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After Premier League clubs spent over £2bn in the summer transfer window, it’s safe to say that managers and fans alike were expecting big results.
Manchester United backed Erik ten Hag to refresh a stagnant squad, Liverpool and Man City each picked up a new number 9, while new Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly played his own version of Football Manager traveling around the world. world to get some of the biggest players in the game. Names
But, six months later, how are the 10 most expensive signings doing? sports mail look at the hits and misses, or if the jury is still out…
Manchester City secured the jewel of the summer window by landing striker Erling Haaland
anthony
Ajax to Manchester United – £85.5m
Huge price tag… not a big contribution so far.
With Jadon Sancho struggling, it has been a boost for Ten Hag to position the Brazilian on the right side.
But his performances are frustrating to say the least and while there is immense talent there, it needs to start translating into consistent goals and assists.
Antony (right) has produced moments but has shown little consistency for Man United so far.
His display at Wolves had talkSPORT expert Stuart Pearce furious, and he was not alone.
“Antony has no intention of backing down, the wolves can really enjoy that side,” Pearce said, adding: “I get irritated by life.”
You need to take the next step.
VERDICT: JURY OUT
Wesley Fofana
Leicester City to Chelsea: £70m
Given that he has featured in just four Premier League games this season, the sample size seems too small to make a proper judgment of him just yet.
Fofana was a star at Leicester and has the right age profile to be a key piece in Chelsea’s long-term defensive future.
Get over your knee injury and you can finally start paying its huge price.
VERDICT: JURY OUT
Wesley Fofana is a brilliant talent but has been plagued by injury since moving to Chelsea.
Darwin Nunez
Benfica to Liverpool: £64m (plus £21m add-ons)
With Jurgen Klopp questioning his ‘shooting technique’ and Dominos Pizza trolling him on social media, this is not how Darwin Nunez would have imagined his first six months as a player in England.
Heading into Monday’s loss at Brentford, the Uruguayan ranked first in shots per 90 minutes (6) among players in Europe’s top 10 leagues with 500 or more minutes played this season.
The problem is that he found himself 99th in goals per 90 minutes (0.57), with a number of great chances gone wrong.
Gary Neville has backed him to go on and be world-class despite some initial difficulties, but it’s been a rocky start at Anfield, although his sublime finish against Wolves offered hope that there is much more to come.
VERDICT: LOSE
Darwin Núñez has had a difficult start to the season and has been trolled on social media.
casemiro
Real Madrid to Manchester United: £60m (plus £10m add-ons)
A game changer for Ten Hag and Manchester United.
Alongside Raphael Varane, whom he played with at Real Madrid, the pair have yet to concede a Premier League goal this season at the same ground, and the duo have shown they have been key to the club’s mini-renaissance.
Casemiro has provided a real presence and sense of leadership in midfield, a problem area for United for several years.
His passing has drawn attention, as has his innate reading of the game, allowing him to disrupt play.
They may have missed out on Frenkie de Jong, but the signing of Casemiro can be chalked up to great success for United.
VERDICT: PASTE
Casemiro has added leadership to a Manchester United midfield that had evidently lost its way
alejandro isak
Real Sociedad to Newcastle United: £60m
Like Fofana, such a small sample size makes qualifying, or listing, Isak’s Premier League start particularly problematic.
The 23-year-old arrived with high expectations from Real Sociedad and scored on his away debut against Liverpool.
But since then, he has only managed two more league games and one more goal, before being sidelined with injury.
When leading the line for Newcastle, he has managed two goals in three games, but he hasn’t done it nearly enough.
He needs to put injury problems behind him with Newcastle locked in a fierce fight to secure Champions League football.
VERDICT: JURY OUT
Alexander Isak (left) has only been available to Eddie Howe (right) for three league games
Marc Cucurella
Brighton to Chelsea: £55m (plus £7m in add-ons)
The draw against Nottingham Forest was Cucurella’s best performance in a Chelsea shirt but, overall, it’s been a tough watch since heading to Stamford Bridge.
Cucurella was a star under Graham Potter in Brighton, but he’s heading into 2023 firmly under the microscope.
He obviously hasn’t become a bad player overnight, but the fullback’s confidence has taken a hit at times this season and finding the formula to get him back to his best will be absolutely paramount for Potter.
Hugely disappointing for everyone involved.
VERDICT: LOSE
Marc Cucurella (left) hasn’t looked good since following Graham Potter to Chelsea
Erling Haaland
Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City: £51m
The highest score. The best of the class. A grade A across the board.
Erling Haaland has been absolutely magnificent for Manchester City and is taking the Premier League Golden Boot.
The Norwegian already has 21 Premier League goals this season and 27 in all competitions as of early January.
Given the prices of those above him on this list, £51m seems like an absolute steal.
VERDICT: PASTE
Erling Haaland has undoubtedly been the Player of the Season in the Premier League so far.
richarlison
Everton to Tottenham: £50m (plus £10m add-ons)
This was a move that was always going to be fascinating to watch.
Truth be told, going into the new year without a single Premier League goal isn’t great, even with his limited minutes behind Harry Kane.
He displayed his poaching instincts and World Cup finishing ability as Brazil’s No. 9, but given the price Spurs paid, Richarlison isn’t reaching the heights many fans hoped for.
In a battle with Dejan Kulusevski now to start the top three alongside Kane and Son Heung-min.
Work to do.
VERDICT: JURY OUT
Richarlison has struggled for consistent minutes, but has yet to make the most of his opportunities.
Lisandro Martinez
Ajax to Manchester United: £46.8m (plus add-ons of £8.5m)
What all the critics of the man affectionately known as ‘The Butcher’ could talk about when he arrived in England was his height.
And after United’s aberration at Brentford, critics felt vindicated that the Argentine minor would not cut the mustard in the Premier League.
But he has responded impressively and has become a really key player in Manchester United’s improvement.
The fans love him, his teammates love him and he has so much in his game that he goes beyond the traditional responsibilities of a central defender.
The World Cup winner has silenced his critics by impressively demonstrating that he belongs at the highest level.
VERDICT: PASTE
Lisandro Martinez’s height was questioned but he has been established at Man United since
sterling rahim
Manchester City to Chelsea: £50m
It’s been a mixed bag in London for Raheem Sterling.
He is Chelsea’s top scorer so far this season, albeit with four goals. He got the only goal for the Blues in the equalizer at Nottingham Forest.
Sterling is a brilliant player, to be sure, but he still seems to be finding his groove at Chelsea, as many in blue are doing this season.
His goal at Forest saw him arrive 113 goals in 334 games, equaling the tally of former Premier League star Ian Wright. So congratulations on that.
VERDICT: JURY OUT
Raheem Sterling is finding his groove at Chelsea but remains the Blues’ top scorer this season