Barcelona, Chelsea & eight other done deals you might have missed this week

in , , , , , , ,

The January transfer window may be the hardest to do business in, but that doesn’t mean clubs across Europe haven’t been busy bolstering their squads.

Whether it’s relegation-threatened clubs searching for ‘that’ striker to solve their goalscoring crisis, or a team looking to shore up its defence to mount a challenge for European places; scouts, managers and chairmen across the continent have been busy trying push deals through.

So, while you have been understandably busy looking out for potential deals at your own club, which transfers have gone through this week that may have missed your gaze?

Read on to find out.

1. Jean-Clair Todibo 

From: Toulouse

To: Barcelona

Transfer fee: Free

So, this one has caused quite a stir indeed. Centre-back, Jean-Clair Todibo, will join Barcelona from Toulouse on a free transfer when his contract expires on 30 June.

However, it’s fair to say that the 19-year-old’s move has not gone down with the French club, with president Olivier Sadran claiming the Catalans were ‘arrogant’ and ‘did not behave like a big club’.

Regardless, Todibo will become the latest in a long line of talented, ball-playing defenders to walk through the doors at the Nou Camp in the summer.

2. Vicente Iborra

From: Leicester City

To: Villarreal

Transfer fee: £8.10m

Vicente Iborra arrived at Leicester City for the handsome sum of £15m back in 2017. It’s fair to say that it just hasn’t worked out for the midfielder.

His spells with Levante and Sevilla forged a great reputation for Iborra, who had an eye for a goal in Spain, as well as being an adept passer of the ball.

The Foxes have just not seen this over his 37 appearances for the club, though, and the 30-year-old is now heading back to Spain to re-ignite his career with Villarreal.

3. Ibai Gomez

From: Alaves

To: Athletic Bilbao

Transfer fee: £3.6m

Ibai Gomez was a key part of Marcelo Bielsa’s Athletic Bilbao side which reached the 2012 Europa League final, beating Manchester United along the way, and has been on the edge of brilliance for a number of years.

And after a couple of decent years at Alaves, the 29-year-old is once again coming back to the Basque club where he enjoyed so much success for an absolute snip of a fee.

Bilbao are currently 17th in the La Liga table and in the thick of a relegation dogfight – this could be a key signing for Gaizka Garitano.

4. Timothy Weah

From: Paris Saint-Germain

To: Celtic

Transfer fee: Loan

Eighteen-year-old Timothy Weah has been touted as one of the hottest prospects in the PSG youth system right now and the forward has already scored two goals in three appearances for the French champions this season, as well as picking up eight caps for the United States national team.

And now Weah is off to Celtic, who are without Leigh Griffiths and sold Moussa Dembele in the summer, leaving them very short in the forward department. Weah could be a great addition for Brendan Rodgers until the end of the season as the Scottish champions continue to be pushed close by Glasgow rivals Rangers at the top of the table.

5. Stefano Okaka

From: Watford

To: Udinese

Transfer fee: Loan

When Stefano Okaka bullied his way to two goals in a 3-2 Watford win over Everton in 2016, many Hornets fans felt they had found the ideal man to challenge Troy Deeney’s place up front at Vicarage Road.

The four-time Italy international has been anything but that, scoring just three goals since then and has headed back to his homeland for a loan spell with Udinese.

6. Alexander Sorloth

From: Crystal Palace

To: KAA Gent

Transfer fee: Loan

Alexander Sorloth has looked a shadow of the player he was with FC Midtjylland in the first half of last season during his time with Crystal Palace.

The Norway international has managed just one goal in 20 appearances for the Eagles and is heading out on a much-needed loan spell with Belgian side KAA Gent where he will try to rediscover his scoring touch.

Still, with Christian Benteke bouncing between being injured and misfiring, this move does leave Roy Hodgson very short in the striker department.

7. George Thorne

From: Derby County

To: Luton Town

Transfer fee: Loan

With 36 caps for England at various youth levels, everything looked set for George Thorne to have a career at the top.

That hasn’t worked out for the midfielder, though, who has bounced from club to club on loan, before finally ending up at Derby County in 2014.

The 26-year-old has made 73 appearances for the Rams but has found himself frozen out under Frank Lampard this season, resulting in a loan move to League One side Luton Town.

8. Lewis Baker

From: Chelsea

To: Reading

Transfer fee: Loan

Yet another talented, young Chelsea player to fall by the wayside, Lewis Baker cut his loan deal at Leeds United short recently and is now heading to Reading… on another loan.

Now 23 years old, this really could be Baker’s last chance to really prove what he can do and get a potential move to a Premier League club.

And to think, Baker scored 19 goals in 45 appearances at various youth levels for England.

9. Kasey Palmer

From: Chelsea

To: Bristol City

Transfer fee: Loan

Similar to Baker, Kasey Palmer has picked up a host of caps for England’s youth teams but has found himself constantly farmed out on loan at club level.

Palmer scored three goals 17 appearances in the first half the season while at Blackburn Rovers, although two of those goals come in the League Cup.

The 22-year-old’s latest opportunity to show his worth will be during another loan spell at Bristol City for the second half of this season.

10. Fousseni Diabate

From: Leicester City

To: Sivasspor

Transfer fee: Loan

Fousseni Diabate joined Leicester in January 2018 and had Foxes fans extremely excited when he scored two goals on his debut during an FA Cup fourth-round tie against Peterborough.

That has proved to be the peak of Diabate’s career in England so far, however, and the Mali youth international will now spend the remainder of the season at 2009 Turkish Super Lig runners-up, Sivasspor.

The post 10 transfer deals you might have missed this week appeared first on Squawka News.



From Squawka NewsSquawka News http://bit.ly/2RDkcL2
Labels: , , , , , , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)