WHEN JACK BUTLAND was injured on international duty for England, Stoke called on summer signing Jakob Haugaard to take his place, but the Danish goalkeeper endured several error-prone performances since coming into the side, including one on his debut against Swansea.
Expect Mark Hughes to be on the lookout for a new back-up goalkeeper this summer.
Jakob Haugaard has been less than convincing in goal for Stoke in recent weeks. PA Archive / Press Association Images
PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
CB: Micah Richards (Aston Villa)
Although Richards was named as club captain shortly after he joined Aston Villa, the former Manchester City defender had a season to forget at Villa Park. After spending the previous season on-loan at Serie A side Fiorentina, the free transfer now looks like a costly mistake.
Micah Richards joined Aston Villa on free transfer from Manchester City. EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
CB: Sebastián Coates (Sunderland)
The Uruguayan made his transfer from Liverpool to Sunderland permanent in the summer of 2015, after joining the Black Cats on-loan last season. After a string of unimpressive performances including scoring an own goal in the 6-2 defeat at Everton,
Sam Allardyce decided to send the 25-year-old to Sporting Lisbon for the rest of the season.
Sam Allardyce sent Sebastian Coates out on loan to Sporting Lisbon in January. AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
CB: Joleon Lescott (Aston Villa)
Lescott’s inept performances on the pitch were only matched by his ill-advised comments off it. The 33-year-old joined Villa from local rivals West Brom, but the former England international’s performances lacked the composure of a player with 26 caps.
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His actions off the pitch including tweeting a picture of an expensive car and saying that confirmation of their relegation was “a weight off the shoulders” only exacerbated Villa’s bleak situation.
Joleon Lescott has been central to Aston Villa's leaky defence this season. Clint Hughes
Clint Hughes
RM: Memphis Depay (Manchester United)
When Manchester United signed Depay, United’s fans were hoping they were seeing the arrival of the new Cristiano Ronaldo, but in truth the Dutch winger has failed to even reach the relatively low heights of Nani at Old Trafford.
Depay joined Louis van Gaal’s side from PSV for £25 million, but has produced just two goals and failed to provide any assists in his 28 league appearances. The 22-year-old has shown glimpses of what he is capable of in Europe but those performances have been too rare to justify the price tag… so far.
Memphis Depay will be hoping for a better second season in English football. Martin Rickett
Martin Rickett
CM: Bastian Schweinsteiger (Manchester United)
The German international is one of the legends of the game, but a couple of injury-plagued seasons has left the 31-year-old a shadow of the player that lit up European football.
Schweinsteiger joined United for £6.5 million but has often been laboured and ineffectual in possession. The former Bayern Munich man has also lost any sign of the pace or physical strength which helped him become one of the most highly-rated midfielders in the game. This gamble didn’t pay off for Manchester United.
Bastian Schweinsteiger won the World Cup with Germany in 2014. PA Wire / Press Association Images
PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
CM: Florian Thauvin (Newcastle United)
The French underage international joined the Magpies for a reported £12 million in the summer from Marseille, but after just three league starts the midfielder decided to return to his old club in search of first-team football.
Florent Thauvin struggled to adapt to life on Tyneside. AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
LM: Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
The 21-year-old left Anfield for £49 million but the England international has failed to live up to his hefty price tag. Sterling has just six goals in the Premier League this season, which includes a hat-trick against Bournemouth while his other goals came against Sunderland, Watford and Aston Villa – having failed to make an impact in the bigger games.
Raheem Sterling will have to impress new Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola next season. PA Wire / Press Association Images
PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
CF: Radamel Falcao (Chelsea)
Jose Mourinho believed he could help rekindle Falcao’s spark in front of goal but the Colombian now looks more dispirited than ever before. Falcao scored just four goals in his 26 league appearances for Manchester United but has managed just one goal in 10 appearances in this campaign for Chelsea. Chelsea have the option to buy Falcao from Monaco at the end of the season for a reported £40 million.
Radamel Falcao has enjoyed a fruitless time in England. PA Wire / Press Association Images
PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
CF: Christian Benteke (Liverpool)
The Belgium international became Liverpool’s second most expensive player of all time, when they met his release clause of £32.5 million last summer. With just eight goals in an injury-disrupted season, it looks as if the former Aston Villa man will go the same as their most expensive player ever, Andy Carroll and out of Liverpool’s exit door in the summer.
Christian Benteke has failed to make an impression at Anfield. PA Wire / Press Association Images
PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
CF: Rickie Lambert (West Brom)
Since leaving Southampton to join his boyhood club Liverpool two years ago, Rickie Lambert has managed only three goals – two for Liverpool and one for the Baggies. The 34-year-old’s time in the midlands has been restricted to just 19 appearances, with only five starts and may need to drop a division to rediscover his goalscoring touch.
Rickie Lambert has now managed just three league goals in the last two seasons. PA Archive / Press Association Images
PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
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GK: Jakob Haugaard (Stoke City)
WHEN JACK BUTLAND was injured on international duty for England, Stoke called on summer signing Jakob Haugaard to take his place, but the Danish goalkeeper endured several error-prone performances since coming into the side, including one on his debut against Swansea.
Expect Mark Hughes to be on the lookout for a new back-up goalkeeper this summer.
CB: Micah Richards (Aston Villa)
Although Richards was named as club captain shortly after he joined Aston Villa, the former Manchester City defender had a season to forget at Villa Park. After spending the previous season on-loan at Serie A side Fiorentina, the free transfer now looks like a costly mistake.
CB: Sebastián Coates (Sunderland)
The Uruguayan made his transfer from Liverpool to Sunderland permanent in the summer of 2015, after joining the Black Cats on-loan last season. After a string of unimpressive performances including scoring an own goal in the 6-2 defeat at Everton,
Sam Allardyce decided to send the 25-year-old to Sporting Lisbon for the rest of the season.
CB: Joleon Lescott (Aston Villa)
Lescott’s inept performances on the pitch were only matched by his ill-advised comments off it. The 33-year-old joined Villa from local rivals West Brom, but the former England international’s performances lacked the composure of a player with 26 caps.
His actions off the pitch including tweeting a picture of an expensive car and saying that confirmation of their relegation was “a weight off the shoulders” only exacerbated Villa’s bleak situation.
RM: Memphis Depay (Manchester United)
When Manchester United signed Depay, United’s fans were hoping they were seeing the arrival of the new Cristiano Ronaldo, but in truth the Dutch winger has failed to even reach the relatively low heights of Nani at Old Trafford.
Depay joined Louis van Gaal’s side from PSV for £25 million, but has produced just two goals and failed to provide any assists in his 28 league appearances. The 22-year-old has shown glimpses of what he is capable of in Europe but those performances have been too rare to justify the price tag… so far.
CM: Bastian Schweinsteiger (Manchester United)
The German international is one of the legends of the game, but a couple of injury-plagued seasons has left the 31-year-old a shadow of the player that lit up European football.
Schweinsteiger joined United for £6.5 million but has often been laboured and ineffectual in possession. The former Bayern Munich man has also lost any sign of the pace or physical strength which helped him become one of the most highly-rated midfielders in the game. This gamble didn’t pay off for Manchester United.
CM: Florian Thauvin (Newcastle United)
The French underage international joined the Magpies for a reported £12 million in the summer from Marseille, but after just three league starts the midfielder decided to return to his old club in search of first-team football.
LM: Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
The 21-year-old left Anfield for £49 million but the England international has failed to live up to his hefty price tag. Sterling has just six goals in the Premier League this season, which includes a hat-trick against Bournemouth while his other goals came against Sunderland, Watford and Aston Villa – having failed to make an impact in the bigger games.
CF: Radamel Falcao (Chelsea)
Jose Mourinho believed he could help rekindle Falcao’s spark in front of goal but the Colombian now looks more dispirited than ever before. Falcao scored just four goals in his 26 league appearances for Manchester United but has managed just one goal in 10 appearances in this campaign for Chelsea. Chelsea have the option to buy Falcao from Monaco at the end of the season for a reported £40 million.
CF: Christian Benteke (Liverpool)
The Belgium international became Liverpool’s second most expensive player of all time, when they met his release clause of £32.5 million last summer. With just eight goals in an injury-disrupted season, it looks as if the former Aston Villa man will go the same as their most expensive player ever, Andy Carroll and out of Liverpool’s exit door in the summer.
CF: Rickie Lambert (West Brom)
Since leaving Southampton to join his boyhood club Liverpool two years ago, Rickie Lambert has managed only three goals – two for Liverpool and one for the Baggies. The 34-year-old’s time in the midlands has been restricted to just 19 appearances, with only five starts and may need to drop a division to rediscover his goalscoring touch.
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