The biggest Premier League flops of 2014/15: Man United and Liverpool players dominate

Falcao never really got going for Man United. Credit: PA

Players from big spending rivals Man United and Liverpool dominate our round-up of the biggest Premier League flops in 2014/15.

Radamel Falcao

Manchester United looked to have pulled off a sensational coup on transfer deadline day last summer as they completed the season-long loan signing of Falcao from Monaco. The Colombia striker came with a fine goal-scoring record to his name - but also having only just returned from a serious knee injury that ruled him out of the World Cup. And given his performances since, it would appear he is now not a player able to deliver in the Premier League - and United have already announced they will not take up their option to sign permanently.

Angel di Maria

While the deal for Falcao was expensive as far as loans go, the signing of Di Maria - wrapped up six days earlier - was truly eye-catching in a financial sense, with United paying a British record £59.7million fee to secure the Argentina winger from Real Madrid. That figure in itself placed plenty of expectation on a player already with a considerable reputation, but he has struggled to live up to it and lost his place in the starting XI in March.

Mangala has been too unreliable and erratic to justify his price tag. Credit: PA

Eliaquim Mangala

This was another signing from last summer where the fee paid made people sit up and take notice, although not so much was known by English football fans about Manchester City's new £32million recruit Mangala, a France international centre-back brought in from Porto. Unfortunately, as time has gone on, it has come to appear as if the Blues have paid a lot of money to acquire an error-prone player who is not adapting well to the demands of the Premier League.

Balotelli was a risky signing which hasn't paid off at all. Credit: PA

Mario Balotelli

Balotelli, a man who won plenty of fans during his time with City, needed no introduction when his return to English football was sealed in August with a £16million move to Liverpool from AC Milan. Many thought even if the maverick Italy striker did not bring the goods on the field, he would still provide plenty of entertainment with his general antics. But for whatever reason, the 24-year-old has not really delivered on either front.

Liverpool must wish they signed Jose Fonte instead. Credit: PA

Dejan Lovren

Another Liverpool summer signing, Croatia centre-back Lovren arrived at Anfield last July in a reported £20million deal off the back of an impressive 2013-14 campaign in the Southampton defence. Almost a year on, he has been battling to rescue his reputation after making a series of shaky displays for his new club, which led to him being dropped.