Who have been the biggest Premier League flops this season?

Radamel Falcao has been below par this season

Not all of last summer's new arrivals to the Premier League have blossomed this season. Alex Johnson looks at a few who have disappointed...

While the likes of Diego Costa and Alexis Sanchez have thrived since arriving there have also been some big names failing to hit the heights.

There have also been some underwhelming performances from more familiar faces in new colours.

We take a look at some of the Premier League players with plenty of room for improvement as the season moves towards its conclusion.

Radamel Falcao

Manchester United's on-loan Colombian seems like the best place to start.

The former Atletico Madrid and Monaco striker has managed to find the net just four times in 21 appearances with manager Louis van Gaal seemingly losing patience with him in recent weeks.

Falcao appeared for United's Under-21s just 24 hours after he was an unused substitute as Arsenal knocked the first team out of the FA Cup.

He was given just eight minutes off the bench against Spurs at Old Trafford on Sunday.

With Robin van Persie out injured, Falcao is still finding himself surplus to requirements and it looks as if his season-long loan will be written off as an expensive mistake.

His manager did tell Falcao last week he must carry on fighting to earn his place but it looks like the dye has been cast.

Mario Balotelli

It hasn't been much of a season for Liverpool's big-money replacement for Luis Suarez.

Looking back on Balotelli's last-minute arrival from AC Milan, it seems clearer than ever that Brendan Rodgers didn't really want to have the former Manchester City man in his squad.

Rodgers attempted to make the best he could of the situation but Balotelli's lack of goals meant his manager soon tired of trying to accommodate the 24-year-old maverick.

Balotelli's style is simply not in keeping with what Rodgers is attempting to build at Anfield.

He has featured only twice in the league since the turn of the year and with Daniel Sturridge now back in harness, Balotelli will continue to find chances hard to come by.

He managed to score his first league goal when last spotted coming off the bench in the win over Tottenham but it will be a major surprise if Balotelli remains at Anfield next season.

Jack Rodwell

Sunderland splashed out 10million to take the England midfielder last summer and it is fair to say the Black Cats haven't really seen value for money so far.

Prior to his departure from the Stadium of Light, Gus Poyet had started Rodwell just four times in Sunderland's last 15 Premier League games.

Of course, Rodwell is part of a squad that is underperforming as a group but having come in for such a hefty transfer fee the weight of expectation has been on the midfielder.

Poyet put Rodwell's poor performances down to the fact he was coming from an environment at City, where his team were in control of each game, to Sunderland who have to scrap for everything.

Getting the best from Rodwell in what is left of this season could be the key for new boss Dick Advocaat if he is to keep Sunderland up.

Dejan Lovren

Liverpool's resurgence this season almost runs parallel with Rodgers' decision to omit 20million summer signing Lovren from his defence.

Lovren was ever-present for the first 12 league games during which time the Reds could muster only four wins and achieved just two clean sheets.

Without Lovren at the centre of defence, Liverpool have eight wins and four draws from a dozen games.

It has to be said the Reds have won their three most recent games where the Croatian international has started.

The jury remains out on the central defender who has yet to prove the fee Liverpool paid Southampton will prove to be good value.

Rio Ferdinand

Harry Redknapp took a gamble with the free agent following his release from Manchester United and to date the former England man has failed to repay that faith.

Ferdinand was part of a shaky QPR defence that leaked 15 goals in the first seven games before the renowned Twitter user earned himself a three-game ban for breaching FA rules on social media use.

He featured only once in 15 games from early October until February.

Ferdinand returned to action last month and has started in three of the R's last five games under Chris Ramsey.

With QPR in freefall having lost eight of their last nine games, Ferdinand has a job on if he is going to avoid relegation.

He arrived as a free agent but given the investment QPR are making in wages, they are entitled to expect a bigger contribution between now and May.

Remy Cabella

The French midfielder arrived from Montpellier for 8million last summer with Newcastle fans hearing his name mentioned in the same sentences as Yohan Cabaye.

Things have not quite worked for him at St James' Park yet and he is certainly not in the same league as his compatriot.

Cabella is perhaps similar to Erik Lamela at Spurs. He clearly has the skills and trickery but up until now things seems to be happening a little too quickly for him in the Premier League.

Cabella has been forced into the periphery at Newcastle as the season wears on and he is awaiting his first goal after 24 league appearances - the majority now coming from the bench.

Lamela was able to prosper more in his second season at White Hart Lane - albeit fleetingly - and Newcastle will be hoping the best is yet to come from Cabella.