Manchester United backed Erik ten Hag to freshen up a stagnant side, Liverpool and Man City got a new No 9 each while new Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly played his own version of Football Manager by jetting around the world to land some of the game’s biggest names.
But, six months on, how are the 10 most expensive signings getting on? Sportsmail looks at the hits and misses, or whether the jury is still out…
Manchester City secured the jewel of the summer window by landing striker Erling Haaland
Antony
Ajax to Manchester United – £85.5m
Huge price-tag… a not so huge contribution so far.
With Jadon Sancho struggling it’s been a boost for Ten Hag to slot the Brazilian down the right side.
But his performances are frustrating to say the least and while there is immense talent in there, it needs to begin translating itself to 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 pundit Stuart Pearce furious – and he wasn’t alone.
‘Antony has got no intention of tracking back, Wolves can get a lot of joy down that side,’ Pearce said, later adding: ‘He irritates the life out of me’.
Needs to take the next step.
VERDICT: JURY’S OUT
Wesley Fofana
Leicester City to Chelsea – £70m
Given he’s featured in just four Premier League games this season, the sample size feels too small to pass proper judgement on him yet.
Fofana was a star at Leicester and is the right age profile to be a key piece in Chelsea’s long term future defensively.
Overcome his knee injury and he can finally start to repay his mammoth price tag.
VERDICT: JURY’S OUT
Wesley Fofana is a brilliant talent but has been beset by injury since moving to join Chelsea
Darwin Nunez
Benfica to Liverpool – £64m (plus £21m add-ons)
He’s got Jurgen Klopp questioning his ‘shooting technique’ and Dominos Pizza trolling him on social media, this isn’t how Darwin Nunez would have envisaged his first six months as a player in England.
Heading into Monday’s defeat at Brentford, the Uruguayan ranked first for shots per 90 minutes (6) among players in Europe’s top 10 leagues with 500 or more minutes played this season.
The issue is that he found himself down at 99th for goals per 90 minutes (0.57) – with a number of great chances going awry.
Gary Neville has backed him to go on and be world class despite some early struggles but it’s been a tricky start at Anfield, although his sublime finish against Wolves offered hope there’s plenty more to come.
VERDICT: MISS
Darwin Nunez has had a tough start to the season and has been trolled across 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, who he played with at Real Madrid, the pair are yet to concede a goal in the Premier League this season while on the same pitch – with the duo proving they have been key to the club’s mini-revival.
Casemiro has provided a real presence and sense of leadership in midfield, a problem area for a number of years for United.
His passing has caught the eye as well as his innate reading of the game allowing him to disrupt the play.
They may have missed out on Frenkie de Jong but the signing of Casemiro can be chalked down as a huge success for United.
VERDICT: HIT
Casemiro has added leadership to a Man United midfield that had evidently lost its way
Alexander Isak
Real Sociedad to Newcastle United – £60m
Much like Fofana, such a small sample size makes rating – or slating – Isak’s start in the Premier League particularly problematic.
The 23-year-old arrived to great expectations from Real Sociedad and did score on his debut away to Liverpool.
But from there he’s managed just two more league games, and one more goal, before finding himself sidelined through injury.
When he’s lead the line for Newcastle he’s managed two goals in three games but he’s not done that anywhere near enough.
Needs to put injury woes behind him with Newcastle locked in a fierce fight to secure Champions League football.
VERDICT: JURY’S 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 away to Nottingham Forest was Cucurella’s best performance in a Chelsea shirt but, on the whole, it’s been a tricky watch since he headed for Stamford Bridge.
Cucurella was a star under Graham Potter at Brighton but he has headed into 2023 firmly under the microscope.
He, obviously, hasn’t become a bad player overnight but the full-back’s confidence has looked shot at times this season and finding the formula to get him back to his best will be absolutely paramount for Potter.
Massively disappointing for all concerned.
VERDICT: MISS
Marc Cucurella (left) has not looked himself since following Graham Potter to Chelsea
Erling Haaland
Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City – £51m
Full marks. Top of the class. An A-grade across the board.
Erling Haaland has been absolutely magnificent for Manchester City and is running away with the Premier League’s Golden Boot.
The Norwegian has 21 Premier League goals already this season, and 27 in all competitions by the start of January.
Given the prices of those above him in this list, £51million looks to be an absolute steal.
VERDICT: HIT
Erling Haaland has without doubt 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 a fascinating one to watch play out.
Truth be told, entering the new year without a single Premier League goal is not a great look, even with his minutes capped behind Harry Kane.
He showed his poacher’s instinct and his finishing ability at the World Cup as Brazil’s No 9 but given the price tag Spurs paid, Richarlison isn’t hitting the heights many fans may well have hoped.
In a battle with Dejan Kulusevski now to be a starter in the front three alongside Kane and Son Heung-min.
Work to do.
VERDICT: JURY’S OUT
Richarlison has struggled for consistent minutes but has still not really taken his chances
Lisandro Martinez
Ajax to Manchester United – £46.8m (plus £8.5m add-ons)
All critics of the man known fondly 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 smaller Argentinian would not cut the mustard in the Premier League.
But he’s responded impressively and become a really key piece of an improving Manchester United.
Fans love him, team-mates love him and he’s got so much to his game that goes beyond the traditional responsibilities of a centre back.
The World Cup winner has shut up his critics impressively proving he belongs at the top level.
VERDICT: HIT
Lisandro Martinez’s height was questioned but he has established himself at Man United since
Raheem Sterling
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 did get the Blues’ only goal in their draw at Nottingham Forest.
Sterling is a brilliant player, unquestionably, but he still appears to be finding his rhythm at Chelsea, like a lot in blue are this season.
His goal at Forest saw him reach 113 goals in 334 matches, matching the tally of former Premier League star Ian Wright. So, kudos for that.
VERDICT: JURY’S OUT
Raheem Sterling is finding his groove at Chelsea but he is still the Blues’ top scorer this season
Source: Dailymail.co.uk
