Premier League's 5 flops of the season: United's Sanchez and Fred woes, Jahanbaksh no-show for Seagulls

At the culmination of a thrilling Premier League season where many players made telling impacts for their sides, we take a look at some of the big names who failed to do so.

Published : May 12, 2019 21:24 IST

Sanchez has scored just once in the Premier League this season.
Sanchez has scored just once in the Premier League this season.
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Sanchez has scored just once in the Premier League this season.

Alexis Sanchez (Manchester United)

The Chilean, who moved from Arsenal to Old Trafford in a much-hyped transfer January last year, has struggled to regain his sparkling brilliance which he displayed at the North London club. He has been woefully out of form for the Red Devils, scoring just once in the league while also struggling with fitness issues. Reported to be the highest wage-earner at the club, Sanchez will have to convince manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that he can turn around his fortunes or risk having to take a pay-cut in search of regular playing time elsewhere.


Fred (Manchester United)

In the summer of 2018, the United fans would have been optimistic of the £52 million signing of Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk. By the end of the season, he has been widely regarded as the biggest disappointment of their season. After a few of starts in the playing XI in the early part of the campaign under the previous boss Jose Mourinho, the Brazilian fell out of favour as he failed to adapt to the conditions of the Premier League.

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Fred moved to Manchester United in a £52 million transfer. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
 

Mourinho felt that until United shored up its defensive vulnerabilities, Fred would struggle to get a look back into the team. While he displayed his defensive qualities in United's miraculous comeback win at Paris Saint-Germain in the last-16 of the Champions League, he was again relegated to the bench after Nemanja Magic returned from injury.


Joe Hart (Burnley)

The former Manchester City and England number one has had a tough time ever since Pep Guardiola moved to the blue half of Manchester. In the three years since his arrival, Hart has lost his spot at City and with the England side. He bid goodbye to his boyhood club last summer and moved to Burnley, where he has endured a torrid time.

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Hart conceded 41 goals in 19 appearances. PHOTO: AFP
 

Hart conceded 41 goals in 19 appearances, during which Burnley won just thrice. He lost his place after regular starting goalkeeper Tom Heaton returned from his injury, which also culminated in the upturn in Burnley's form.


Alrieza Jahanbakhsh (Brighton and Hove Albion)

The Iranian playmaker was signed for a club record fee on the back of positive performances in the FIFA World Cup and a starring role with AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie. He plundered 21 goals while setting up 13 goals for his teammates as Alkmaar finished third in the points table. Things, however, have not been rosy in the Premier League for Jahanbaksh. In 18 appearances, the 25-year-old has not been directly involved in a single goal. Luckily for the Seagulls, the team has survived the drop despite Jahanbaksh's ineffectiveness.

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Jahanbakhsh scored 21 goals for AZ Alkmaar in the 2017-18 season in the Eredivisie. PHOTO: AP
 

Mohamed Elyounoussi (Southampton)

Viewed as a replacement to Dusan Tadic, Elyounoussi has failed to live to up his £16 million price tag. The 24-year-old Norway forward has not scored or assisted a goal in 16 appearances.

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Elyounoussi wasn't involved directly in a goal for Southampton this season. PHOTO: AFP
 

While he was a regular starter under former manager Mark Hughes, Elyounoussi has been reduced to a peripheral role after Ralph Hasenhuttl took charge in December. The Saints, who were in the bottom half of the table for much of the season, have managed to avoid relegation.

 

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