£50m ace among 10 Prem stars who have played zero minutes this season

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The 2022/23 Premier League season is over two months old now. But some players, including a £50 million Manchester United man and a forward capped 47-times by England, are still awaiting their first minutes of the campaign despite, being fit and raring to go. 

Denis Zakaria – Chelsea  

The Switzerland international only arrived at Stamford Bridge on the final day of the summer transfer window. Just five weeks later, Zakaria’s future is already in serious doubt. The Thomas Tuchel signing is not part of predecessor Graham Potter’s plans, with 90Min reporting that Chelsea are already looking to terminate his short-term deal in January. 

Chelsea have a £25 million option-to-buy clause in Zakaria’s contract. One that, barring a quite remarkable U-turn, is destined to go un-triggered. 

Cedric Soares – Arsenal  

Always a solid back-up option but rarely little more, Ben White’s sudden emergence as a top-class Premier League right-back has further restricted Cedric’s already-limited opportunities in North London. 

The former Southampton man is now Mikel Arteta’s third choice, behind White and Takehiro Tomiyasu. Cedric hasn’t even featured in the Europa League this term.

Japhet Tanganga – Tottenham Hotspur  

Academy graduate Tanganga might have hoped that his versatility would make him a key part of Antonio Conte’s plans at Spurs. But the fact he’s only been included in six of the club’s matchday squads this term – left out entirely for the North London derby with Arsenal – is testament to how far his stock has fallen just 14 months on from that all-action, Man of the Match display against Manchester City under Nuno Espirito Santo. 

Nottingham Forest were linked over the summer. Could they rescue Tanganga in January?

Paul Dummett – Newcastle United  

One of the longest-serving members of this Newcastle squad, Dummett feels like something of a relic from a bygone era these days. The Welshman first emerged as a senior player under Alan Pardew nearly a decade ago. His only action this term, however, came against fourth-tier Tranmere Rovers in the EFL Cup.

Siriki Dembele – AFC Bournemouth  

Earlier this week, Cherries coach Gary O’Neil indicated that the former Peterborough United talisman – who joined Bournemouth back in January despite plenty of interest from elsewhere – still has a part to play on the South Coast. 

“He’s not far outside (the main squad) at all,” O’Neil told Dorset Live. “(All the players) are important to me at every moment. I’m considering all options. I’m always thinking how ‘Dembs’ could impact it at all times.” 

But, having narrowly missed out on a move to Turkey over the summer, it remains to be seen how much longer the one-time Grimsby Town man’s patience lasts. Not long, one suspects.

Sam Johnstone – Crystal Palace 

England international goalkeeper Johnstone turned down Tottenham Hotspur at the start of the summer. He was reportedly nervous about a lack of first-team opportunities under Antonio Conte. It’s ironic, then, that the club Johnstone joined instead are yet to hand him a single Premier League chance, over two months since he signed on the dotted line. 

Veteran Vicente Guaita remains Patrick Vieira’s number one at Selhurst Park. Any lingering hopes Johnstone had of securing a seat on the plane to Qatar have gone up in smoke.

Jairo Riedewald – Crystal Palace 

A key part of the first-team picture under Roy Hodgson, Riedewald has been hit harder than most by the former England boss’ departure at the end of 2020/21. He’s barely kicked a ball since then; Vieira preferring more technical, progressive footballers in the centre of the park. 

Riedewald signed a long-term contract extension just over a year ago. A decision he might look back on with some regret. His new deal runs until 2024.

Morgan Sanson – Aston Villa  

It’s easy to forget that Sanson, upon arriving in a £14 million deal from Marseille nearly two years ago, was viewed at the time like a bit of a coup for Aston Villa. Because, in the blinking of an eye, he’s gone from marquee signing to forgotten man. Jacob Ramsey, John McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Emi Buendia, Boubakar Kamara and Leander Dendoncker are all ahead of Sanson in Steven Gerrard’s pecking order these days. 

A move to La Liga outfit Espanyol collapsed in August.

Marvelous Nakamba – Aston Villa 

Shortly after taking over from Dean Smith, Gerrard described a re-vitalised Nakamba as an ‘outstanding’ talent. His performances at the heart of Villa’s midfield; Marvelous by name, Marvelous by nature.

Since suffering the most cruelly-timed of injury blows, however – that long-term absence scuppering his hopes of building on an impressive start to life under the ex-Rangers boss – Nakamba has joined the likes of Sanson and Frederic Guilbert in Aston Villa’s bomb squad. 

Theo Walcott – Southampton  

They do say ‘never go back’.

And while Walcott’s return to St Mary’s started promisingly back in 2020, things have only gone downhill since then. The one-time Arsenal forward, capped nearly 50 times by England, missed out on a move to Championship surprise packages Reading over the summer.

“We were close to getting a deal for Theo Walcott,” Royals boss Paul Ince explains.

“I spoke to him. We had a good conversation. But he had a year left at Southampton. We couldn’t make the figures work, which is disappointing because the boy wanted to come.”