Five of the worst Premier League signings of 2010-11

After the end of a season which saw the Premier League’s transfer record smashed, we look at five players who have failed to impress at their new clubs.

1) Fernando Torres, Liverpool to Chelsea, £50m

The Spain striker managed just one goal since completing his record £50m move to Stamford Bridge on the final day of the January transfer window.

Torres endured a miserable World Cup campaign with Spain last summer and his stuttering form trickled over into the domestic season, with a move to Chelsea failing to spark the striker into life.

2) Wayne Bridge, Manchester City to West Ham United, loan

After struggling to compete with Aleksandar Kolarov for a place in Roberto Mancini’s side, West Ham took the 30-year-old on loan for the remainder of the season in January.

But Bridge clearly lacked match sharpness and often appeared a liability in defence as the Hammers slumped to a bottom-of-the-table finish.

3) Joe Cole, Chelsea to Liverpool, free transfer

Steven Gerrard hailed Liverpool’s signing of Joe Cole last summer as “the signing of the season”, and at the time it was seen as a massive coup for Roy Hodgson’s Reds.

“[Lionel] Messi can do some amazing things, but anything he can do Joe can do as well, if not better,” said Gerrard last September. “I really fancy Joe for the [player of the year] award this season.”

The England international struggled to find a place in Liverpool’s side and spent the majority of his first season at Anfield warming the bench.

4) Christian Poulsen, Juventus to Liverpool, £4.5m

Hodgson brought the Denmark international to Anfield to replace the Barcelona-bound Javier Mascherano.

But Poulsen failed to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League and the 31-year-old was subjected to regular jeers from an unhappy Anfield audience in the first part of the season.

The Dane made 12 league appearances before disappearing under Kenny Dalglish, with the new Liverpool manager opting to promote youth product Jay Spearing.

5) Mauro Boselli, Estudiantes to Wigan Athletic, £6.5m

The striker’s impressive form in Argentina attracted the interest of Roberto Martínez, with Wigan Athletic having previously poached Hugo Rodallega from South America.

The Wigan boss splashed out £6.5m on Boselli but the 26-year-old failed to score in the league and managed just one Carling Cup goal before being sent on loan to Genoa in January for the rest of the season.