Arsenal
In:
Nacho Monreal [Malaga – Arsenal] £8.5 million
Out:
Chuks Aneke [Arsenal – Crewe] Loan
Emmanuel Frimpong [Arsenal – Fulham] Loan
Johan Djourou [Arsenal – Hannover 96] Loan
Marouane Chamakh [Arsenal – West Ham] Loan
An injury this week to Clichy left only the calamitous Santos as the Gunners left-back, a prospect so terrifying it prompted even the famously parsimonious Wenger into the January market. Okay, so a commanding centre back and centre mid (we heard Capoue) would not have gone amiss either but any window where Arsenal purchase a player and don’t lose their star man counts as a success these days.
Best deal – Monteal. Anyone but Santos is a marked and immediate upgrade but Monteal additionally is the real deal and has been on Wenger’s radar for quite some time.
‘Arry’s rating (out of ten) 4/10 – “One player? Yer ‘avin a laff aint ya? Old Arsey are always being called frugal. I thought that was a yoghurt”
Aston Villa
In:
Yacouba Sylla [Clermont Foot – Aston Villa] £2 million
Simon Dawkins [Tottenham Hotspur – Aston Villa] Loan
Out:
Stephen Warnock [Aston Villa – Leeds United] Undisclosed
Alan Hutton [Aston Villa – Real Mallorca] Free
Releasing their two former first-choice full-backs lightened the wage bill and cleared the path for some desperately needed signings, preferably anyone over the age of 21. Villa’s virgins are entrenched in an adult relegation battle and the call for an old head in ther e- even at the expense of quality – was urgent in the extreme. Villa fans waited…and waited…
Best deal – The departure of Hutton
‘Arry’s rating 2/10 – “What the hell is happening up there? Simon Dawkins? I carted him out to the Yanks yonks ago! And Clermont Foot? I think Sandra had a touch of that last week. Antibiotics cleared it right up”
Chelsea
In:
Demba Ba [Newcastle – Chelsea] Undisclosed, believed to be £7 million
Wallace [Fluminese – Chelsea] £5 million – arrives in summer
Out:
Patrick Bamford [Chelsea – MK Dons] Loan
Daniel Sturridge [Chelsea – Liverpool] Undisclosed, believed to be £12 million
Luca Piazon [Chelsea – Malaga] Loan
Sam Walker [Chelsea – Colchester] Loan
Billy Clifford [Chelsea – Colchester] Loan
Todd Kane [Chelsea – Blackburn] Loan
Ba was the bargain they all wanted – a mobile, strong front man capable of the spectacular who was available for peanuts due to a widely-publicised release clause. With Sturridge out of favour at the Bridge it could be argued that Chelsea have improved their attacking options whilst also making a profit, a marked contrast to their summer splurging.
Elesewhere a raft of outbound loans offers experience for their young prodigies.
Best deal – Ba. Possibly the best deal of the whole window.
‘Arry’s rating 8/10 – “Sensible. Astute. Gawd I hate those words but fair play to rafa who’s a luvverly fella”
Stepping Stones: Everton’s new young recruit.
Everton
In:
John Stones [Barnsley to Everton] Undisclosed
Out:
Anton Forrester [Everton – Blackburn Rovers] Free
Ross Barkley [Everton – Leeds] Loan
From signing the Dutch Patrick Vieira to bringing in an unknown instead for peanuts these past few days perfectly epitomise Moyes’ eternal struggle at Goodison. That Twente’s powerhouse Fer had a knee concern that showed up in his medical is just misfortune but the Toffees had alternatives lined up that were not followed through. Summer target Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe would have added some loaned muscle to the midfield while the £6.7m saved on Fer was hoped to lure Sevilla’s arch striker Negredo. With Everton chasing a Champions League spot this was a key window and the question is, has Moyes now been backed into a corner from which the only escape is leaving?
Best deal – Erm, I hear Cash4Gold are offering some decent prices at the minute.
‘Arry rating –
“Johnny Stones? Never ‘eard of ‘im. The last time I was up there Billy Kenwright tried to tap my dog Rosie up for a few quid”
Fulham
In:
Ejong Enoh [Ajax – Fulham] Loan
Stanislav Manolev [PSV – Fulham] Loan
Urby Emanuelson [AC Milan – Fulham] Loan
Chris David [FC Twente – Fulham] Undisclosed
Emmanual Frimpong [Arsenal – Fulham] Loan
Out:
Stephen Kelly [Fulham – Reading] Undisclosed
David Stockdale [Fulham – Hull] Loan
Richard Peniket [Fulham – AFC Telford] Loan
Jol has reunited with the versatile Emanuelson who is an intriguing recruit whilst elsewhere has dabbled shrewdly in the loan market to strengthen a midfield in dire need of it.
Best deal – Frimpong. A steal for some steel for the Arsenal enforcer.
‘Arry rating – “I like the cut of Jol’s jib”
Liverpool
In:
Daniel Sturridge [Chelsea – Liverpool] Undisclosed, believed to be £12 million
Philippe Coutinho [Inter Milan – Liverpool] £8.5 million
Out:
Alexander Doni [Liverpool – Botafogo] Free
Dani Pacheco [Liverpool [ SD Huesca] Loan
Joe Cole [Liverpool – West Ham] Free
Michael Ngoo [Liverpool – Hearts] Loan
Danny Wilson [Liverpool – Hearts] Loan
Adam Morgan [Liverpool – Rotherham] Loan
The Reds’ outgoings are impressive – flops Doni and Cole have been off-loaded whilst their brightest young pups have all been farmed out to gain valuable experience. Sturridge was an essential purchase – a pacy striker to finally offer Suarez support – while securing Coutino is a huge boon. Not only is the lad quality from his boots up but his forward forays allows the much-maligned Joe Allen to settle into his preferred deeper role and keep things simple.
Best deal – Coutinho. An impish schemer who fits Rodgers’ philosophy hand-in-glove.
‘Arry’s rating – “Impressive stuff but they let Joey Cole go? Unbelievable. The boy is world class on his day”
Manchester City
In:
Godsway Donyoh [Right to Dream Academy – Manchester City] Undisclosed
Out:
Godsway Donyoh [Manchester City – Djurgarden] LOAN
Mario Balotelli [Manchester City – AC Milan] £19 million
Jeremy Helan [Manchester City – Sheffield Wednesday] Loan
Reece Wabara [Manchester City – Blackpool] Loan
Alex Nimely [Manchester City – Crystal Palace] Loan
The departure of Balotelli dominated events so much it over-shadowed the fact that City have taken an as-you-were approach to mid-season. The 21 year old Italian was always an enigma wrapped in a puzzle but his sale leaves only more questions. Can John Guidetti find fitness and claim the fourth striker role? Can City navigate the rest of the season with three established front men? Will they live to regret not replacing their capricious option from the bench?
Best deal – Bye-bye Balo. Thanks for the lunacy.
‘Arry’s rating 4/10 – “All that dosh and no deals? Mancini wants his ‘ead testing”
Manchester United
In:
Wilfried Zaha [Crystal Palace – Manchester United] £10 million + £5 million add-ons
Dean Santangelo [Augsburg – Manchester United] Undisclosed
Out:
Angelo Henriques [Manchester United – Wigan Athletic] Loan
Bebe [Manchester United – Rio Ave] Loan
Josh King [Manchester United – Blackburn] £1 million
Robbie Brady [Manchester United – Hull] Undisclosed, believed to be £2 million
Wilfried Zaha [Manchester United – Crystal Palace] Loan
Federico Macheda [Manchester United – Stuggart] Loan
Davide Petrucci [Manchester United – Peterborough] Loan
Scott Wootton – [Manchester United – Peterborough] Loan
Luke McCullough [Manchester United – Cheltenham] Loan
In an ideal world Ferguson likes to use the January window to bring in youth and with his team dominant atop the Prem and with no major injury concerns this represented the perfect opportunity to recruit one of the most exciting propects around. Zaha has searing pace and trickery in abundance but with ample options available at present he has been loaned back to Palace to complete their promotion campaign.
Best deal – Zaha. Nani is living on borrowed time.
‘Arry’s rating 8/10 – “Nice one Fergie me ol’ son. Sweet as a nut”
Newcastle United
In:
Kevin Mbabu [Servette – Newcastle United] Undisclosed
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa [Montpellier – Newcastle United] Undisclosed, believed to be £6.7 million
Mathieu Debuchy [Lille – Newcastle United] Undisclosed, believed to be £5 million
Moussa Sissoko [Toulouse – Newcastle United] Undisclosed
Massadio Haidara [Nancy – Newcastle United] Undisclosed
Yoan Gouffran [Bordeaux – Newcastle United] Undisclosed
Out:
Paul Dummett [Newcastle United – St Mirren] Loan
Mehdi Abeid [Newcastle United – St Johnstone] Loan
Denba Ba [Newcastle United – Chelsea] Undisclosed, believed to be £7 million
Conor Newton [Newcatle United – St Mirren] Loan
The extraordinary amount of French talent heading to the north-east has led to the nickname nouveau château and Shola Ameobi taking to Twitter to claim he needs to brush up on the language. The transfer policy headed by Graham Carr has unearthed some absolute diamonds in recent seasons so it will be fascinating to see how the new French legion will cope in turning the Toon’s fortunes around.
Best deal – Debuchy. A cracking player who provides genuine class to the Newcastle right-back berth.
‘Arry’s rating 9/10 – “This is right up my field of wheat. Pardew is a man after my own ‘eart”
Norwich
In:
Luciano Becchio [Leeds United to Norwich] Undisclosed plus Steve Morrison
Kei Kamara [Sporting Kansas City – Norwich City] Loan
Out:
Declan Rudd [Norwich – Preston] Loan
Jacob Butterfield [Norwich – Crystal Palace] Loan
Elliott Ward [Norwich – Nottingham Forest] Loan
Simon Lappin – Released
Steve Morrison [Leeds] Swap
Chris Hughton was patently not convinced about Steve Morison as back-up for Holt so the swap-plus-cash deal for Becchio was hardly a surprise, especially given the Argentine’s club. Are Norwich taking over Leeds by steady osmosis? The recruitment of Kamara is an interesting one but missing out on Gary Hooper takes the gilt off an otherwise decent window.
Best deal – Becchio. Should he make the leap could easily provide the goals to keep the Canaries flying.
‘Arry’s rating 6/10 – “Hughie is a good lad but I’m a little disappointed in the lack of deals”
QPR
In:
Andros Townsend [Tottenham Hotspur – QPR] Loan
Jermaine Jenas [Tottenham Hotspur – QPR] UNDISCLOSED
Christ Samba [Anzhi Makhachkala – QPR] £12.5 million
Loic Remy [Marseille – QPR] Undisclosed, believed to be £8 million
Tal Ben Haim [Unattached – QPR] Free
Yun Suk-Young [Chunnam Dragons – QPR] Undisclosed
Out:
DJ Campbell [QPR -Blackburn ]
Alejandro Faurlin [QPR – Palermo] Loan
Djibril Cisse [QPR – Al Gharafa] Loan
Anton Ferdinand [QPR – Bursaspor] Loan
Michael Doughty [QPR – St Johnstone] Loan
Jordan Gibbons [QPR – Inverness CT] Loan
Rob Hulse [QPR – Millwall] Loan
Frankie Sutherland [QPR – Portsmouth] Loan
Michael Harriman [QPR – Wycombe] Loan
Tom Hitchcock [QPR – Bristol Rovers] Loan
Kieran Dyer – Released
Who’d have funk it? The club addicted to buying and selling, coupled with their new wheeler-dealer-in-chief, have seen the most action this month. It would not be surprising to learn that every agent has become an adopted Hoop while rumours about the new club badge highlighting a revolving door has yet to be confirmed.
Best deal – Samba. A colossus on his day and the commanding centre-back the Hoops so acutely needed.
‘Arry’s rating 8/10 – “You’ll have to speak to my chairman”
Reading
In:
Daniel Carrico [Sporting Lisbon – Reading] £600,000
Stephen Kelly [Fulham – Reading] Undisclosed
Nick Blackman [Sheffield United – Reading] Undisclosed
Hope Akpan [Crawley – Reading] Undisclosed
Michael Hector [Aldershot Town – Reading] Undisclosed
Jack Taylor [Cheltenham Town –Reading] Undisclosed
Out:
Karl Sheppard [Reading to Shamrock Rovers] Loan
Jordan Obita [Reading – Oldham] Loan
Michael Hector [Reading – Cheltenham] Loan
Gozie Ugwu [Reading – Plymouth] Loan
Dominic Samuel [Reading – Colchester] Loan
It was always going to be an uphill battle to lure players into a relegation fight and Brian McDermott appears to have settled for quantity over quality. Carrico could potentially solve a problem area at the back while Kelly is a decent journeyman but the lack of ambition shown in the market does not bode well for the Royals.
Best deal – Carrico. If he settles.
‘Arry’s rating – “Not a traffic player amongst ‘em”
Southampton
In:
Vegard Forren [Molde – Southampton] £4.2 million
Out:
Lee Barnard [Southampton – Oldham] Loan
Steve De Ridder [Southampton to Bolton] Loan
Jonathan Forte [Southampton – Sheffield United] Loan
Dan Seabourne [Southampton – Bournemouth] Loan
Ryan Dickson [Southampton – Bradford] Loan
Sam Hoskins [Southampton – Stevenage] Loan
A surprising lack of movement from a club primed for a bolder outlook under new management. Forren was snagged under the nose of Liverpool but he can hardly be expected to single-handedly shore up a defence that leaks goals away from St Marys. The fact still remains that beyond the first XL there is a noticeable shortage of quality.
Best deal – Forren. Or rather, the only deal.
‘Arry’s rating – “Shocking. When I was there I battered the bank balance good n proper”
Stoke
In:
Brek Shea [FC Dallas – Stoke] Undisclosed
Jack Butland [Birmingham City – Stoke] £5 million
Out:
Matthew Upson [Stoke – Brighton] Loan
Jack Butland [Stoke – Birmingham] Loan
Rory Delap [Stoke – Barnsley] Loan
Danny Higginbotham [Stoke – Sheffield United] Free
Ryan Brunt [Stoke – Bristol Rovers] Undisclosed
Michael Tonge [Stoke – Leeds] Undisclosed
An unusually busy January for Tony Pulis but it’s hard to get away from the notion that he has successfully cleared the decks for some big arrivals only to now find himself with a thinnish squad until the summer. James Mackie – a player moulded from Stoke clay – and Blackburn’s Martin Olsson – to fill their long-troublesome left-back void – were just two expected arrivals who never showed. How much these signings were reliant on moving Crouch on only Pulis knows. How frustrated he is again solely resides under that mangy baseball cap.
Best deal – Butland. A future competitor with Hart for the England position Butland will continue a fine legacy at the club of having the national number one.
‘Arry’s rating 7/10 (for offloading the fringers)– “I tried to bring in Crouchy but it’s dead. Done. Just doesn’t feel like a deadline day without straining my neck as we pose for pics though”
Sunderland
In:
Danny Graham [Swansea – Sunderland] £5 million
Alfred N’Diaye [Bursaspor – Sunderland] Undisclosed
Kader Mangane [Al Hilal – Sunderland] Loan
Out:
David Meyler [Sunderland – Hull] Undisclosed, believed to be £1.5 million
Fraizer Campbell [Sundeland – Cardiff City] Undisclosed, believed to be £650,000
Blair Adams [Sunderland – Coventry] Undisclosed
Jonny Maddison [Sunderland – Crawley] Loan
Ji Dong-Won [Sunderland – Augsburg] Loan
Louis Saha – Released
Wayne Bridge [Sunderland – Brighton] Free
Ahmed Elmohamady [Sunderland – Hull] Loan
N’Diaye was exceptional in his recent debut and could give panic buying a good name. Up front the unrealistic burden placed upon Fletcher’s shoulders has been lifted by the arrival of Graham, the type of burly, hard-working targetman O’Neill loves. Striking flops Saha and Campbell have been quietly removed from the firing line.
Best deal – Graham. O’Neill could work wonders with a lad blessed with honest application and an eye for goal.
‘Arry’s rating 8/10 – “I had Campbell at Spurs. Triffic player. And Saha too. World class. Couldn’t hit a bag of spanners but world class”
Swansea City
In:
Roland Lamah [Osasuna – Swansea City] Loan
Out:
Danny Graham [Swansea – Sunderland] £5 million
Jamie Proctor [Swansea City – Crawley] Undisclosed
Leroy Lita [Swansea City – Sheffield Wednesday] Loan
Curtis Obeng [Swansea City – York City] Loan
Ashley Richards [Swansea City – Crystal Palace] Loan
Lamah is a typically enigmatic Laudrup signing from Spain and could fit well into his stylish mandate but with the departure of Graham an awful lot of pressure resides with Michu to remain fit and firing.
Best deal – Graham. A tidy sum for an unfancied forward but surely he needed replacing?
‘Arry’s rating 5/10 – “One in and five out? The big Dane has got it arse over tit there”
Tottenham Hotspur
In:
Zeki Fryers [Standard Liege – Tottenham Hotspur] £3 million
Lewis Holtby [Shalke – Tottenham Hotspur] £1.5 million
Out:
Ryan Mason [Tottenham Hotspur – Lorient] Loan
Heurelho Gomes [Tottenham Hotspur – Hoffenheim] Loan
Alex Pritchard [Tottenham Hotspur – Peterborough] Loan
The move for former United prospect Fryers enraged Ferguson but perhaps doesn’t whet the whistle of the Lane faithful who hoped for more this January than a couple of fringers. What happened to the Moutinho deal that was postponed after failing to beat the clock in August?
Best deal – Fryers. If it winds Fergie up it can only be a good thing.
‘Arry’s rating 4/10 – “A poor showing really but I wish AVB all the best. He’s got a tricky job there to get little Spurs into the top four. It would take a genius to do that”
West Bromwich Albion
In:
None
Out:
Chris Wood [West Bromwich Albion – Leicester] £1.5 million rising to £2 million
Sam Mantom [West Bromwich Albion –Walsall] Free
Craig Dawson [West Bromwich Albion – Bolton] Loan
Gonzalo Jara [West Bromwich Albion – Nottinham Forest] Loan
Yassine El Ghanassy [West Bromwich Albion – Gent] Undisclosed
To their great credit the Baggies can always be relied upon to play hardball in negotiations, particularly with a player they wish to retain, and this led to one of the funniest transfer deadline moments since its creation. Wantaway winger/whinger Odenwinge parked outside Loftus Road more than made up for Brom’s lack of activity but on a serious note it could be reasoned they would have been better off letting a disillusioned player go for £3m rather than now effectively be a player down for the latter half of the campaign.
Best deal – Wood. A decent sum for a peripheral figure.
‘Arry’s rating 5/10 – “I’m innocent guv on this Odenwinge cock-up. He sent me a text but I can’t open them”
West Ham United
In:
Joe Cole [Liverpool – West Ham United] Free
Sean Maguire [Waterford Untied – West Ham United] Undisclosed
Marouane Chamakh [Arsenal – West Ham United] Loan
Emanuel Pogatetz [Wolfsburg – West Ham United] Loan
Wellington Paulista [Cruzeiro – West Ham United] Loan
Out:
Stephen Henderson [West Ham United – Ipswich] Loan
Alou Diarra [West Ham United – Rennes] Loan
The loss of Diarra may have been inevitable but is no less damaging for that and it’s surprising that Big Sam hasn’t sought a like-for-like replacement considering he had ample time to do so and just how influential the Frenchman was.
Even so, elsewhere he has stocked up well on attacking options with Chamakh a possible hit in a smaller pond.
Best deal – Cole. The return of the prodigal son could lift the Hammers.
Rating – “Three forwards? I love it!”
Wigan Athletic
In:
Roger Espinoza [Sporting Kansas City – Wigan Athletic] Free
Paul Scharner [Hamburg – Wigan Athletic] Loan
Angelo Henriquez [Manchester United – Wigan Athletic] Loan
Joel Robles [Atletico Madrid – Wigan Athletic] Loan
Out:
Mauro Boselli [Wigan Athletic – Palermo] Loan
Rob Kiernan [Wigan – Brentford] Loan
Roberto Martinez is one of the shrewdest operators around on a tight budget and can always be relied upon to steer clear from the usual suspects punted around in the gossip columns. Here is no exception with Espinoza already having an immediate impact against Stoke in mid-week and giant keeper Robles coming in from Atletico Madrid with high promise. United’s striking wonderkid Henriquez could generate some much-needed atmosphere at the DW while Scharner is the grit in the oyster and a sensible recruit.
Best deal – Espinoza. The second Kansas City player to head to the Prem this Jan and potentially a name to mark down.
‘Arry’s rating 9/10 – “Young Robbie has used the loan system wisely. Triffic”
