MY ACCOUNT
The January transfer window has closed for another year, with Premier League clubs spending a whopping record combined total of £815million.
Some £275m of that amount was laid out on deadline day, as English top-flight outfits looked to transform their squads ahead of the remaining months of the season.
As the dust settles on a mammoth shopping spree, we take a look at which teams have been winners in the January transfer window and which are left as losers.
Arsenal
Arsenal are seeking to stay ahead in the title race and it looks like they have strengthened their squad in the necessary areas.
The Gunners signed experienced Premier League players in Jorginho and Leandro Trossard for relatively small fees. Polish international centre-back Jakub Kiwior adds to their defensive options.
LiveScore verdict: WINNERS
Aston Villa
After a shaky start, Aston Villa are in with a chance of European qualification but do not look like they have done quite enough in the transfer market.
Danny Ings was sold and replaced by the 19-year-old Colombian international forward Jhon Duran. The former Real Betis left-back Alex Moreno adds experience in defence.
LiveScore verdict: LOSERS
Bournemouth
Bournemouth have spent big in an effort to stay up. Dango Ouattara, Antoine Semenyo and Illya Zabarnyi were signed for a combined total of £54.5m.
All are full internationals, as are loanees Matias Vina and Hamed Traore. It looks as if the Cherries are gambling to beat the drop but have made sure they have signed players that could be helpful in the Championship if the worst happens.
LiveScore verdict: WINNERS
Brentford
Brentford signed a number of youngsters during January but on-loan Freiburg forward Kevin Schade looks like the only player that will trouble the first team.
At a time when the Bees could easily qualify for Europe, you might have thought that they would have rolled the dice.
LiveScore verdict: LOSERS
Brighton
Brighton faced a very challenging window, as other Premier League clubs circled around their best players. Getting a guaranteed £20m for Trossard was a success and the Seagulls held firm to hang on to Moises Caicedo.
The £3.5m paid for 19-year-old Swedish midfielder Yasin Ayari is likely to be money well spent, considering the South Coast club’s recent record in the transfer market.
LiveScore verdict: WINNERS
Chelsea
No club spent more than Chelsea’s outlay on Benoit Badiashile, David Datro Fofana, Andrey Santos, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Malo Gusto, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Felix.
Only time will tell whether it was wise for the Blues to spend so much and hand out such long contracts, but it is clear that Graham Potter’s squad will be much stronger in the short-term.
LiveScore verdict: WINNERS
Crystal Palace
Only seven points separates Crystal Palace from the relegation zone, yet they decided against spending big in January.
Midfielder Naouirou Ahamada was signed from Stuttgart and Albert Sambi Lokonga was loaned from Arsenal. The lack of activity could be one that the South Londoners come to regret.
LiveScore verdict: LOSERS
Everton
When Everton sold Anthony Gordon for £45m, it seemed likely that they would bring in at least a couple of players before the window closed.
Instead the struggling Toffees were the only Premier League club to not make a single recruit during the January window. New manager Sean Dyche’s task has not been made easier.
LiveScore verdict: LOSERS
Fulham
Fulham were tipped to be fighting against relegation, so for Marco Silva’s men to be sitting in seventh meant they entered the market in a position of strength.
They look to have made some sensible additions. In defence, Cedric Soares and Shane Duffy add Premier League experience, while Serbian international midfielder Sasa Lukic was signed from Torino.
LiveScore verdict: WINNERS
Leeds
The headline signing for Leeds manager Jesse Marsch was his fellow American Weston McKennie, who arrives from Juventus on loan after impressing at the World Cup.
Permanent signings Max Wober and Georginio Rutter have already made their debuts, with the Portuguese teenager Diogo Monteiro looking like one for the future.
LiveScore verdict: WINNERS
Leicester
The only permanent transfers made by Leicester were defenders Victor Kristiansen and Harry Souttar, who were perhaps not names that will excite Foxes fans.
Brendan Rodgers will hope that the on-loan Brazilian winger Tete will offer something in attack, having scored six times for Lyon this season.
LiveScore verdict: LOSERS
Liverpool
Liverpool’s transfer window got off to a flying start when they signed Cody Gakpo for what seems like a reasonable fee, reported to be around £35m.
Gakpo has yet to make an impact and with the Reds failing to sign any other player, you have to wonder if the ninth-placed Merseysiders have done enough during this window.
LiveScore verdict: LOSERS
Manchester City
The biggest shock of the January window was the deal that saw Joao Cancelo leave Manchester City on loan to join Bayern Munich, with a permanent move in the offing.
At a time when City are challenging on three fronts, they have chosen to sell an established full-back, without any replacement coming in. Their only signing was the 20-year-old Argentine midfielder Maximo Perrone from Velez Sarsfield.
LiveScore verdict: LOSERS
Manchester United
Wout Weghorst might not have been the sort of striker that Manchester United fans had in mind for a January signing, but his loan is a sensible short-term solution.
The recent injury suffered by Christian Eriksen created a very late requirement for a midfielder. Given the lack of time, the Red Devils could hardly have done better than the loan of Marcel Sabitzer from Bayern Munich.
LiveScore verdict: WINNERS
Newcastle
Considering that Champions League qualification and Carabao Cup success is within Newcastle’s grasp, they were somewhat restrained in the January transfer window.
Apart from the signing of Gordon from Everton, the Magpies’ other recruits were with an eye on the future. Whether it will be enough when their top-four rivals have strengthened remains to be seen.
LiveScore verdict: LOSERS
Nottingham Forest
Despite enjoying a massive summer spending spree, Nottingham Forest opened their wallet once again in the January sales.
Experienced figures such as Keylor Navas, Felipe and Jonjo Shelvey were brought in on deadline day, while the loan of Chris Wood adds nous to the attack. Brazilian signings Gustavo Scarpa and Danilo have already featured.
LiveScore verdict: WINNERS
Southampton
Much like fellow relegation candidates Bournemouth, Southampton have made a number of signings that should be happy enough to play in the Championship, if they do not stay up.
James Bree, Carlos Alcaraz, Mislav Orsic, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Paul Onuachu have all joined, with the latter having been a prolific scorer in Belgium for Genk.
LiveScore verdict: WINNERS
Tottenham
Loaning Bryan Gil back to Sevilla and cancelling the contract of Matt Doherty summed up how sloppy Tottenham have been in the transfer market in recent seasons.
However, the deadline-day signing of right wing-back Pedro Porro looks likely to address their weakest position and Arnaut Danjuma was a smart addition to the attacking options. Spurs are stronger than they were a month ago.
LiveScore verdict: WINNERS
West Ham
The signing of Ings from Aston Villa looked a good one, but West Ham were unlucky enough to see the striker receive a knee injury on his debut that will keep him out for weeks.
Aside from Ings, the Hammers’ only new face was the young Brazilian centre-back Luizao. The lack of business seems a gamble with the threat of relegation looming.
LiveScore verdict: LOSERS
Wolves
Another club fighting against relegation are Wolves. Pablo Sarabia and Matheus Cunha stand out as players that could add some much-needed attacking flair.
Other signings include two players with plenty of Premier League experience in Craig Dawson and Mario Lemina, while midfielder Joao Gomes has arrived from Flamengo.
LiveScore verdict: WINNERS
