Hamilton deal: Five footballers on silly money

Hamilton looks set to be rewarded after winning the Formula One World Championship for the second time last season and is hot favourite to claim back-to-back titles.

It can be argued that the 30-year-old deserves every penny, risking his life week in week out, to be the best driver in the world.

Unfortunately, in the world of football, there are players whose wages certainly do not justify their playing time.

Here are our top five: -

5. Jamie O'Hara, Wolves - £20-30,000 a week

O'Hara may be plying his trade at Blackpool these days, but had the chance to play regular football a lot sooner than he did.

The England U-21 international took at wage cut when Wolves were relegated to League One in 2013, but still made £20,000 a week.

There was ample opportunity for the midfielder to reach an agreement with the club to terminate his contract, but talks were not forthcoming.

He made two league appearances during the promotion campaign costing £480,000 a game.

SHOCK RATING 6-10

4. Emmanuel Adebayor, Spurs - £100,000 a week

The Togo international has fallen out of favour with manager Mauricio Pochettino and has only managed two Premier League goals this season.

With the emergence of Harry Kane and the occasional use of Roberto Soldado, Adebayor has become surplus to requirements at White Hart Lane.

In January, he was offered regular football at Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers, but refused both clubs and opted to stay on the bench instead.

A subsequent move to West Ham also broke down at the eleventh hour. Since November 9, Adebayor has seen just 68 minutes of action, earning him £29,411.76 per minute.

SHOCK RATING: 7-10

3. Steven Fletcher, Sunderland - £40,000 a week.

With Sunderland locked in a relegation dogfight for the second year running, fans were slightly dismayed to see one of their biggest ever flops posing next to his new £260,000 Lamborghini last week.

The Scotland international has found the net twice on two different occasions this season, but has not scored in his last 16 appearances.

Since his £12m transfer from Wolves two years ago, Fletcher has just seven goals to his name costing £1.71million per goal.

SHOCK RATING 8-10

2. Raheem Sterling, Liverpool - £30,000 a week.

Raheem Sterling looks set to turn down a reported £180,000 a week offer from Liverpool in search of a bigger contract elsewhere. Certainly not 'fringe,' but the 20-year-old has ideas way above his station.

Sterling is an undoubted talent of his generation, impressing at both club and international level.

But the chance earn more than six times his current wage, has led many to question the youngsters choices as the contract saga rumbles on.

Sterling would be turning down £7.44m a year at just 20 years-old.

SHOCK RATING 9-10

1. Mario Balotelli, Liverpool - £90,000 and £40,000 a week.

Balotelli took a 'wage cut' to link up with Brendan Rodgers at Anfield despite huge opposition from fans and media alike.

The Italian has undoubted talent, but his constant disciplinary problems on and off the pitch have led many to label him 'unmanageable.'

That did not stop the Liverpool boss making the summer signing after missing out on a a variety of top targets throughout the transfer window.

The term 'panic' buy' has never been a more appropriate and the 24-year-old has not disappointed his critics, losing his place in the side despite a long-term injury to Daniel Sturridge.

Luckily for the club, his Twitter outbursts have saved the club an additional £40,000 per week (his bonus if the striker kept out of trouble).

The £16 million striker has mustered one solitary Premier League goal in 14 appearances. The maths is pretty easy for 'Super Mario.' He has cost £16m for a goal.

SHOCK RATING 10-10