Not every signing in the Premier League works out as hoped and there are a number of names signed last summer who disappointed in debut campaigns.
Some will knuckle down in pre-season and attempt to go again, but others might seek an exit after failing to make the impression expected at new clubs. We’ve decided to look at five Premier League players signed last summer who could be on the move again.
Five Premier League players signed last summer who could be on the move again.
Kalidou Koulibaly
Kalidou Koulibaly signed for Chelsea with a big reputation last summer, a defender who had spent much of the last decade linked with a move to the Premier League.
The Senegal international had been a colossal presence across eight seasons at Napoli and arrived at Chelsea viewed as the player to lead a new-look defence. Koulibaly began well with a stunning strike on his home debut against Spurs, but has since struggled to live up to expectations at Stamford Bridge
Koulibaly disappointed during a calamitous season for Chelsea, one which saw four different coaches take charge of the west Londoners. Chelsea ended the season 12th in the table to miss out on European qualification, the club’s lowest league finish since 1994/95.
Chelsea and Inter are set to schedule a meeting in the next days, as called yesterday 🔵 #CFC
Understand Inter will ask about Kalidou Koulibaly as priority target.
Romelu Lukaku’s future, main topic; but Trevoh Chalobah for Inter, André Onana for Chelsea will be also discussed. pic.twitter.com/3dtWTKLqVs
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 12, 2023
Juventus have been linked with move to sign the 32-year-old, who looks far more suited to the slower pace of Serie A at this stage of his career. Inter Milan are also interested – with Milan Skriniar set to sign for Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer – and Koulibaly could be used as a potential makeweight given Chelsea’s interest in the Italian side’s goalkeeper, Andre Onana.
Chelsea signed Benoit Badiashile during the winter window and also have Levi Colwill as a centre-back option after an impressive season on loan at Brighton. Mauricio Pochettino will be expected to place his faith in the future and Koulibaly looks set to be a high-profile casualty of the change at Chelsea.
Gianluca Scamacca
Gianluca Scamacca’s debut season at West Ham has not turned out as hoped, with excitement high after the £30.5m capture of the Sassuolo striker last summer. Scamacca had scored 16 league goals for the Italians in 2021/22 to break into the national set-up and appeared to have all the attributes to become a firm favourite at the London Stadium.
Scamacca showed flashes of quality and instinctive finishing during West Ham’s early European games, but mustered just three goals in the Premier League and was criticised by David Moyes for his ‘physical data’.
Michail Antonio also gave a mixed verdict on his 24-year-old team-mate and claimed Scamacca was not suited to the manager’s demands.
AS Roma director Tiago Pinto will be in London later this week in order to advance in negotiations with West Ham for Gianluca Scamacca 🇮🇹 #WHUFC
Roma will ask for Scamacca on loan as replacement for Tammy Abraham after ACL injury.
ℹ️ Roma are also set to sign Evan N’Dicka. pic.twitter.com/lhuadv96WQ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 13, 2023
“He is actually quality, he is a quality player,” Antonio said on the Filfthy Fellas YouTube Channel.
“The problem is, he can not play the way the manager wants to play. He needs a different type of manager who will let him play with players to come off him and stuff like that.
“You see that, the ball comes to him, and it sticks. But with David Moyes, you have to feed off scraps, be a fighter… and he’s not that.”
Roma have been linked with a loan move for the forward, following the news that Tammy Abraham will be out of action until December with an ACL issue. Inter Milan are also said to be admirers with Scamacca earmarked as a potential long-term replacement for Edin Dzeko.
Fabio Carvalho
Fabio Carvalho arrived at Liverpool with a blossoming reputation last summer, with the midfielder signed after impressing during Fulham’s promotion to the Premier League.
Liverpool agreed a deal worth just £5m for Carvalho as the youngster’s contract came to an end at Craven Cottage, a transfer hailed as coup given the starlet’s talent and potential.
Carvalho featured in each of Liverpool’s opening seven league games and showed promise with some fine moments, including an instinctive volley against Bournemouth and a last-gasp winner against Newcastle at Anfield.
But after starting the defeat at Nottingham Forest in December, Carvalho featured for just 11 minutes in the Premier League across the second half of the campaign. Understandably frustrated and with little chance of breaking into Jurgen Klopp’s plans, he has been linked with an exit.
Understand RB Leipzig have had more talks with Liverpool this week over Fabio Carvalho deal — told negotiations will continue over the weekend. 🔴 #LFC
Liverpool don’t want to lose the player on permanent transfer, now looking for the best solution. pic.twitter.com/VLRsPPZzEH
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 9, 2023
RB Leipzig have made an approach to sign Carvalho on a permanent basis and saw an initial offer of around £10m turned down. Liverpool are reluctant to sanction his sale unless a buy-back clause is inserted and a loan exit appears probable. Fulham have been credited with interest in bringing their academy graduate back to the club on a temporary deal.
Amadou Onana
Amadou Onana was a rare positive in an otherwise disappointing season for Everton, one which saw the Toffees narrowly avoid relegation after a final day win over Bournemouth.
The Belgium international signed from Lille in a £33.5m deal last summer and showed signs of real potential with some dominant box-to-box performances in midfield.
Onana’s tenacious work is said to have won admirers across the division with Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle and West Ham all said to have monitored his development.
Amadou Onana. Steel and style. 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/Wuk0LOTlW3
— Everton (@Everton) February 5, 2023
Everton are under pressure to sell this summer with the club in special measures with the Premier League after losses exceeding £370million over a three-year period. The Toffees sold Anthony Gordon to Newcastle in a £45m deal in January, but require further sales if Sean Dyche is to be provided funds to rebuild this summer.
Onana appears the club’s most valuable asset and given the interest around the 21-year-old could move on this summer.
Djed Spence
The writing was perhaps on the wall for Djed Spence when Antonio Conte publicly questioned the decision to sign the defender last summer, admitting the recruitment of the right-back was a ‘club decision’ and not his own work.
Spence had starred during Nottingham Forest’s promotion campaign the previous season, but was frozen out after arriving at Spurs and featured for just five minutes in the Premier League across four substitute appearances.
The 22-year-old signed on loan for Rennes in January and made eight appearances in Ligue 1 over the second half of the campaign. He will return to Spurs for pre-season, where new head coach Ange Postecoglou will run the rule over the England u21 international.
Spurs signed Pedro Porro from Sporting Lisbon in January and the Spence faces a fight to secure regular first-team football in north London. Signed for £19m last summer, he could be available for a fraction of that fee.
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