6 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.

Manchester United - Jadon Sancho, £73m

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.

Liverpool - Naby Keita, £52.75m

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, after forking out a mammoth fee, it is fair to say that more had been expected from the Guinea international by now.

Injuries have played a cruel and crucial role, but this pre-season should give Jurgen Klopp a decent idea whether or not he can rely on Keita next season. With his contract expiring in 12 months, this is the 27-year-old's biggest campaign yet.

Chelsea - Kepa Arrizabalaga, £72m

At Chelsea there have been swathes of cash spent on players that have yet to live up to the bill but the biggest one that still remains is Kepa. Signed for a world-record fee for a goalkeeper in 2018, the Spaniard has been a disastrous signing so far - playing second-fiddle to Edouard Mendy, brought in to accommodate for the stopper's deficiencies.

Now on pre-season and ahead of the World Cup where the No. 1 spot is up for grabs in Spain, Kepa has no choice but to try convince Thomas Tuchel he is the main man. Dislodging a goalkeeper is a tough ask in football, especially one that has recently won the Champions League, World Club Cup and African Cup of Nations - so no pressure!

Arsenal - Nicolas Pepe, £72m

It has been a tough few years at Arsenal for Pepe, who was signed for a club-record fee of £72m from Lille back in 2017 under Unai Emery. Just months into his time at the Emirates and the Spaniard was sacked and replaced with by Mikel Arteta - who does not fancy the Ivorian.

Barely a squad player anymore, the Gunners would love to cut ties with Pepe but cannot find a suitor. There is another way, though, with Pepe fulfilling his potential and becoming the final piece in the puzzle for Arteta next season - but it would require some persuasion.

Manchester City - Jack Grealish, £100m

Much was made of City's purchase of Grealish from Aston Villa at £100m - a British record and for a player that many believed Pep Guardiola did not even need. And so it was as the Etihad outfit won the Premier League with little impact from the playmaker, who managed just three assists all season.

Now ahead of his second season in light blue, the pressure will ramp up once again as the 26-year-old cannot have another tepid year at City. No doubt being put through his paces by Guardiola after a boozy holiday season, Grealish has it all to prove.

Tottenham - Tanguy Ndombele, £55m

Quickly becoming something of a forgotten man after a disappointing year under Jose Mourinho's reign at Tottenham, Antonio Conte could give Ndombele a new lease of life after a loan spell at Lyon. The Italian has been keen to improve the midfield at Spurs but might already have the right player.

However, it will require the Frenchman to up his work ethic significantly - a must when working under Conte. If he can get into the former Chelsea manager's good books, the 25-year-old could become a key player yet in north London.