January Transfer Analysis

January Transfer Analysis

Welcome to January Transfer Analysis. Deadline Day has passed, Jim White has calmed down and put away his golden tie for another few months and the new signings will be getting acclimatised to their new surroundings. Some of the players are getting used to a new country but during this transfer window we mostly seen Premier League players swapping allegiances to another Premier League club. I don’t think there will be any arguments when I say this window was dominated by Piefaces crusade to return to the South coast of France with Marseille. Apart from that the window was rather drab for most fans with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, City, United and Spurs not signing really signing any names with the only transfer action being to boot lads out the front door. Even though the big teams weren’t active the smaller teams took over the transfer window this January. Meaning that though the window was not exciting we have been left with some nice cheap options for our FPL teams, so hopefully we will get another Vardy, Alli or Mahrez on the cheap. I’ll let you decide that!!

Lazar Markovic

Hull Winger from Liverpool @ 5.4 mil
Hull were the busiest in this window signing 8 much needed players some of whom will be discussed. Liverpool forward Lazar Markovic is one of these players brought in to keep the Tigers up joining on loan until the end of the season. The former Benfica man had been on loan with Sporting Lisbon, but that deal was cancelled by mutual consent, paving the way for his move to the KCOM. Markovic, who was signed by Brendan Rodgers from Benfica for £20million in 2014, has made just 19 league appearances for the Anfield club, having spent all of last season on loan with Turkish side Fenerbahce. With Snodgrass leaving Markovic has some big boots to fill.

Oumar Niasse

Hull ST from Everton @ 5.6 mil
Another import from Merseyside to the KCOM but this time it’s from the blue side of Stanley Park. Oumar Niasse has only appeared 7 times for the Blues and has not scored for them but already Niasse has linked up with his fellow Merseyside recruit and scored against Man United in the EFL Cup Semi-Final. Niasse might have found a place he is the main man and will be hoping he gets supply to bulk out his scoring stats.

Andrea Ranocchia

Hull CB from Inter Milan @ 4.5 mil
Hull City made Inter Milan defender Andrea Ranocchia their fourth signing of the January transfer window after acquiring the 28-year old Italian’s services on loan. Ranocchia has made 166 appearances for the Nerazzurri in a six year spell, which also includes loan spells with Genoa and Sampdoria. The Italian has been 21 times for his country so adding some more international experience into the backline could prove excellent for the Tigers. If the new signings for Hull can build on these early performances then Hull may just survive the drop with Marco Silva now at the helm.

Robbie Brady

Burnley MID from Norwich @ 5.5 mil
The new Ireland number 10 has finally got his move back to the top flight of English football, and about bloody time if I may add. Joining a very solid Burnley team with some strong Irish ties Brady should feel right at home. We have yet to see where the left sided player will actually play as Ward has made that left back spot his own but with Brady’s talent on the ball and over set pieces I can’t see him not in that Claret team.

Rudy Gestede

Boro ST from Aston Villa @ 4.9 mil

It is hard for a club struggling to score goals to remain in the Premier League, and after 23 games Middlesbrough have found the net only 19 times making them the lowest scoring in the division. Aitor Karanka will be hoping that the signing of Rudy Gestede for an undisclosed fee from Aston Villa will go a long way to solving this problem. Impressive performances for Blackburn Rovers encouraged Aston Villa to splash out £6 million on the striker, but the 28-year old managed to find the net just five times as the Villains went down last season. The Benin international has scored four goals in 17 appearances so far this term, but his playing time has been limited under Steve Bruce, appearing for just 232 minutes out of the 13 Championship matches the new manager has been in charge of. These sorts of stats have continued for Gestede as he has only been a sub player in the last three games with Negredo holding on to that striker spot.

Patrick Bamford

Boro ST from Chelsea @ 4.9 mil
Young striker Patrick Bamford has returned to Middlesbrough after signing from Chelsea on a four-and-a-half year deal. Bamford previously had a loan spell with Boro last season in which he scored 18 goals and was named Championship Player of the Year. Boss Aitor Karanka will be hoping the 23-year olds arrival will help turn around the club’s misfortunes in front of goal, along with Gestede but like the man from Benin, Bamford has been a sub player for Boro so far.

Tom Carroll

Swansea CM from Spurs @ 4.2 mil
Swansea City have brought former England under-21 captain Tom Carroll back to the Liberty Stadium, the midfielder having spent the 2014/15 season with the Swans on loan. The 24-year old made just three appearances in all competitions for Tottenham Hotspur this season and has signed a three-and-a-half year deal with the Welsh club. Carroll was one of the stand out players in the Swans win over Liverpool and if he can keep up that sort of performance he will more than reach his potential.

Luciano Narsingh

Swansea Winger from PSV @ 5.5 mil
Swansea City have sealed the £4million capture of speedy winger Luciano Narsingh from PSV. The 26-year-old, who has Champions League experience thanks to his spell with the Dutch champions, became new Swans boss Paul Clement’s first signing at the Liberty Stadium. Narsingh has only been available to play in two of the Swans games since the turn of the year and featured as a sub against Southampton grabbing an assist on his debut so at 5.5 mil and Llorente in the box Narsingh could be another cheap option if Swansea’s recent results continue.

Ademola Lookman

Everton Winger from Charlton @ 5.5 mil
With the news that Yannick Bolasie could be out until 2018 after picking up a cruciate ligament injury against Manchester United last month, Everton have made a move to bolster their attacking options, bringing in the exciting youngster Ademola Lookman from Charlton Athletic. The England under-20 international has scored 12 goals in the 15 months since his debut for the Addicks last season, and had become an integral part of the club’s attack in the first half of their League One campaign. His seven goals and two assists helped Charlton to 11th place, five points off the play-off positions. Lookman has garnered Charlton a fee of £7.5 mil with the possibility of increasing to £10 mil so Everton and Charlton obviously feel the young man has potential. With Deulofeu gone to Milan and Bolasie injured for possibly 18 months, Lookman has a great opportunity to grab a spot on the winger or behind Lukaku.

Patrick Van Aanholt

Palace LB from Sunderland @ 5 mil
Big Sam must have missed his old buddy because he went and spent a massive 14 mil on a left back from Sunderland. PVA is an FPL favourite for some and moving to a team managed by Big Sam with a defence that is miles better than the pussy cats, sorry Black Cats, should see the Dutchman add to his 65 points already after getting a clean sheet in his very first game for Palace. With his assists and goals PVA could make his way into many teams. Jeffrey Schlupp was going to be in this article as Big Sam spent another 12 mil on him to welcome him to the club but sadly Schlupp has pulled his hamstring so will likely be out for a few weeks, definitely one to keep an eye on however.

M’Baye Niang

Watford ST from AC Milan @ 6.0 mil
The 22 year old from France has plied his trade in France and Italy with Caen, Genoa and Milan with most of his young career in Milan. He has represented France at under age but has not stepped up to be a fully fledged international just yet. Niang has only played 132 games over a seven year period and in that time he has 22 goals. Not a very prolific scoring record but Italian football is a defensive league with AC Milan not performing to their best in that period, so I will give him the benefit of the doubt. Niang should be seen as a direct replacement for the departed Ighalo as he started in Watford’s win over Arsenal. Hopefully this will open the way for Niang to possibly bring some much needed goals to the Hornets, and another 3rd striker choice for us.

Mauro Zarate

Watford ST from Fiorentina @ 5.5 mil

Zarate is not unknown to us here in England after his spells in West Ham and Birmingham and QPR, now he’s back in Watford so he must really love that London weather!! The 29 year old has had nearly as many clubs as Zlatan but is nowhere near the Swedes quality. Playing in Argentina, Qatar, Italy and England the Argentine has not really found a home. Much like his fellow new signing, Niang, Zarate is not very prolific in front of goal scoring 92 goals in 322 career appearances. He has only scored a double digit season 3 times, twice in Argentina and once in Italy. I wouldn’t be relying on him if I were Watford but could be a decent rotation player with Niang or Deeney.

Robert Snodgrass

West Ham MID from Hull @ 5.7 mil
Snodgrass had been Hull’s top scorer so far this season, with seven goals from 20 appearances, but the Tigers were unable to hold on to their talisman, or in other words their only player, with the Scot moving further south to London. Snoddy gives us a very affordable route into the Hammers attack and will more than likely take over the Payet role on set pieces. He is my bet for the most transfer in player over the next few weeks.

Manolo Gabbiadini

Southampton ST from Napoli @ 6.5 mil
The Saints have captured the Italian 25 year old before Schalke or Borussia Monchengladbach could nab him. Southampton needed to bolster their attack after the injury to Charlie Austin so one would think Gabbiadini will be the main man up front and could be a brilliant choice for that 3rd striker spot in most teams.

Honourable Mentions:
Gabriel Jesus – City ST from Palmeiras @ 9 mil
City bought Jesus during the summer but the deal was only completed during this window. Jesus has been touted as the best no.9 from Brazil since Ronaldo by the man himself and with Pele saying he’s a better player than Neymar, City fans must feel Jesus is the next Messiah. Only time will tell if Pep gives him a chance and whether he can take it but Aguero is bound to get injured soon.

Berahino – Stoke ST from WBA @ 6 mil
Saido Berahino finally got his move away from the Hawthorns moving to Stoke who have apparently been chasing him for some time, and the move finally brings to an end a difficult period in Berahino’s career following his fall out with the West Brom hierarchy back in 2015. Berahino made just four Premier League appearances for the Baggies in the first half of the season and missed a penalty as West Brom were knocked out in the second round of the EFL Cup by Northampton, maybe his fortunes will change at Stoke.

Olsson – Swansea LB from Norwich@ 4.5 mil
With the Swans losing Welsh left-back Neil Taylor to injury and then using him in a swap deal for Jordan Ayew from Aston Villa, the acquisition of Olsson is well-timed, and it is hoped the player who made 18 appearances for Norwich this season will help to shore up the Premier League’s leakiest defence.

Wilfred Ndidi – Leicester DCM from Genk @ 5 mil
It’s fair to say that Leicester City have missed N’Golo Kanté since his move to Chelsea. The Premier League champions can’t blame all of their woes this season on the Frenchman’s absence, but they have certainly looked a lot less solid. Ndidi has been brought in to play that Kante role but can also play at centre-back and right-back.

Jose Fonte – West Ham CB from Southampton @ 5.3 mil
Fonte spent seven years with the Saints in which he made 288 appearances, while he was also the club captain. The Euro 2016 winner cited manager Slaven Bilic and the history and ambition of West Ham as one of the main reasons he chose to join the east London club.

Tom Cleverley – Watford CM from Everton @ 5.1 mil
The 27-year-old has featured in just 516 minutes of action for Everton this season under Ronald Koeman, and will now join Watford in their battle to avoid relegation. Already getting an assist for the Hornets could see Cleverley nail a starting berth.

Luka Milivojevic – Palace CM from Olympiakos @ 5.0 mil
The former Red Star Belgrade and Anderlecht midfielder has scored six goals in 17 league appearances this season to help the Greek champions open up a 13-point lead at the top of the Superleague. Milivojevic could bring some spark into a Palace midfield that has been underperforming so definitely one to keep an eye on.

Mamadou Sakho – Palace CB from Liverpool @ 4.7 mil
Big Sam must have felt the Palace backline wasn’t strong enough as he signed the Liverpool bad boy on loan during Deadline Day. Sakho was only starting to perform well when an unfortunate drugs allegation suspended him from the end of last season and the Euros. After a reported bust up with Klopp during preseason, Sakho has not been a welcome figure around Melwood but maybe that will change in London.

Kamil Grosicki – Hull Winger from Rennes @ ?? mil
Possibly a challenge to Markovic’s spot is the Poland international who was one of the stand out players for Poland during the Euros and should really help the Hull strike force. Hopefully he will get priced reasonably and could prove a gem in FPL.

Thanks for reading January Transfer Analysis. This article was written by Matt

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