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Chelsea's record-signing Moises Caicedo has earned the dubious honour of being tagged the Premier League's biggest letdown this season, eclipsing Manchester United's duo Andre Onana and Ramus Hojlund in the flop stakes.
Despite the hefty investments made by Chelsea and Manchester United during the summer transfer spree, their marquee signings have not delivered on the expectations set by their hefty price tags.
Caicedo, who made his way to Stamford Bridge from Brighton for a staggering £115 million ($146m), has been particularly singled out for criticism by ex-Scotland international Ally McCoist.
High Expectations, Low Returns
According to McCoist, as reported by Goal, despite the anticipation surrounding their arrivals, both Chelsea and Manchester United's star acquisitions have struggled to make their mark.
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"Andre Onana has been nothing like the signing everyone thought he would be for Manchester United, but I’m not giving him ‘flop of the season so far’, I think that’s ever so slightly harsh.
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"But Moises Caicedo, I saw him a couple of times, particularly at Old Trafford with Enzo Fernandez in the middle of the park, and both of them were, for a quarter of a billion pounds, not great… Caicedo would certainly get my vote over Onana.
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"Rasmus Hojlund? No chance – Caicedo and Onana would get it ahead of him," McCoist shared his views on talkSPORT BET.
Youthful Determination Versus Harsh Realities
Despite his critique, McCoist offers a silver lining for Hojlund, citing the young striker's perseverance and potential.
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"I know Hojlund hasn’t been scoring as regularly, particularly domestically, as Man United fans would want, but there’s a willingness there, there’s an eagerness there, a desire, which a lot of the United fans, the majority if not all of them, can see... I’m settling on Moises Caicedo!”
His commentary highlights the importance of effort and determination, which seems to resonate with fans and gives Hojlund a pass from the harsh judgment faced by his peers.
Hojlund's journey to his first Premier League goal was a hard-fought battle, taking 15 matches, 19 shots, and 1026 minutes to find the back of the net after his £72m ($92m) move from Atalanta.
As the season progresses, Caicedo, Onana, and Hojlund will be under pressure to justify their price tags and prove their worth on the field.
Caicedo's upcoming match against Liverpool and the statement from Jurgen Klopp that his team was "lucky" to have avoided signing him adds an extra layer of intrigue and perhaps motivation for the midfielder to showcase his true abilities.
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