Here, Press Association Sport assesses some other costly flops.

JUAN SEBASTIAN VERON

The Argentina international arrived to add flair and panache to the Manchester United midfield and his unrivalled reputation as a midfield playmaker came with a price tag of £28.1million to match. Despite the staunch support of Sir Alex Ferguson he struggled to adapt to the Premier League. With United looking to offload him, rivals Chelsea took the gamble at £15million, enjoying no greater success.

ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO

As several million fantasy football line-ups would attest, barely anybody in the country could envisage the Ukrainian forward failing at Chelsea. Nevertheless, Shevchenko suffered a chronic lack of form and confidence at Stamford Bridge and by the time he left for Dynamo Kiev, a former world-beater's departure was barely noticed.

SERGEY REBROV

Rebrov gained worldwide acclaim as he combined with Shevchenko to form one of the most lethal forward lines in European football at Dynamo Kiev. But while Shevchenko went on to enjoy a legendary career at AC Milan before his Chelsea travails, Rebrov's career stalled after a £11million move to Tottenham. A dismal year at West Ham followed.

AFONSO ALVES

The Brazilian had made light work of defences in Sweden and Holland before sealing a transfer worth at least £12million to Middlesbrough. Boro thought they had a bargain on their hands but the burly striker did not show the fitness or form to deliver on a regular basis despite rare hints of class, including a brace against Manchester United.

JO

Having wowed during a three-year stint with CSKA Moscow, Jo earned a blockbuster £18million move to Manchester City. His tenure at Eastlands was soon overshadowed by even bigger names and even grander fees but he never looked up to the task and offered better value to Everton before being loaned to Galatasaray.

STEVE MARLET

At £11.5million in 2001, the modestly talented Marlet is a poster boy for the Premier League's worst excesses. The aberration in judgment by then Fulham boss Jean Tigana surely contributed to his sacking later that season, while he was the most expensive of bench-warmers in the autumn of his Cottagers career.

SETH JOHNSON

The once-capped England midfielder was an honest, hard-working player but always looked likely to buckle under the pressure of a £7million transfer fee and a bumper wage packet to boot nine years ago. In the end it was a series of injuries that accounted for his top-flight career but even fully fit he may have struggled to justify the outlay.