days – it is clear to see just how talented a player Raphinha really is.
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As such, while receiving a transfer fee of around £62.5m would undoubtedly represent a fantastic piece of business on a player Orta signed for £17m just a year and a half ago, the loss of the Brazilian would nevertheless come as a gutting blow to both Marsch and the Elland Road faithful – who will now be well accustomed to seeing Raphinha tear Premier League defenders apart for Leeds on a weekly basis.
AND in other news: Leeds United dealt yet another huge injury setback, Jesse Marsch will be devastated
Eddie Howe has received a huge injury lift regarding Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka this week…
What’s the latest?
According to Newcastle World, the Magpies shot-stopper is expected to train ahead of the clash with Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday. The report claimed that Newcastle are hopeful that the 33-year-old will be available for selection against Antonio Conte’s side despite withdrawing from international duty.
This comes after Slovakia boss Stefan Tarkovic told futbalsfz.sk [via The Mag] earlier this week: “Martin Dubravka suspects angina. Our doctors started antibiotic treatment for him.
“He is in isolation and will definitely not be part of the team in Norway and Finland. Ivan Schranz came together with an untreated member after a club match with Linz.
“Since he still doesn’t have it right, after talking to the doctors and the player, I decided that he wouldn’t travel with us and return to the club.”
Elation
This news will surely leave Toon supporters feeling elated, as they will no doubt be keen to see him lining up between the sticks this weekend.
Having him available will be a major boost for the club, as he is Howe’s number one and the best goalkeeper on their books. He has played 121 games for Newcastle since joining in 2018, which shows that he has played regularly over a number of years, with Rafael Benitez, Steve Bruce and now Howe often picking him to be their first-choice in goal.
The 33-year-old is a proven Premier League performer, with 33 clean sheets in 118 top-flight games, and he has been in fine form this season. Dubravka has averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.84 and has made zero errors directly leading to goals, whilst also not giving away a single penalty.
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He has kept three clean sheets in his last nine league outings, with the Magpies losing just twice during that run. This shows that he is in form at the moment and has been crucial to the club’s revival as they currently sit nine points clear of the bottom three.
Therefore, Toon fans must be elated by the news that he is set to return to training this week. Losing him would have been a big blow, given his impressive displays this term, and supporters may have been concerned about Dubravka’s situation after his international manager’s worrying comments. Instead, they can now rest easy knowing that he is on the verge of returning…
AND in other news, Howe can get St James’ rocking as Newcastle plot bid for “phenomenal” £50m wizard…
The Hoops have managed to cope without their top scorer though and are now three points clear of rivals Rangers heading into Sunday’s crucial Glasgow Derby at Ibrox.
Giakoumakis has stepped up to the mark in Furuhashi’s, absence, scoring 11 times in 2022, however, there is hope Furuhashi could be available against Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side.
The Latest: Devlin’s claim
Devlin shared a story on The Athletic on Wednesday, looking at who could lead the line for the Hoops at Ibrox.
He said it is ‘possible’ that both Furuhashi and Giakoumakis start together, although he added that it is unlikely.
The Verdict: A risk?
It looks as if Furuhashi may well have a part to play on the weekend, however, it could be a huge risk if Postecoglou selected the forward in his starting XI.
The 27-year-old suffered a reoccurrence of his hamstring issue after starting against St Johnstone prior to the winter break, so there could be a chance of lightning striking twice on Sunday if forced back for too many minutes.
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It could be better for Giakoumakis to lead the line with Furuhashi on the bench, easing him back into action, as there is still a lot of football left to play this season, including two more games against Rangers.
In other news: ‘Fantastic’ Celtic gem now drops major hint he won’t be available for title run-in.
West Bromwich Albion manager Ryan Mason had some of the pressure taken off him after his side claimed a 2-0 win over Sheffield United in the Championship at the weekend.
Prior to that clash, Football Insider reported that the club’s away form has caused serious concern behind the scenes and that the manager’s future will be evaluated if they get dragged into a relegation battle.
The report added that the board, with owner Shilen Patel, remain in support of the former Tottenham Hotspur coach, but that the situation could change if they fall down the table.
Why West Brom should sack Ryan Mason
Despite a 2-0 win over the Blades last time out, Patel should ruthlessly part ways with Mason because the Baggies have regressed under his watch in comparison to last season.
Manager Focus
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Whilst it must be noted that Tom Fellows left to join Southampton, the English head coach was given new signing Aune Heggebo, who has scored eight goals in 17 league starts, per Sofascore.
Despite that impressive addition, whilst also having the likes of Isaac Price, Mikey Johnston, Karlan Grant, and Josh Maja at his disposal, Mason has been unable to improve the team’s attacking play.
West Brom’s regression under Mason
Stat
24/25 (rank)
25/26 (rank)
Points per game
1.39 (9th)
1.31 (15th)
xG
58.7 (9th)
25.3 (14th)
xA
47.1 (4th)
24.4 (7th)
xGD
+11.6 (6th)
+0.9 (12th)
League position
9th
15th
Stats via FBref
As you can see in the table above, West Brom are worse defensively, offensively, and overall as a team since the English tactician took the job in the summer, which is why the club should make a decision on his future.
If the Baggies do decide to part ways with Mason, Gary O’Neil is one out-of-work manager who could come in as an upgrade in the dugout, having been touted for the role in the summer.
Why West Brom should appoint Gary O'Neil
In what would be a controversial move, given his time at Wolves, the English boss could come in and provide West Brom with a boost to lift them up the Championship table.
Prior to Mason’s appointment, EFL pundit Joe Jacobson tipped the club to appoint O’Neil, saying: “At Wolves, it was tough but I think he is a very, very good manager and that’s exactly what West Brom need right now, a freshness, someone with some fresh ideas, someone who’s obviously very motivated and wants to prove himself again.”
The former Wolves and Bournemouth boss was viewed as somone who could come in with ‘fresh ideas’ and motivation to push West Brom forward, and that is still what they need six months later, as they have regressed under Mason.
O’Neil, as shown in the clip above, has shown that he can motivate a group of players to achieve success, having guided Bournemouth and Wolves to safety in the Premier League in his first two seasons as a manager.
O’Neil’s first 2 Premier League seasons
Championship
22/23
23/24
Games managed
34
38
Wins
10
13
Draws
6
7
Losses
18
18
Points
36
46
League finish
15th
14th
Stats via Transfermarkt
The 42-year-old tactician showed that he has the capabilities as a coach to deliver decent enough performances at that level, even if his second season at Wolves, losing 11 of 16 league games, was a disappointment.
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He has been out of a job since December of last year, which means that he has had plenty of time off to reflect and learn from his experiences so far, and could come in with real motivation to succeed, as Jacobson said.
O’Neil could be an upgrade on Mason because he has shown promising signs, with his first two seasons at the level, as a manager in the Premier League, whilst the Baggies boss has seemingly made a Championship side worse in his first senior posting.
That is why Patel should seriously consider sacking the former Spurs coach in favour of bringing O’Neil in to lead the club forward in the coming months and, hopefully, seasons.
He'd revive Price: West Brom could hire "insanely talented" Mason upgrade
West Bromwich Albion could soon replace an under-fire Ryan Mason with this fresh manager, who might get even more out of Isaac Price.