EPL – January transfer window roundup

EPL – January transfer window roundup [Part 1]

0
SHARE

At 11.00pm in London on Monday night the 2016 Premier League January transfer window slammed shut.

With the astonishing purchasing power of the Premier League, every club is able to do business in a crowded market once dominated by European giants. The “middle and lower class” clubs are active and closing the gaps on the Premier League’s big boys.

To get a sense of perspective, seasons 2013-2016 netted Premier League clubs a (relatively equitable) share in a bounty of £5.5b worth of television rights. 2016-19 is expected to rise to £8b on the back of the impending renewal of international deals. Such financial clout dwarfs the next richest Bundesliga deal at £2.8b.

Clubs have spent over £1b on transfers this season, with £172,650,000 having been spent in January.

In a four-part series we catalogue the deals struck and the effect on the rest of the season.

AFC BOURNEMOUTH

In: Juan Iturbe (Roma) Loan Benik Afobe (Wolves) £9m Lewis Grabban (Norwich City) £7m

Marius Adamonis (FK Atlantis) (GK) Loan

Out: Yann Kermorgant (Reading) Undisclosed

Lee Tomlin (Bristol City) Loan

Elliott Ward (Blackburn) Undisclosed

Jayden Stockley (Exeter) Loan

The Cherries’ already understrength squad has been decimated by injuries in the first half of its first ever season in the Premier League. Eddie Howe has had to deal with long term ACL injuries to Max Gradel, Tyrone Mings and Callum Wilson, as well as key midfielder Matt Ritchie expected to be out with a hip for a long time. Bournemouth has drafted in young Argentine Juan Iturbe from Roma plus Arsenal academy graduate Afobe and an out-of-favour Norwich striker Lewis Grabban to bolster its attacking options. Afobe has already paid dividends with two goals in January, while Grabban will feel he has a point to prove after falling down the pecking order at Norwich. Bournemouth should do enough to beat the drop.

Grade: B+

ARSENAL

In: Mohamed Elneny (Basel) £5m

Isaac Hayden (Hull City) Loan

Out: Glen Kamara (Arsenal) Loan

Yaya Sonogo (Charlton) Loan

Mathieu Debuchy (Bordeaux) Loan

Arsene Wenger’s Gunners were infamously the only club in Europe not to sign an outfield player in the summer, and whilst the club is a genuine title contender, there is a lingering feeling the club needed to do more to ensure a rolled gold tilt in come May. The signing of Egyptian Mohamed Elneny from Basel has come as welcome relief, but the club had been linked to Karim Benzema, Edinson Cavani as well as Jarmolenko and a host of other great striking options. Had Arsenal signed a top line striker you would expect another Premier League title. Now it’s a matter of Alexis and Mesut Ozil driving success, like Jamie Vardy and Ryad Mahrez. Arsenal might go all the way but are on track for just over 70 points, not enough to win the league.

Grade: C –

ASTON VILLA

In: None

Out: Jose Angel Crespo (Rayo Vallecano) Loan

Joe Bennett (Sheffield Wednesday) Loan

Gary Gardner (Nottingham Forest) Loan

Joe Cole (Coventry) Free

Callum Robinson (Preston) Loan

Phillipe Senderos Released

Former Gunner Remi Garde took over at Villa following the sacking of Tim Sherwood a matter of weeks into the season. Garde recently confirmed rumours of his overtures to the club’s chairman to seek new transfer funds was rejected. Garde has sensationally stated he is considering resigning over the issue. The Villans lie in 20th position and suffer the ignominy of two unwanted records – least goals scored and most conceded. A bright start to 2016 has ensured a degree of optimism, but you do feel the failure to replace Christian Benteke and bring in a leader at centre-half will ultimately result in disastrous relegation.

Grade: E


POPULAR ARTICLES 

How Twitter reacted to Pep Guardiola’s move to Manchester City

Luis Garcia loving life in Australia as he builds fitness

How Manchester United fared in the January transfer window

Match Preview – Arsenal vs Southampton

Match Preview – West Ham United vs Aston Villa

John Terry leaves his mark on Chelsea in loyalty and leadership


CHELSEA

In: Pato (Corinthians) Loan

Matt Miazga (New York Red Bulls) Undisclosed.

Out: Ramires (Jiangsu Suning) £25m

Christian Atsu (Malaga) Loan

Papy Djilobodji (Werder Bremen) Loan

Alex Kiwomya (Fleetwood) Loan

Mitchell Beeney (Newport) Loan

Wallace (Gremio) Loan

Guus Hiddink’s influence and pedigree is beginning to show in west London. After a closely fought 1-0 win away at The Emirates last week, the arrival of Brazil striker Pato on loan will bolster a Chelsea squad replete with attacking options. If he and the rest of the squad can stay injury free, expect the Pensioners to push for European qualification come season’s end. However, Pato would do well to avoid joining a Blue striker graveyard already hosting Torres, Crespo, Shevchenko, Mutu and Kezman.

Grade: C

CRYSTAL PALACE

In: Emmanuel Adebayor (Unattached)

Out: Jake Gray (Huddersfield Town)

Jack Hunt (Sheffield Wednesday) Undisclosed

The south London club continues to build season on season, as Alan Pardew has solidified the Eagles league position in the top half of the division. Despite the fact Stoke City were also in for Adebayor, its difficult not to feel his signing is a genuine banana skin. Pardew has said he will ‘get a trick out of Emmanuel Adebayor’, however a fair minded observer has probably seen enough of the Togo striker, as echoes of Brendan Rodgers and Mario Balotelli reverberate.

Grade: B –

What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.