Much hype has surrounded many young talents after transfers but who have been the flops who have failed to live up to their name?
Wilfried Zaha
After impressing at Crystal Palace, Zaha sparked interest from Manchester United and ended up signing for the Red Devils for a reported £15 million fee.
There was much excitement about Zaha’s arrival after lighting up the Championship with his trickery, pace and directness, but the winger failed to hold down a regular place in the United side where he only featured twice.
In January 2014, Zaha completed a loan move to Cardiff City for the remainder of the campaign making 12 appearances, but that summer he returned to Crystal Palace on an initial loan before making his move permanent.
Wilfried Zaha – Manchester United
Ravel Morrison
He was labelled the next big thing to come out of United with Rio Ferdinand once stating that he thought Ravel Morrison was a better player than Paul Pogba.
He failed to live up to the expectations of manager Sir Alex Ferguson and Morrison was eventually sold to West Ham United in 2012. Inconsistency as well as off-field problems meant his career at Upton Park failed to take off which saw three loan spells at Birmingham City, Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City.
After his transfer to West Ham, the midfielder only played 73 games including 12 goals.
The playmaker then signed a permanent deal at Italian club Lazio.
Queens Park Rangers Ravel Morrison (R) in action with Yeovil Town’s Joe Edwards
Lazar Markovic
The 20-year-old moved to Liverpool in the summer of 2014 after signing from Benfica for a fee of around £20 million.
Markovic failed to get to grips with the demands of the Premier League, struggled for form and was struck down by injury, so he became a squad player under manager Brendan Rodgers, featuring only 19 times and scoring twice.
The 2015/16 campaign season saw the Serb sent to Fenerbahce on a season-long loan. Despite still being at the club, it is expected he will a battle on his hands to resurrect his Liverpool career as he hasn’t featured in manager Jurgen Klopp’s plans so far this season.
Liverpool’s Lazar Markovic
Federico Macheda
A famous winning goal in the dying minutes against Aston Villa seemed to announce young Italian forward “Kiko” Macheda’s arrival at Manchester United, but he failed to produce many more moments like that.
Poor form and injury issues seemed to get in the way of the forward’s progress and he could never write his name on Sir Alex’s team sheet with regularity, scoring four goals in 19 appearances.
His time at Old Trafford seemed to fade away after with loans to Sampdoria, Queens Park Rangers, VfB Stuttgart, Doncaster Rovers and Birmingham City.
Cardiff City’s Federico Macheda is dejected after missing a chance to score
Andy Carroll
Making a name for himself at his boyhood club Newcastle United with his sheer power and ability in the air, Carroll make a £35 million move on transfer deadline day in 2011 to Liverpool, but the Reds saw a decline in Carroll who failed to replicate his form at Anfield.
The towering forward struggled to fit into Brendan Rodgers playing style meaning he was shown the door with a loan to West Ham before making it permanent in 2013. In two and a half seasons on Merseyside, Carroll scored six goals in 44 appearances.
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