The 5 Best Signings of the January Transfer Window
The January transfer window is often considered to be a time when struggling clubs make panic buys to try and reinvigorate what is becoming a worrying season.
Many mid-season purchases sink without trace, barely playing a game before scurrying off in the summer with their names buried deep down on the ‘released list’.
But others prove to be shrewd buys, justifying their recruitment and going on to become permanent fixtures in the starting XI for the following campaign and beyond.
Here are the top five January 2013 transfer window signings in the Premier League on the evidence of their performances so far:
1 Arsenal – Nacho Monreal
The Spanish left-back was brought in to compete for a place with Kieran Gibbs at Arsenal while the English youngster had an injury, and has taken to Premier League life like a duck to water. Arsene Wenger is often criticised for his moves in the transfer market these days, but his £8.5million purchase of the 27-year-old from Malaga looks a really solid investment, especially after he opened his goalscoring account against Swansea.
2 Newcastle – Moussa Sissoko
Newcastle signed a job lot of French players in January who have had mixed fortunes so far, but there is little doubt Sissoko has looked the pick of the bunch. The Toon Army can sometimes take a lot of pleasing, but the 23-year-old midfielder ingratiated himself to them in his first two appearances, scoring a brilliant double on the second of them as the Magpies turned around a deficit to win 3-2 at home to Chelsea.
3 Liverpool – Philippe Coutinho
Many eyebrows were raised when Brendan Rodgers splashed out £8.5million on this little-known Brazilian playmaker from Inter Milan, but the money looks very well spent. The diminutive 20-year-old has already proven to be a much wiser buy than the last import from Italy to Anfield, Fabio Borini, with two goals in his first five games showing Coutinho can provide good support to Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge.
4 Chelsea – Demba Ba
Unlike the other players listed, Ba was already proven in the Premier League and while he has not exactly set the world alight at Chelsea so far, he is still worth including. That’s because he has taken the pressure off Fernando Torres and the Spaniard knows he no longer has to carry the can alone if the Blues are not scoring. At £7million, Demba is still expected to confirm himself a Ba-rgain buy for Chelsea.
5 QPR – Loic Remy
It took a few games for Remy to adapt to life in the Premier League, particularly how to beat the offside trap, but now he has got to grips with it he has been instrumental in QPR’s improved form. Three goals in six games for the Frenchman illustrate why Harry Redknapp was happy to pay £8million to Marseille for him and while the Hoops may still go down, it will not have anything to do with Remy’s contribution.
Written by Jon Wilde from www.Bettingpro.com, the number one source for sports betting tips, breaking news and expert views.
