No player wants to hear that chant from the terraces, and it’s often reserved for the biggest signing of a rival team.
But when the shout comes from more than one ground and a price-tag is weighing heavily on the player subjected to the mockery; then it can cut deep. Fans want to see value for money and they are quick to complain when they are short-changed. Every summer the Premier League is one of the biggest markets in the world, with billions changing hands. Some players make a slow start and need time; but here are five who we really can’t make excuses for!
Joelinton – Newcastle United
I’d say the Magpies’ bizarre signing of Joelinton for a hefty wedge has to be the biggest waste of money in the league. If you’ve scoured the Premier League 2020 news and still don’t recognise the name then I’m not surprised!
1899 Hoffenheim didn’t want Joelinton, loaning him out to Rapid Wien, where he only managed a goal scoring record of one in four in a rather limited Austrian League. So what on earth possessed Newcastle owner Mike Ashley to shell out £40m for the 23-year-old Brazilian?
For that obscene amount of cash, Newcastle received a return of just two goals in 38 outings. That’s £20m per goal!
Moise Kean – Everton
There was plenty of excitement when Kean signed for Everton last summer. The 19-year-old penned a five-year deal having impressed briefly in his previous season at Juventus. He was the Toffees fifth summer signing, joining for a fee of over £25m and announced his arrival by saying: “I am used to winning and I want to bring this winning attitude to the team.”
Big words for a 19-year old arriving at an established Premier League club, having played just 16 games for I Bianconeri!
His influence hadn’t rubbed off by Christmas when the Toffees were hovering around the relegation zone and Carlo Ancelotti was drafted in to rescue Everton’s season.
Two goals in 29 games wasn’t the form of a proven winner but at least the Toffees finished 12th!
Roberto Jimenez – West Ham United
That West Ham were in a relegation scrap having started the season as Europa hopefuls wasn’t entirely down to the form of the hapless Roberto, but he certainly helped. He was signed as back up to Lukasz Fabianski, but when the number one keeper was injured against Bournemouth Roberto stepped forward to deputise in a 2-2 draw. He played in six games for West Ham when they conceded 14 goals and picked up just one more point.
This writer saw a hilarious howler by the Spanish keeper when he played for the Hammers away to Burnley. Ashley Westwood’s corner seemed to be sailing into Roberto’s hands but he simply punched it into his own net to set the Clarets up for a 3-0 win!
Here at SBOBET we recently had a look at some of the most expensive defenders in the game, but even Virgil van Dijk and the like may have had the jitters if Roberto was the last line of defence.
Jesus Vallejo – Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Sancho has put together a brilliant team to establish the Black Country club as a strong Premier League side and a home for gifted players, particularly from Portugal. Joao Moutinho, Ruben Neves, Diogo Jota and Mexican hit man Raul Jimenez have all wowed the fans at Molineux, and when Real Madrid defender Jesus Vallejo walked through the door they thought they had another winner.
But the 6ft 1in defender made his Premier League debut in a 5-2 stuffing by Chelsea and then made one more appearance before heading back to Spain to play for Granada.
Che Adams – Southampton
£15m didn’t seem like a bad price to pay for a player who had been nominated for the Championship Player of the Season, but after looking the real deal at Birmingham City Adams has been anything other in the top flight.
The early season Premier League 2020 betting odds had the Saints nowhere near the relegation places but a 9-0 thumping at home to Leicester City at the end of October left them 18th and in serious trouble. Adams looked like he could play all season without scoring but eventually got off the mark after the return of football in June.
In the event Saints’ brilliant striker Danny Ings ended up with 22 league goals, just one short of winning the Golden Boot, as Southampton survived comfortably.
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