Transfer flops - Hugo Viana

Viana in his Newcastle days

A young promising midfield prodigy arrived at Newcastle United in 2002 on the crest of a wave, but shied away through the back door three years later after a miserable spell.

Hugo Viana began his career at Sporting Lisbon, and hit the ground running by turning in a string of tremendous performances in his debut season.  This captured the attention of clubs Europe wide, with Fifa also sitting up and taking note.

The worlds governing body awarded 19-year-old Viana the Young European Footballer of the Year award, which was enough to persuade Bobby Robson to part with his cash and bring him to Newcastle United.  A fee of around £8.5m saw Sporting part with their young starlet, and expectations about the youngster around St James Park were certainly high.

Unfortunately his big move didn't go according to plan, as you have now probably gathered by the title, and his career in the northeast quickly turned sour.  After two dismal years he was loaned back to his old club, before returning and quickly being shipped out once again.

This time it was to Valencia, where an initial years loan was made permanent for around £1.5m the following year.  This marked a huge loss for Newcastle, but also another chance for Viana to show he wasn't a flash in the pan.  He again flattered to deceive and after two years in which the half century appearance mark again fell out of range, as with Newcastle, another loan spell followed.

This time it was with La Liga rivals Osasuna followed by a trip back home with Sporting Braga the following year.  It was the latter move that was again made permanent, where he remains to this day.  One of his best day's back home came just over two months ago, when, with the game tied at 0-0 he scored from his own half in the 94th minute.

On the international front he represented Portugal under-21s for three years, before progressing up the ranks.  Withe the seniors he has travelled to two World Cups, one European Championship and an Olympics.

Inter Milan's Managerial Merry Go Round Continues

Massimo Moratti has continued to live up to his cutthroat reputation by sacking Claudio Ranieri, a day after declaring he would be in the post until the end of season following a 2-0 defeat to Juventus.

The Inter Milan president has now dismissed two managers this term, after Gian Piero Gasperini was dismissed in September after a poor start to the season.

It at first looked like Ranieri had turned the San Siro sides fortunes around, dragging the club up the table and away from the relegation spots, but with Internazionale languishing ten points off third place Lazio, the final Champions League spot, the club have acted.

Conflicting Statements

Following the weekend defeat, Moratti stated early on Monday:  "I think that Claudio Ranieri will remain until the end of the season."

With a statement following later in the day, after the sacking, on the club's website that read:  "President Massimo Moratti and everyone at Inter Milan would like to thank Claudio Ranieri and his staff for their professionalism, dedication and honesty during their time in charge of the team."

Inter, and crucially Moratti, are desperately trying to get the club back to the glory years of it's not too distant past under first Roberto Mancini and then Jose Mourinho.

Ex Inter manager Ranieri

Stability and patience though are clearly not options to be considered.

However, if you think two managers in a season is a bad record you will have to look back to the 1998/99 season, when they last failed to make Europe and four men sat at the helm during the season.

Luigi Simoni, Mircea Lucescu, Luciano Castellini and finally Roy Hodgson all came and went in a humbling period for the club.

Future

Andre Villas Boas is reportedly the early front runner for the post, but until a successor is appointed youth team coach Andrea Stramaccioni will take over:  "Inter also announce that they have entrusted the team to Andrea Stramaccioni, the coach who won the first edition of the Next Generation Series," continues the statement issued by the club.

Whoever does come in on a full time basis will have to contend with Seria As highest wage bill, at a staggering €200m a year, and you would think a major overhaul of the squad is also a high priority.

Firepower has been lacking somewhat since the sale of Samuel Eto'o last summer to Anzhi Makhachkala, while top earner Wesley Sneijder has not hit his usual spectacular highs.

A shrewd appointment is needed; if it doesn't arrive the fans may not blame the manager and could look further up the pecking order.

Future stars - Antoine Griezmann

Griezmann in a buoyant mood

Despite being a part of the Real Sociedad squad for some time now, Antoine Griezmann has really pushed on in the last year or so.  Making bigger clubs sit up and take note, with Arsenal one of the clubs most recently linked with a late January move for the youngster.

It has not been an easy road for the 20-year-old, being rejected by several clubs after trials due to size.  How many times have we heard that?  However, after one such trial Griezmann drew admiring glances from several clubs.  It was Real Sociedad who won the race though, where he has gone from strength to strength.

After progressing through the youth ranks, it was prior to the 2009/10 season when he was given a chance to impress in pre-season.  It was't long before a senior debut came his way, appearing as a second half substitute in a Copa Del Rey match against Rayo Vallecano.

He has not looked back from here, being a regular member of the squad and could perhaps be another gem unearthed by the San Sebastian based side.  It would be no suprise to see Premier League sides make a move for Griezmann in the future, with truly exciting wingers not commonplace on these shores.  It is afterall his pace and skill that have put him on the map.

In 2010 a first appearance for France under-19s came about, in addition to a new contract at club level that reportedly has a buy out clause of around €30 million.  After flicking between the under-19, 20 and 21 sides, Griezmann has now established himself as a regular member of the latter.

Currently nearing a century of appearance at club level, it wouldn't be a suprise if we seen the talented youngster make a move sooner rather than later.

Transfer Flops - Afonso Alves

Middlesbrough FC aren't exempt from the odd calamitous transfer, but Afonso Alves must be soaring high above the rest.  The clubs current record transfer spectacularly failed to live up to expectations, before being shipped of to Qatar just a year after joining.

The Brazilian started his carrer at Atletico Mineiro, before making a move to Europe after a handful of appearances and goals.

It wasn't however one of the big leagues that drew his attention, with Alves moving to Sweden and Orgryte.  However he only here a year before making another step up after a successful showing.  After a goal ratio that bettered one in every other game, Malmo FF signed the striker and he spearheaded the club to a League title in his debut season.

Alves lasted one more season before getting on the move once again, this time to Holland where he became Heerenveen's record signing at £3.5m.  It was here that he enjoed most success, plundering over 30 goals in his debut season after netting seven in only his second appearance for the club.

Following two seasons at the Dutch club, and not exempt from controversy, Alves made what he hoped would be a big step towards the big time.  The Premier League beckoned, with Middlesbrough paying over £12m to secure his services.  However his time on teeside soon turned sour, when it became clear he was well on the road to becoming a very expensive mistake.

Alves during his difficult time at Middlesbrough

His solitary season in the Premiership will no doubt be remembered for some time, with his lack of firepower resulting in the club being relegated to the Championship.  Middlesbrough cut their losses, and perhaps did well to recoup over half the fee paid.

Al Saad is where Alves headed this time, lasting only a few months before accepting a loan offer from anthother Qatari club, this time Al Rayyan.

Goals began to flow once more, before a ligament injury late in 2010 sidelined him for some considerable time.  He is however back playing and back amongst the goals.

On the international front Alves received a first international call up in 2007 whilst still plying his trade in Holland, almost scoring against England before his ill fated spell on those shores.  A Copa America win followed but it wasn't long before those appearances in a Brazil shirt soon dried up.

Future stars - Iker Muniain

This is yet another name that we have seen banded around over the last few months, yet another product of the lauded Spanish youth system.  Iker Muniain has been making waves ever since he arrived on the scene as a sprightly 16-year-old, however, being a member of Athletic Bilbao it remains to be seen if he will ever ply his trade elsewhere.

Born in Pamplona and a member of the Basque clubs youth system, Muniain, like many others, has grown up a fiercely proud inhabitant of that particular part of Spain.  Making his debut for the seniors in 2009, and in doing so becoming youngest ever player to don the famous shirt.

He also quickly became the youngest to score; being referred to as the 'Basque Wayne Rooney.'  Muniain is very attack minded, able play both as a striker or winger, and surely a player that will soon become a regular in the Spanish set up.  After all he has represented them at all levels from under-16 to under-21, winning the European Championships with the latter last summer.

Celebrating hitting the back of the net

If you were to believe the gossip columns it seems inevitable that he will be leaving sooner rather than later, but as a lot of football fans know that isn't always the case amongst the Basque's.  They are proud people, often reluctant to leave, due to the strong ties they have with the region, the language and everything that makes it unique.

He is currently contracted until 2015 and has a buy out clause in the region of 40m euros, but it would be hardly surprising if he was to commit beyond that.  In a league where two clubs dominate, it is refreshing to see one that can keep hold of it's star performers despite the huge monopoly that exists.

Transfer flops - Chris Sutton

Sutton being presented as a Chelsea player

You wouldn't think that someone who has over 150 career goals could be thought of as a transfer flop, but after a big money move to Chelsea the striker spectacularly failed to live up to the price tag and expectations.  However that is what happened to Chris Sutton when he headed to London, after earning many plaudits in previous spells with Norwich City and Blackburn Rovers.

It was with the Canaries where he began his career, making over a century of appearances and averaging around a goal every three games.  In three years at Carrow Road his reputation was suitably enhanced and it wasn't long before links with big money moves away started to be touted.

Ewood Park was Sutton's next destination, when Blackburn Rovers made him the most expensive player in English football at £5m in 1994.  It was here that the infamous SAS partnership was formed with Alan Shearer, with the pair spearheading the Rovers attack and leading the side to it's maiden, and still only, Premier League title.

However following this success the squad started to break up, and relegation mire ensued.  In 1999 following inevitable relegation Sutton departed, heading to Stamford Bridge where it was hoped an Englishman could succeed amongst the plethora of nationalities.

During his Villa stint

This proved not to be the case.  Following the £10m move he immediately started to struggle, a problem that stretched the whole season and has been adapted by big money strikers that have since made the move to Chelsea.  One season, including an FA Cup final where he didn't even make the squad, and one league goal later his bags were packed again.

This time the Scottish Premier League (SPL) was the destination, where he averaged nearly a goal every two games in a five and a half year stint at Celtic.  Following his successes in Scotland Sutton returned south to try his luck in the Premiership, but again it didn't really work out.  Half a season at Birmingham City was followed by a year at Aston Villa, before an attempt at management was undertaken.

Sutton also only managed one cap for the national side, after representing England at under-21, B and senior level.

Future Stars - Lucas Rodrigues Moura da Silva

This is a player that we have been hearing a lot about recently, with the youngster seemingly being linked to every club in Europe never mind just the Premier League.  Lucas, or Lucas Rodrigues Moura da Silva to give him his full name, is no doubt an incredibly talented footballer which is emphasised by the huge price that is on his head.

Lucas started his career at Brazlian giants Corinthians, only managing three years in their youth set up however before an early move of clubs ensued.  Sao Paulo signed up the enigmatic midfielder, and he has since gone from strength to strength.

He stepped up to the first team in 2010 and made his debut in September of the same year, under the name 'Marcelinho.'  This was due to the fact he attended Marcelinho Carioca's football school, but he quickly went back on this and informed of his intention to be called Lucas.

Lucas (right) with fellow starlet Neymar

From an early age it was clear he was something special, especially when his club captain Rogerio Ceni announced his importance to the club.  In addition to stating the future impact that Lucas could have, Ceni also announced Lucas could possess such talent that he could be the best since Kaka to come through the ranks at Sao Paulo.

Last year the international scene beckoned, where he has now hit double figures in appearances and could be crucial to any future success.

It is not known what the future holds for Lucas, with Brazilian football going through somewhat of a renaissance at the moment.  Past greats are returning and young stars seem to want to stay, but Europe will surely be on the agenda at some point.

His club side, it is said, have placed a £70m price on his head, a figure that could perhaps be deterring sides at the moment.  Manchester United, Liverpool and Real Madrid have all been muted amongst others, and when the time does come he will surely move for big bucks but for a fee significantly less than that mentioned.

Lucas could become a crucial figure at any of the continents biggest clubs, whilst also being key to his nations World Cup hopes on home soil in 2014.