With the summer transfer window about to end, HITC Sport look back at the worst August 2021 deadline day signings by Premier League sides – from Emerson Royal to Nikola Vlasic.
Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United were made to rue some of Nuno Espirito Santo and David Moyes’ late forays into the market last summer. Spurs and the Irons hoped they were adding the last parts of their puzzles, but ultimately failed to get the best of the deal.
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Premier League teams were busy throughout the summer sales in 2021, with the 20 outfits combining for 476 transfers. The English top-flight also spent £1.37bn, whilst Serie A spent £690.9m, Bundesliga clubs paid out £635.7m, Ligue 1 spent £540.7m and La Liga £416.7m.
Tottenham contributed £25.8m to the Premier League’s spend in the summer 2021 market with their deadline day deal for Emerson. West Ham also contributed an initial £26.8m, up to £34.5m with add-ons, to bring Vlasic back to England following his short spell with Everton.
Yet neither London rival would count their blessings over the course of the 2021/22 season. Instead, Antonio Conte spent January looking to replace Emerson after succeeding Nuno in charge. Whilst Vlasic has already left West Ham on loan, possibly without a return in sight.
Nikola Vlasic: West Ham secured one of Premier League’s worst deadline day deals
West Ham have agreed to send Vlasic to Serie A for the 2022/23 season on loan to Torino. The Croatian playmaker’s move to Italy also has a €15m (£12.9m) option for Il Toro to buy him next summer. Even though the Irons awarded him a five-year contract only last year.
Vlasic failed to make the grade during his sole season so far at the London Stadium after a year on the fringes. The 24-year-old only started six of his 19 Premier League appearances for one goal and zero assists. He also only laid on two assists over 12 outings in cup ties.
Moyes felt Vlasic could replace what Jesse Lingard had given West Ham while on loan from Manchester United over the first half of 2021. The 39-cap maestro left CSKA Moscow after 33 goals and 21 assists for his return to England after 19 games at Everton during 2017/18.
Emerson Royal: Tottenham stunned Barcelona with willingness to agree late deal
Tottenham stunned Barcelona with their willingness to spend £25.8m to sign Emerson on deadline day last August, per The Telegraph. The Catalan giants still could not believe the fee they had secured for the Brazilian in January, given his underwhelming start at Spurs.
Emerson had struggled to get to grips with the demands of the Premier League, and failed to show Conte reason to retain him as the north Londoners’ first-choice full-back following the Italian replacing Nuno and setting his sights on a mid-season move for Adama Traore.
Tottenham failing to sign a new wing-back in January did not aid Emerson’s cause, either, as Matt Doherty emerged as Conte’s favoured option. And while Emerson has started the new campaign in favour, Jamie Carragher has continued to question his defensive abilities.
“What a stupid challenge,” Carragher said on Sky Sports (28/8, 16:35) of Emerson’s tackle on Harry Toffolo of Nottingham Forest during Tottenham’s 2-0 win on Sunday. “What is he thinking? Emerson Royal has got a habit of doing things like that.”
Alex Kral: West Ham dropped another clanger in August 2021 deadline day deal
West Ham sealed the deadline day signing of Alex Kral with a last-ditch deal with Spartak Moscow in August 2021. The Hammers agreed to pay £3m for the Czech Republic star to join in season-long loan with a £12m option to buy, which add-ons could take up to £17m.
Yet Moyes would not trigger the Irons’ purchase clause, having rarely shown faith in Kral over his time in east London. The 24-year-old only featured six times in claret-and-blue for a combined 255 minutes in all competitions – including just one outing in the Premier League.
Kral made his sole top-flight appearance as a stoppage-time substitute as West Ham beat Watford on December 28. Moyes otherwise left the 31-cap midfield anchor – who is now on loan with Schalke – on the bench 31 times, whilst starting him once in the Europa League.
Salomon Rondon: Everton yet to get value from free August 2021 deadline day deal
Everton are yet to see much value from their last-ditch deal to sign Salomon Rondon in a free transfer on deadline day last August. Rafa Benitez sought to reunite with his former Newcastle United and Dalian Professional striker after replacing Carlo Ancelotti in charge.
Yet Rondon arrived on Merseyside lacking match fitness having not played since May, and failed to step up once Dominic Calvert-Lewin sustained what would be a major quadriceps injury. Altogether, Rondon only scored once from 13 Premier League games under Benitez.
Frank Lampard has seldom shown faith in Rondon since succeeding Benitez at the helm in January, either. The 32-year-old Venezuela international has opened just one of his 10 top-flight matches under the England icon so far, whilst failing to score and offering one assist.
Saul Niguez: Chelsea made to rue August 2021 deadline day deal with Atletico Madrid
Chelsea were made to rue Thomas Tuchel’s deadline day deal to sign Saul Niguez on loan from Atletico Madrid in August 2021. The Blues agreed to pay £3.4m for the privilege of hiring the Spain international, along with obtaining a £30m option to buy him come 2022.
Tuchel would ultimately opt against purchasing Saul, having only started the 27-year-old in five of his 10 Premier League appearances. The midfielder would also only start one match from five Champions League appearances, and did not feature past the FA Cup fifth-round.
Saul is now re-establishing himself at Atletico Madrid following Chelsea deciding against a permanent transfer. Diego Simeone will hope to see the Elche-born technician offer him a greater presence than under Tuchel, for whom he only offered one goal and zero assists.
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