One of the wildest January transfer windows in the Premier League has finally come to an end. More than £400 million ($700 million) was spent, with 42 players arriving in England from various clubs.
There are less than four months remaining in the season and Champions League resumes on Feb. 13. With so much pressure to avoid relegation and finish in the top four, coupled with upcoming fixture congestion, clubs had to act now in order to gear up for the home stretch.
With all of that mind, here are three winners and losers now that the winter transfer window has closed.
Winners
The Manchester clubs
Manchester United pounced and signed Alexis Sanchez, who has 31 goals and 13 assists in 57 league games for Arsenal dating back to last season. Sending Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who was struggling under Jose Mourinho, to North London and not paying a fee emphasizes the shrewdness of this deal.
Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial may fall down the pecking order, but this is a win-win situation for United. The Red Devils have a versatile, game-changing forward who can mentor Rashford and Martial. Additionally, if they aren’t sparked by the added competition, then that’s an indictment on both players.
Manchester City’s acquisition of Aymeric Laporte cost a hefty £57 million. However, the Frenchman is a quality, left-footed, ball-playing centre-back, which is a rare combination. Man City needed a central defender and Laporte will be another threat in possession.
Laporte looks to be settling in nicely pic.twitter.com/iAls2QIQBg
— City Lens (@MCFCLens) January 31, 2018
One of Laporte’s only flaws is his lack of pace. However, John Stones is fast, plus there is usually a full-back roaming inside or a midfielder dropping into the back line. Pep Guardiola will be able to mask that deficiency.
Virgil van Dijk
Liverpool desperately tried to sign van Dijk last summer, but to no avail. A few months later, the Reds finally secured their man.
Van Dijk reportedly wanted to sign for Liverpool in August. He was frozen out of the Saints’ squad until late September after handing in a transfer request during the transfer hysteria. Eventually, the Dutchman’s patience paid off.
The 26-year-old is now the world’s most expensive defender in history at £75 million. This should be a very successful relationship.
Player agents
Agents have more influence in soccer than ever before. Paul Pogba’s representative Mino Raiola allegedly made £41 million when his client signed for United for a then-record fee from Juventus. Jorge Mendes has heavy influence at Wolverhampton Wanderers, but it could lead to a promotion to the Premier League.
The January window was equally profitable for many representatives. United reportedly paid Sanchez’s agent, Fernando Felicevich, more than £10 million in bonuses. Kia Joorabchian surely earned a sizeable commission when Philippe Coutinho left Liverpool for Barcelona.
More than £220 million was spent in agents’ fees during the 2016-17 season. That number will likely increase by the end of this campaign, much to the chagrin of the negotiators.
Losers
Newcastle United
A very late loan deal for Leicester City’s Islam Slimani finally gave Rafa Benitez the forward he’s wanted since the summer, but it was still an underwhelming month for Newcastle United.
Newcastle could’ve secured one of Benitez’s main targets in Feyenoord’s Danish international Nicolai Jorgensen. Unfortunately for the manager, the Magpies balked at the asking price. The club is in murky waters amid takeover rumours, so spending might be limited, but the threat of relegation and the board continually missing out on signings is troubling.
On the bright side for Newcastle, Slimani was excellent when he played regularly at Sporting CP, bagging 40 goals in his final 56 league appearances in Portugal. However, the Algerian will be rusty and Newcastle still needs more creativity in the central areas.
Riyad Mahrez
Another transfer window, another disappointing ending for Mahrez.
It appeared that Man City was going to snatch the Algerian winger for a deal worth £60 million. Leicester allegedly countered at £95 million, which scared off City.
This is the fourth failed move for Mahrez since 2016, who is feeling depressed after Leicester’s tactics.
It’s understandable that Leicester wants to keep its prized asset, but if the Foxes made a promise to Mahrez, they have to try and honour it.
The gap with the top six
Nearly two-thirds of the Premier League’s transfer expenditure came from Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham. That reaffirms the gap between the “big six” and the rest of the chasing pack.
Everton has spent close to £180 million this season, including £47 million in January. Theo Walcott, Cenk Tosun and Eliaquim Mangala are fine additions, but when compared to Sanchez, Laporte or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, it’s a pretty stark contrast.
Aubameyang scored 98 Bundesliga goals in 144 games for one of Europe’s biggest clubs in Borussia Dortmund. He’s been regarded as one of the world’s best strikers as well. Sanchez was a key player for club and country, not to mention he’s one of the league’s most lethal players. Laporte, meanwhile, was one of La Liga’s top defenders at Athletic Club and was constantly linked to big clubs.
The revenues generated by the top six make them practically untouchable. As a result, they sign the best players. This summer will likely enhance the gulf with the other 14 clubs.
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