Six big-money flops looking to impress for Premier League's Big Six in pre-season

With pre-season fully underway, for some Premier League players this might be the most important moment of their careers despite the fact that most will be just trying to get their fitnesses up.

While the matches are billed as friendlies, there is a note of desperation among some - who might be in last-chance saloon to become key players for their clubs. The top six all have spent lavish amounts in recent years but not every acquisition has worked out as planned.

Manchester City and Liverpool are expected to tussle it out at the top yet again but the chasing pack have all laid out their plans to land an assault on the title and will need every member of their squad to pull their weight. And a select few have been given an opportunity this summer to prove they are worth their big prices.

There was pandemonium in the Premier League when United splashed the cash out on Sancho from Borussia Dortmund for a fee of £73m. After initially being told he could cost as much as £109m from the year before, the deal was heralded as a bargain.

But 12 months later and it would take a search party to find anyone who had the same opinion. It was a tough debut campaign for Sancho in the Premier League, who managed just three goals in 29 appearances.

However, with a new manager at the helm dedicated to attacking play that suits the same style that made the Englishman a star in the Bundesliga, there is reason for Sancho to feel optimistic. While he is yet to score in pre-season, two starts against Liverpool and Melbourne Victory have surely given the winger confidence.

Keita has been with Liverpool since 2018, but in four years, the midfielder has made little impression so far - though his quality has shone through on occasion. However,