THE January transfer window is now open and clubs are already scrambling to get their work done.
For some clubs, bringing in reinforcements to help in the battle to win the league or avoid relegation is the No1 priority.
Timo Werner cost Chelsea £47m but he’s managed just under a goal every four games this season
Others will look to rake in some much-needed cash and some will even look to sign players to pre-contract negotiations ahead of free moves in the summer.
However, there might be a few Premier League clubs diving into the transfer market to fix their mistakes from last summer.
While clubs were generally more reserved in their spending, in light of the coronavirus pandemic, there were still some big-money moves.
Unfortunately, there were also some mega-money flops brought in.
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We take a look at the top seven transfer flops of the previous window SO FAR…
TIMO WERNER
RB Leipzig to Chelsea – £47million
TAMMY ABRAHAM performed admirably for Chelsea last season, while Olivier Giroud found his form late in the season as he helped secure the West Londoners a Champions League sport.
Despite that, Frank Lampard raided the transfer window for RB Leipzig hotshot Werner in a £47m deal.
Werner, 24, scored a staggering 35 times in just 49 games for club and country last season.
But he’s found life tough in England, even admitting he’s taking some time adjusting to the physicality of players in the Premier League.
Werner – often played out of position on the left flank under Lampard – has managed just FOUR goals in 17 league games this season.
Compared to Abraham, who’s scored six times in just 14 games, and Werner has left fans asking whether it was £47m poorly spent…
KAI HAVERTZ
Like Werner, Havertz has struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League
Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea – £72m
STAYING at Stamford Bridge and another big-money signing from Germany has struggled to adapt.
Much like Werner, Havertz, 21, has often been played away from his favoured position under Lampard.
And he’s managed just one goal and two assists in 15 Premier League appearances.
For £72m – just breaking the club’s transfer record by £400,000 – that’s simply not good enough.
Havertz will need to find a way to adapt, and quickly, if he is to start paying back that monumental sum.
But Lampard has offered fans some hope, blaming the German’s poor form on coronavirus.
Havertz tested positive for Covid-19 in November, with the Blues chief adamant it has hampered his transition.
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Willian has struggled for form at Arsenal and has since been droppedCredit: Reuters
WILLIAN
Chelsea to Arsenal – Free (£220,000 per week)
ON the face of it, signing a player with seven years of Premier League experience and two top-flight titles for free seemed a no-brainer.
But Willian, 32, has looked utterly lost in North London, helping lead the Gunners to their worst-ever start in Premier League history.
The Brazilian veteran – paid a staggering £220,000 per week – has been dropped in recent weeks.
And it’s hardly a coincidence Arsenal’s form has drastically improved in those games with the young Gunners offering far more.
The likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka deserve their spot in the team far more than Willian as things stand.
GARETH BALE
Gareth Bale has failed to inspire after his loan return to TottenhamCredit: Reuters
Real Madrid to Tottenham – Loan (£325,000 per week)
IT was meant to be the move that kickstarted Bale’s career, returning to Tottenham seven years after his Real Madrid exit.
Once one of the best players on the planet, the Welshman, 31, was frozen out at the Bernabeu under Zinedine Zidane.
Moving back to Spurs on loan for the season was meant to be beneficial for both player and club.
But his ‘debut’ for the club came when he jumped off the bench with Tottenham 3-0 up against West Ham.
They would go on to slip to a 3-3 draw, which has perfectly summed up Bale’s return.
Bale has played just four times in the Premier League this season, scoring once and failing to register an assist, already out-of-favour under Jose Mourinho.
NATHAN AKE
Nathan Ake has struggled to live up to his £41m price-tag this seasonCredit: AFP or Licensors
Bournemouth to Man City – £41m
AKE was one of the most-in-demand defenders in the country after it became clear Bournemouth were going to be relegated last season.
Both Man Utd and City wanted the Dutchman, 24, with Pep Guardiola and Co winning the race in a £41m deal.
Ake hasn’t played particularly poorly, but he’s struggled for game time.
The versatile star has played six times in the league this season, starting just five games – plugging gaps at centre-back and left-back.
Ake has helped earn two clean sheets in those game, but City have only won three of the six matches the Dutchman has played.
On top of that, Ake has been booked three times, generally looking short of his former self.
Ake’s fellow £40m Dutch summer mover Donny van de Beek has also struggled for game-time at Man Utd.
But unlike Ake, Van de Beek has looked very impressive when given a chance.
RHIAN BREWSTER
Sheff Utd’s record buy, Brewster has failed to score a single goal this seasonCredit: AP:Associated Press
Liverpool to Sheff Utd – £23.5m
HIGHLY-RATED by Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, Sheff Utd thought they’d played a blinder signing Brewster in the summer.
Having starred on-loan at Swansea last season, Blades boss Chris Wilder had high hopes for the England 2017 Under-17 World Cup winner – also the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals.
So confident was Wilder he splashed a club-record £23.5m to bring in Brewster, opting for him over free signing Daniel Sturridge – another summer target.
But Brewster, 20, has failed to score or even lay-on an assist in 13 league games this season.
FABIO SILVA
Silva has mustered just one goal, from the penalty spot, since he became Wolves’ record purchaseCredit: AFP
Porto to Wolves – £35m
ONE of Wolves’ many Portuguese new-boys, Silva was meant to be the one to watch.
The young striker, 18, turned heads at Porto and had been expected to be battling for a first-team spot immediately.
However, in 12 Premier League games – including four starts – Silva has scored just once, failing to add any assists.
That goal – against Burnley – was from the penalty spot, too, as he waits to score his first goal from open play.
While Silva may well be one for the future, but after spending a club-record £35m, they would have been hoping for more of an immediate impact.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
