That’s it, the January transfer window is well and truly shut.
Clubs all around Europe have spent the past month desperately scrambling for reinforcements to bolster their title challenge, stave off the threat of relegation or just thicken up their injury-hit squads.
So, now that we finally have some calm after the storm, which signings could make the biggest impact at their new clubs, both in the long term and short term?
Here at Squawka, we’ve ranked the top 10.
10. Jermain Defoe
From: Bournemouth
To: Rangers
Fee: Loan
Given that he’s 36, this loan move to Rangers may be the last hurrah for Jermain Defoe, but it may also be an absolute masterstroke from Steven Gerrard as he looks to keep pace with Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Defoe scored on his Rangers debut, which was goal number 274 at club level, and he remains one of the best natural finishers in British football. Whether he’s just back-up to Alfredo Morelos or leading the line himself, Defoe could make the difference in the Scottish title race this season.
9. Leandro Paredes
From: Zenit Saint-Petersburg
To: PSG
Fee: £20m
For a long time, it looked like Leandro Paredes would be the man to replace Cesc Fabregas at Chelsea but, in the end, the Argentina midfielder ended up with French champions PSG.
The 24-year-old has already spent time with some massive clubs, including AS Roma and Boca Juniors, but will see his move to PSG as the biggest opportunity of his career so far.
Paredes is a classic Argentine No.5, happy sitting at the base of midfield and shifting possession, while also getting stuck into his defensive duties. The breakdown in contract talks with Adrien Rabiot has left Thomas Tuchel very short in the central midfield department and the signing of Paredes means he can finally revert the likes of Marquinhos and Dani Alves back into their more natural, defensive roles, restoring balance and creativity to his side.
8. Denis Suarez
From: Barcelona
To: Arsenal
Fee: Loan
Denis Suarez has reunited with manager Unai Emery, with whom he worked with at Sevilla in 2014/15, by completing a loan move to Arsenal.
In the Spaniard, Arsenal are bringing in a brilliantly adept passer of the ball that has that Barcelona-esque knack of thriving in tight spaces.
Given how much his career has stalled at the Catalan club, Suarez will be desperate to impress in north London and could take a lot of the increasing pressure off the shoulders of poor old Mesut Ozil, as well as auditioning his talents with the impending departure of Aaron Ramsey.
7. Gonzalo Higuain
From: Juventus
To: Chelsea
Fee: Loan
It’s no secret that Chelsea have desperately lacked a goalscorer this season and Gonzalo Higuain is exactly that.
The Argentina international may have struggled during his loan spell with AC Milan earlier this season, scoring just eight goals in 22 games, but Higuain has scored at a rate of a goal every two games throughout his club career.
Add in the fact that the 31-year-old scored a Serie A record 36 goals in 35 games the last time he worked under Maurizio Sarri in 2015/16 and this loan move could really pay off for Chelsea.
6. Cesc Fabregas
From: Chelsea
To: Monaco
Fee: Free
After giving an emotional farewell to Chelsea fans during their FA Cup win over Nottingham Forest, Cesc Fabregas swapped the rains of London for the high-life of the Principality.
He may be reaching the twilight years of his career, but Fabregas can still find a pass better than most midfielders in Europe on his day and his experience could be vital as the 2016/17 Ligue 1 champions desperately battle against relegation.
This, of course, is all providing he can get over his reunion with Thierry Henry being gut-wrenchingly cut short.
5. Lucas Paqueta
From: Flamengo
To: AC Milan
Fee: £30.5m
The 21-year-old Brazil international, Lucas Paqueta, completed a £30.5m move to AC Milan earlier in the month having scored 10 goals in his final season for Flamengo.
Paqueta is an archetypal all-rounder in midfield, often being found covering a full-back’s charging runs forward one minute, but on the edge of the box looking for a killer pass the next.
Paqueta was very highly rated in his homeland and, given his incredible passing range, work rate and keen eye for goal, should be a massive success in Italy once he adjusts to Gennaro Gattuso’s style.
4. Miguel Almiron
From: Atlanta United
To: Newcastle United
Fee: £20m
We sincerely hope no Newcastle fans made a bet to do a naked lap of the city if they finally broke their transfer record; it’s absolutely freezing!
But break that Michael Owen-shaped record they have. Paraguay international Miguel Almiron is a supremely talented playmaker that can split a defence, hit a shot from distance or give a backline the slip with his electric movement.
Almiron leaves Atlanta United off the back of a remarkable MLS Cup win, scoring 13 goals and providing 11 assists in the process – Magpies fans will just hope he can quickly adjust to the pace of the Premier League and the bitterly cold Tyneside weather.
3. Christian Pulisic
From: Borussia Dortmund
To: Chelsea
Fee: £57.6m (immediate loan-back)
With Pulisic remaining on loan at Dortmund until the end of the season, this one won’t have any short-term impact but, my word, what a talent Chelsea have signed.
Pulisic already has nine goals in 23 caps for the US national team, while the 20-year-old also has 15 goals and 24 assists to his name for Dortmund’s senior team.
He’s direct, skilful and devilishly fast and – with the likes of Pedro and Willian advancing into their 30s and Eden Hazard’s future perpetually uncertain – could be exactly what Chelsea need.
2. Krzysztof Piatek
From: Genoa
To: AC Milan
Fee: £31.5m
Going from a relative unknown in Poland to tearing Serie A apart in a matter of months, Krzysztof Piatek completed his move from Genoa to AC Milan earlier in January for £31.5m, having bagged 19 goals in 21 games for I Rossoblu.
Piatek wasted no time in making his presence felt in Milan, scoring twice in his first start during a 2-0 Coppa Italia win over Napoli, and really looks the part.
Higuain struggled at the San Siro, contributing to the Rossoneri falling 24 points behind league leaders Juventus. If Piatek can continue his form from the start of this season, though, they’ll have no problem climbing the table.
1. Frenkie de Jong
From: Ajax
To: Barcelona
Fee: £65.4m
After all the talk, Barcelona finally got their man and Frenkie de Jong will move to the Nou Camp at the end of the season.
The £65.4m price may sound like an eye-watering fee to spend on a 21-year-old with just 66 games under his belt for the Ajax first team, but De Jong is a wonderfully gifted player who possesses the perfect skill set to play for Barcelona: elegant passing on the ball and incredible work off it.
Now it’s down to him to live up to those Johan Cruyff comparisons.
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The post Ranked: the top 10 January signings across Europe by potential impact appeared first on Squawka News.
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