Premier League: Underperforming Summer Signings

• With the Premier League teams preparing for the Winter Transfers
• Some Summer Signings are yet to make an impact as expected
• SportsLeo takes a look at some of the underperforming summer signings

With the Premier League teams preparing for January Winter Transfers.

Managers are frequently judged on recruitment, and Premier League executives received record sums during the summer transfer window.

While some summer additions have made an immediate impact, many names across the division have fallen short of expectations.

As we head to the winter transfers, we look at summer signings from whom we had huge expectations, but they fall just short.

They include Mikkel Damsgaard, Sam Johnstone,Philippe Coutinho and Goncalo Guedes

Mikkel Damsgaard

Mikkel Damsgaard arrived at Brentford this summer, joining the club’s Danish collection as a replacement for Christian Eriksen, and there was excitement at the club.

Damsgaard shone during Denmark’s run to the Euro 2020 final four, scoring spectacular goals against Russia and England. The 22-year-old was regarded as the ideal replacement for compatriot Christian Eriksen, possessing the technical ability and creativity to fill the void left by the former’s departure to Manchester United.

Damsgaard, on the other hand, has struggled to make an impact so far, with his appearances almost entirely limited to late cameos off the bench. As Thomas Frank eases the summer signing into English football, he has only started once in the Premier League this season.

Sam Johnstone

Crystal Palace Summer Signing Sam Johnstone.|PHOTO: CPFC|

After leaving West Bromwich Albion last summer, Sam Johnstone attracted interest from several clubs, including Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Johnstone joined Crystal Palace hoping to get more first-team minutes, but the 29-year-old has struggled to unseat veteran Vicente Guaita as the Eagles’ starting goalkeeper.

Johnstone’s return to the Premier League was intended to boost his England ambitions. Still, he has yet to appear in a single league game for Palace, with his football limited to one League Cup appearance. Johnstone’s World Cup hopes have been dashed despite earning three caps for the Three Lions in 2021.

It will feel like a missed opportunity for the shot-stopper, who will have come into the season determined to become Palace’s number-one goalkeeper.

Philippe Coutinho

Underperforming Coutinho is on the spotlight.|PHOTO: getty images|

The Brazilian has been a shadow of his former self this season, with Villa receiving little return on their £17 million investment from Barcelona in the summer. During a loan spell last season, the 30-year-old sparked in his opening appearances for the club, producing enough moments of the old magic to persuade Villa to make a move permanent.

This season, he has been virtually anonymous during Villa Park’s disappointing start, which has resulted in Steven Gerrard’s dismissal and replacement with Unai Emery.

Coutinho has failed to score or assist in 12 league appearances, only six of which have come from the start. There have been few glimpses of the footballer who starred for five seasons at Liverpool before winning two La Liga titles, the Bundesliga, and the Champions League while at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Emery’s task will be to coax Coutinho’s best performance from him once he returns from a thigh injury that is expected to keep him out for a while.

Goncalo Guedes

Wolves Signed Goncalo on a 5yrs Deal.|PHOTO: 90Min|

During the summer, the Wolves increased their Portuguese stock again, securing a deal to bring in Valencia’s Goncalo Guedes.

After graduating from Benfica’s youth system, Guedes has spent time at several of Europe’s top clubs, including stints at PSG and Valencia. He arrived in the Premier League with a good reputation despite being only 25 years old, but he has joined a Wolves team in turmoil this season.

Bruno Lage left after a disappointing start to the season, and the Wolves lack of an attacking focal point has contributed to Guedes failing to show his best to date after fellow recruit Sasa Kalajdzic suffered an ACL injury on his debut.

Wolves require more from the £27.5 million summer signing, who has only one goal and one assist in 11 league appearances. Guedes scored his first goal for Wolves against Brighton last weekend, and the club will be hoping he can build on that performance.

Wolves have only scored eight goals in the Premier League this season, the lowest total in the league, and they need Guedes to show his direct approach and creativity on a more consistent basis.