Premier League Transfers: 15 Talented Imports Who Completely Flopped

7. Hernán Crespo

Hernán Crespo was one of a number of forwards bought in during the early period of the Abramovich era, which also saw the arrival of players like Mateja Kežman and the disastrous Adrian Mutu, who all tried to grasp the spot that Didier Drogba would eventually own. Eidur Guðjohnsen left for Barcelona, Kežman simply wasn€™t good enough and Mutu was fired for drug use - but Crespo was a different case altogether. It was clear that the Argentinian - who had been a world record signing for Lazio - was extremely talented, but he wasn€™t living up to it. Crespo was one of the first big signings of Roman Abramovich€™s ownership, joining alongside the likes of Claude Makélélé and Joe Cole. Though he was undoubtedly a good striker, he struggled to fit in with Chelsea€™s style of play. It became clear that the blues required a different type of forward - a big powerful presence - and Crespo simply didn't fit the bill. Like his compatriot Juan Sebastian Verón, Crespo€™s talents were better served in Serie A, and the arrival of new manager Jose Mourinho would provide the opportunity of a return to Italy. During his loan spell at AC Milan, Crespo showed why he was once such a coveted striker, and on what turned out to be a miserable night in Istanbul, Crespo€™s positional awareness and deadly finishing were on full display, as he scored two goals to seemingly kill the hopes of Chelsea€™s rivals Liverpool.