With a transfer budget that is unrivalled by any other league in the world, the Premier League is presented with the opportunity to acquire the services of the best players in the world, and it was quite evident in the summer and winter transfer windows for the 2022–23 season, where a whopping £2.8 billion was spent.
A number of the new signings have not lived up to desired expectations, and Afrosport highlights the players that have struggled to adapt to the intense demands at their respective new clubs.
Mykailo Mudryk – Chelsea
Another one of the players Chelsea brought out the cash for was Mykhailo Mudryk, who completed a permanent switch from Ukrainian side Shaktar Donetsk in January.
Mudryk signed an eight-and-a-half-year contract worth £89 million after the Blues overpowered London rivals Arsenal in the bidding war.
Despite a record of 12 goals and 17 assists in 44 games for his former side inUkraine, the 22-year-old has not lived up to expectations at Stamford Bridge.
In his first 15 appearances for Chelsea, he failed to score a goal and supplied just two assists.
Mudryk currently looks unsettled in a Chelsea side that has struggled this season.
His inability to muster any form of attacking threat puts him at the top of our list of players who are not living up to their expectations in the Premier League.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Chelsea
With £600 million spent on 16 players in the 2022-23 transfer window, Chelsea got a lot of things wrong with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang not exempted.
The former Arsenal striker was signed from Barcelona by German manager Thomas Tuchel with his arrival raising the hopes of a solution to their ‘target man’ problem but the Gabon international proved them all wrong.
In his 15 appearances for Chelsea, Aubameyang has scored a Premier League goal. His 12% conversion rate is the fifth lowest in the team.
Aubameyang, for the most part of the campaign, has looked disinterested and it was evident when he was pictured in Barcelona’s dressing room some hours after Chelsea drew Everton in the Premier League.
Richarlison – Tottenham Hotspur
When Tottenham got Richarlison for £50 million last summer, they thought they had gotten another all-round forward who could complement Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min in the attack department. However, the Brazilian has struggled in front of goal in all competitions, mostly taking his frustration out on former manager Antonio Conte on a number of occasions as opposed to hitting the back of the net.
Richarlison, who was Brazil’s leading scorer at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, has failed to replicate that form for the North Londoners, with only three goals in 32 matches, including just one in the Premier League.
His inability to convert his chances or create for his teammates has been a recurring problem all through the season for Tottenham, and despite Kane and Son’s combined 36 league goals, Spurs have struggled as they drop into sixth in the standings and will also continue their trophyless run.
Philippe Coutinho – Aston Villa
After his impressive performance while on loan at Aston Villa, the Clarets made the decision to sign the former Liverpool midfielder on a permanent deal but it has yield good returns.
Coutinho has managed just one goal in 20 Premier League games, a huge contrast from what was initially expected from him, which has resulted in him losing his place in Unai Emery’s starting line-up.
Neal Maupay – Everton
French striker Neal Maupay was brought to Goodison Park from Brighton & Hove Albion with the sole responsibility of supplying Everton with the goals they would miss from the then-injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
However, the 27-year-old has found life tough on Merseyside, scoring just once in 24 Premier League games for the Toffees.
Maupay’s goal return is very abysmal as he has struggled immensely in front of goal, sharing goals with four Everton defenders.
