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Featured Sport News

What a waste of money!

Author: Craig Williams
Date: 11/05/2009

Afonso Alves' miserable performances for Middlesbrough this season have led to suggestions that the 12million Brazilian striker is the biggest waste of money in the history of the Premier League.

Alves' arrival briefly turned Teesside into a Rio de Janeiro street carnival, but after scoring just four goals in 31 league appearances and with Boro clear online betting favourites for relegation, the signing has been questioned by bemused fans.

But is the South American the biggest waste of money in the Premier League era? Consider ten more players who were definitely more miss that hit.

Andriy Shevchenko

AC Milan and Ukraine's record goalscorer joined Chelsea for a 30milliom fee in summer 2006. Eyebrows were raised as Shevchenko was 29 at the time and he left two years later having scored just nine goals in 47 league appearances.

Serhiy Rebrov

The warning signs were there for Shevchenko when his former strike partner also failed to make the grade in the Premier League. The pair formed a formidable partnership at Dynamo Kyiv, but 11million Rebrov managed just ten goals in four seasons with Spurs.

Juan Sebastian Veron

Not only did the Argentina midfielder break Manchester United's club transfer record at 28.1million, but he also cost Chelsea a further 15million when he moved on two years later. Brilliant for the national side and in Italy with Internazionale and Parma, Veron just couldn't adapt to the hectic pace of the English game.

Per Kroldrup

The Denmark international defender joined Everton for 7million from Udinese but returned to Italy just months later. He made just one appearance for the Toffees before joining Udinese amid suggestions that he couldn't actually head the ball!

Kleberson

It's a toss-up but Kleberson just about squeezes out Eric Djemba-Djemba in the worst-defensive-midfielder-signed-by Sir Alex Ferguson stakes. Kleberson was equally as an inept as Djemba-Djemba after arriving fresh from helping Brazil win the 2002 World Cup. However, the lightweight 6million South American cost considerably more money.

Francis Jeffers

Rumour has it that Arsene Wenger prefers to sign foreign youngsters for Arsenal after having his fingers burned by Jeffers. The Gunners paid Everton 8million for the teenager in 2001 but offloaded him three years later with just four first-team goals to his name.

Adrian Mutu

Chelsea lost a whopping 20million on the Romania striker after he was sacked in 2005 when a random drugs test revealed traces of cocaine in his system. To rub salt into the wounds, Mutu has gone on to star in Italy for first Juventus and now Fiorentina.

Bosko Balaban

The Croatia striker was an unmitigated disaster for Aston Villa and then manager John Gregory. He arrived for a fee of 5.8million in 2001 on a 20,000 a week contract but started just one game during three years at Villa Park.

Steve Marlet

Marlet is still Fulham's record transfer following his 11.5million arrival from Lyon in 2002. The France striker managed just 11 goals in three seasons before being loaned out to Marseille for two years - with the Cottagers still paying the bulk of his wages.

Albert Luque

The 9.5million winger suffered a serious hamstring injury on his Newcastle United debut in 2005 and took most of his first season in England to score. Luque did not start a single game during the 2006/07 season and is now back in Spain with Malaga after another unsuccessful spell with Ajax.

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