It took Chelsea’s £50m January signing Fernando Torres 732 minute goal to finally score his first goal for the club, suggesting it was money poorly spent but who else has been a dud signing this season.>
10. Yoann Gourcuff – Bordeaux – Lyon - €22m
The brilliant France international was supposed to be the signing which helped Lyon return to the top of Ligue 1 but he hasn’t really made the impact expected. He wonderful Bordeaux days look long gone as he appears lost at Lyon under Claude Puel’s stewardship.
9. Edin Dzeko – VfL Wolfsburg – Manchester City - £30m
Everyone wanted Dzeko, but big-spending Man City got him much to their delight. Unfortunately the Bosnian hasn’t delivered for the Sky Blues. Perhaps he’s found the Premier League’s physicality a bit tough to handle but certainly hasn’t settled, scoring only five goals to date, with two of those coming against third tier Notts County.
8. Roque Santa Cruz – Manchester City – Blackburn – Loan
The Paraguayan was a hero at Ewood Park prior to his big move to Eastlands. So when he became available in January, Rovers pounced expecting a striker to deliver goals. They didn’t get that, though, with Santa Cruz yet to trouble the scorers since sealing his loan move. Rovers now are fearing the drop.
7. Pedro Leon – Getafe – Real Madrid - €10m
Given his fee, Real Madrid would be greatly disappointed in their return from Pedro Leon. The midfielder had been a sublime player at Getafe before sealing his switch to the Bernabeu. He’s only made a dozen appearances and fell out with boss Jose Mourinho in January thus being frozen out. Probably has no future at Real.
6. Joe Cole – Chelsea – Liverpool – Free
> Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard labelled Cole “better than Messi” upon his arrival from Chelsea. Cole was given the number 10 after he was signed by Roy Hodgson, so there were high expectations for him, but he simply never got going this season and there has been speculation he’ll be offloaded in the close-season.
5. Paul Konchesky – Fulham – Liverpool - €4m
Konchesky was another one of Roy Hodgson’s failed acquisitions for the Reds. Konchesky simply failed to match up to Anfield’s lofty standards and eventually was shipped out by new boss Kenny Dalglish on loan to second tier Nottingham Forest.
4. Christian Poulsen – Juventus – Liverpool - €5.1m
Sadly Poulsen is another of ex-Reds boss Roy Hodgson’s failed signings. Poulsen was supposed to replace Javier Mascherano who had headed to Barcelona, but he never convinced anybody at Anfield that he had anywhere near the Argentine’s quality. New Reds boss Kenny Dalglish gave him a few opportunities during his early days but he hasn’t been sighted since, falling way out of favour.
3. Bebe – Vitoria Guimaraes – Manchester United - £7m
It will never be forgotten that United boss Sir Alex Ferguson had never seen Bebe play before splashing out £7m for his signature. The former homeless Portuguese striker simply seems out of his depth at Old Trafford, with his few appearances being unbelievably underwhelming. He even struggled in the FA Cup against non-league Crawley Town.
2. Fernando Torres – Liverpool – Chelsea - £50m
For the sheer price the Blues paid there’s no denying this transfer was a major gaffe. In the long run Torres may find his touch but his time as Chelsea this term was disastrous as he went 732 minutes without a goal before finally breaking his drought. The run was comical and he become the butt of plenty of jokes. And Chelsea didn’t win the UEFA Champions League as owner Roman Abramovich had hoped the transfer would enable.
1. Adriano - Flamengo - AS Roma – Free
The former Brazil international’s had spiralled out of control over the past few years so when Roma boss Claudio Ranieri made a move for him it was clearly a gamble. He had done okay back in Brazil with Flamengo and was available on a free transfer, but he turned out to be a failed exercise. Injuries didn’t help, but his attitude and lack of discipline was the reason for his ultimate demise as his contract was mutually terminated in March after only seven months at the club, five appearances and no goals.