It’s been an eventful January transfer window with nearly £130million being spent in the Premier League alone, twice what was spent last January. Here are my top ten transfers that took place:
10. Nacho Monreal – Malaga to Arsenal
Much to Arsenal fans surprise, they swooped for Monreal on deadline day for a fee of £8.3million. An experienced player at both club and international level, he is sure to bolster Arsenal’s options at full back. The acquisition of a left back was vital to Arsenal’s season as they were left with just Andre Santos as their only recognised one after they found out Kieran Gibbs would be out for up to two months. The unfortunate thing is for them is that Monreal will be cup-tied for the Champions League, leaving them with the prospect of seeing Santos play against Bayern Munich in the first knockout round. Either way, it is a good purchase for the club as they push for a top four position in the league.
9. Luciano Becchio – Leeds to Norwich
The signing of Becchio will provide good competition up front to the likes of Grant Holt and Simeon Jackson at Norwich. Acquired for an undisclosed fee plus Steve Morison, Becchio was out of favour at Elland Road and he finally gets his chance in the Premier League after four and a half years in English football. He could be vital to Norwich, who are currently in relegation form. They have been struggling for goals in recent weeks, having gone on a horrendous run in the league and got knocked out of the F.A Cup by non-league Luton. Becchio could well be the man to turn their season around and fire them to safety.
8. Loic Remy – Marseille to QPR
The signing of Remy could be a real coup for the leagues bottom side. He scored on his debut against West Ham which showed what he can do on the counter attack. He and Adel Taarabt have shown glimpses of what they could do together since Remy joined the club for a then club record fee from Marseille in mid-January. When Mark Hughes left Loftus Road, QPR looked dead and buried in terms of Premier League survival but in recent weeks under Harry Redknapp they have looked like a team who have something to fight for. Victories over Fulham and Chelsea and credible draws against Tottenham, West Ham and Manchester City have given them a chance of survival. Remy’s goals could prove vital in QPR’s race for survival in the coming months.
7. Mathieu Debuchy – Lille to Newcastle
Signed for a bargain of £4million, Debuchy had been on Newcastle’s radar for over a year now. Part of the French connection that Alan Pardew has brought to the club, he could be the coup of the window having been signed for such a bargain price. Debuchy is a former team-mate of Yohan Cabaye at Lille, part of the side that won Ligue 1 in 2010-11 and was France’s right back at Euro 2012. He is a typical modern full back who loves to push on and overlap down the right and could prove to be a brilliant signing.
6. Lewis Holtby – Schalke to Tottenham
Spurs originally agreed to sign Holtby in the summer on a Bosman free transfer but decided to sign him immediately for £1.5million. Since the departure of Rafael van der Vaart, they have lacked a player who can link play between the midfield and strikers. Holtby will fill the gap that van der Vaart left and at such a young age still has time to improve. He is an extremely creative, left footed attacking midfielder and is a bargain at just over a million pounds.
London bias again.