The Worst Summer 2014 Premier League Transfers

Now in November, the summer transfer window looks smaller in the rear-view mirror. With the likes of Diego Costa and Alexis Sanchez being major successes for their new clubs, it shows that the price spent to acquire them was well worth it. Then, there are the others. The players who played well for their old clubs, but have faltered at their new homes. More than a few players make this list every year.

They leave the clubs which they led and performed so well for over the years, for a new club which they hope they can lead to greatness. Unfortunately for these three players, the grass is not greener on the other side. Below, the worst Premier League transfers of the past summer.

3. Eliaquim Mangala – £32 million – Former Club: FC Porto – New Club: Manchester City

More from The Top Flight

• Barcelona identify Newcastle star as Robert Lewandowski replacement
• Arsenal injury news: Mikel Arteta confirms “rapid” attacker suffered injury
• “600 days” Fans make SHOCK Chelsea revelation – They really are poor
• Arsenal transfer news: Mikel Arteta rivals Manchester United for wonderkid
• Manchester United: Erik ten Hag pinpoints 4 players amid Brighton loss

At 23 years of age, Mangala still has a lot of growing to do. He will only get better as a player the more he plays, however, spending £32 million on a developmental player is outrageous. He has been second choice to Vincent Kompany and Martin Demichelis for most of the season. His performance in relief of an injured Kompany against QPR was terrible — to be kind. He has regressed almost every time he has been out on the pitch for City, looking more and more nervous in each appearance.

He fails to communicate with his defending partners, and he has been caught out of position numerous times, with this past weekend’s clash at QPR being his worst performance yet. With each passing week he makes more mistakes. He was caught ball-watching on several occasions this past weekend, as the QPR forwards ran amok in City’s half.

At 23, he isn’t a total bust. He may become a quality defender one day, but the price paid has not equaled the player’s performances on the pitch. Manchester City will need to see some major changes from Mangala for this transfer to move out of this category. If his form does not improve, he could find himself out on loan in January.

2. Dejan Lovren – £20 million – Former Club: Southampton – New Club: Liverpool

Live Feed

Rush The Kop

Joining in on the Southampton exodus this summer, Lovren met up with his former Saint teammates Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert at Liverpool. And though all three players have failed to live up to expectations this season, Lovren has been the worst by far. Being touted as a future captain when he was signed, Lovren has led a terribly-bad Liverpool defense. Looking at defensive errors this season, Lovren has made the most in the Premier League. In comparison to his four errors, his former club Southampton have none, making them the best defending club in the League.

The mistakes have come from all of Liverpool, so only blaming Lovren would be foolish, but he has  been the worst performer of the squad by far. Like Mangala before him, Lovren at 25 years of age, still has a lot of growing to do. £20 million for a defensive liability is not the worst of Liverpool’s transfers this past summer (we’ll get to that shortly). However, if this move is to be successful this season, Lovren needs to get his act together and start performing. If he is able to get his errors under control, Liverpool will still have a shot at top this season. If he can’t, Liverpool is going to be in deep trouble.

1. Mario Balotelli – £16 million – Former Club: Inter Milan – New Club: Liverpool

For any attacker in the Premier League, scoring 0 goals thus far in league play is unacceptable. For Mario Balotelli, this number is even worse. With a cost of £16 million, the Italian striker is in deep jeopardy of ending his Premier League career with Liverpool already. The club’s fans are already clamoring for him to be sold, Balotelli’s time at Anfield looks incredibly shorter with each passing day. With two goals in 14 matches across all competitions, the forward is extremely disappointing.

A move back to Italy in January looks very likely for the Italian, with Juventus being lined up as a possible destination. In what has been Liverpool’s worst start in years, Balotelli has only added to the pain felt by the club’s supporters. The only saving grace for the striker is that he has (thus far) remained off the front page in the English tabloids. Maturing off the field is an achievement for the Italian. However, he has yet to mature on the pitch as his form has shown.

Unless Balotelli turns his form around in the next month and a half, he will be leaving Anfield in the very next window, much sooner than he — or anybody else —  wanted when he first arrived in August.