The Five Best Premier League Deals In The Winter Transfer Window
Graham Ruthven reveals the transfers that have caught his eye in England's top flight.
By Graham Ruthven (@grahamruthven)
The window has slammed shut, leaving those who failed to make their moves in January high and dry (looking at you, Aston Villa). The totaliser has been tallied up, with Premier League clubs hoping they have done enough in the transfer market to push them closer to the targets between now and the end of the season.
But who made the best moves of the window? Here are five deals that caught the eye over January.
Charlie Austin (QPR to Southampton)
Southampton pulled off arguably the coup of this year’s January transfer window. Charlie Austin boats a scoring record unlike many other strikers in English soccer, and yet a fee of £4 million was all that was required to take him to the South coast from Queens Park Rangers. It’s baffling that at that price Ronald Koeman didn’t have greater competition for the striker.
Austin - who is hoping to make England’s squad for the summer’s European Championships - demonstrated just how valuable he could be to the Saints with a debut winner against Manchester United, and will give Koeman even greater threat in the final third. He will provide them with a natural goalscoring instinct that has been lacking at times this season.
Giannelli Imbula (Porto to Stoke City)
In one of the final deals to be completed on deadline day, Stoke City smashed their club transfer record to sign Giannelli Imbula from Porto for £18.3 million. It was a statement signing from Mark Hughes’ side, who have become something of a genuine Premier League force this season.
At such a high prize, the Frenchman represents a gamble, but as a box-to-box midfielder who offers just as much out of possession as in it, Imbula could be perfectly suited to the demands and rigours of the English game. He has Champions League pedigree and could raise Stoke even further than their current upward arc. Things might get even better at the Britannia Stadium.
Mohamed Elneny (Basel to Arsenal)
Arsene Wenger admitted early on in the transfer window that he expected Arsenal to be “busy” in the market, and with Mohamed Elneny’s arrival from Basel that certainly looked to be the case. As it turned out, the Egyptian was the Gunner’s sole addition over the month, but Wenger still found himself a worthy new recruit.
Elneny arrived at the Emirates Stadium on something of a cut price deal from Basel - costing just £5 million - and will provide Arsenal with another option in the centre of midfield. He is perhaps more dynamic than someone like Francis Coquelin, but he will have the chance to prove himself as the anchor at the centre of midfield. That’s where he will have most impact.
Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea City to Newcastle United)
This was a move that made sense for all parties involved. Jon Shelvey’s career had stalled at Swansea City, despite showing glimpses of what he is capable of in three years with the Swans. The Welsh club got a high-earner off their wage bill, while Newcastle United took a punt on a player who could spark them into life in the final third.
Shelvey revealed that he felt forced out of Swansea, but in the North-East he finds a club that he can mould around himself. Newcastle need something to take a grip of their attacking line, and the England international certainly has the ability to do that. Does he have the personality?
Emmanuel Adebayor (Spurs to Crystal Palace)
As something of a transfer window mercenary, Emmanuel Adebayor has a certain way of endearing himself to new fans. “I don’t know much about the club but it’s better to learn, so I’ll be going on Google and finding out more about them,” he admitted upon his arrival at Crystal Palace. Somebody clearly failed to brief him on the Eagles’ rivalry with the striker’s former club Spurs.
Nonetheless, Adebayor is a risk worth taking for Palace. Alan Pardew has built a solid, top-half Premier League outfit in his 12 months in charge, but his side still lacks a reliable number nine to lead the line. The Togo forward is temperamental and unpredictable, but he tends to start well at each of his respective clubs. Palace could use a burst from him between now and the end of the season.