The January transfer window ended in dramatic fashion for teams in the Premier League, with Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion signing multiple players despite revenue being down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As a result, permanent transfers were almost impossible to complete for many clubs in the league. We saw a noticeable increase in loan moves across the division, for example, Ainsley Maitland-Niles made a late switch to West Brom from Arsenal. We look at some of the more eye-catching deals of the January transfer window as we rate them out of ten.
Best Deals of the January Transfer Window
Deals That Stood Out
(Scored out of 10)
Morgan Sanson
Club from: Marseille, Club to: Aston Villa, Fee: £14.2 million, Position: Midfielder, Age: 26
Morgan Sanson had been linked with Tottenham and Arsenal in the past, so Villa fans can regard this signing as a bit of a coup. The Frenchman has registered two goals and three assists in 12 league appearances this season and has also appeared six times in the Champions League. He is a creative player averaging at least one key pass a game (3rd amongst the Marseille squad).
Despite being creative, Sanson isn’t a creative player who simply abandons his defensive duties, He averages 1.75 tackles a game (5th amongst the Marseille squad). Sanson is a solid signing who should help Dean Smith’s side achieve their lofty ambitions of qualifying for the Europa League.
Signing rating: 8/10
Moises Caicedo
Club from: Independiente, Club to: Brighton & Hove Albion, Fee: £4.50 million Position: Midfielder, Age: 19
Like Villa’s signing of Sanson, Moises Caicedo can be viewed as a coup. According to reports, Manchester United met with the Ecuadorian’s agent so Brighton will have been delighted to snap him up from under their noses.
Caicedo played 31 times for Independiente, scoring six times and getting two assists. He has also played four times for his country, scoring once. The fact the Ecuador international has made over 30 senior appearances and appeared for his country at the young age of 19, makes the price of £4.50 million seem like a bargain.
The young star predominantly plays as a central midfielder but has appeared in defensive midfield at times. The stats suggest Brighton have acquired a goal-scoring midfielder with the potential to be world-class. How he settles in will determine if he fulfills that potential.
Signing rating 7/10
Takumi Minamino
Club from: Liverpool, Club to: Southampton, Fee: 500k loan fee, Position: Attacker, Age: 26
This move wasn’t even discussed until transfer deadline day when Southampton enquired about young right-back Neco Williams. Liverpool weren’t willing to part ways with Williams but did they were open to the idea of Takumi Minamino on loan.
The Japanese international has had a tough start to life at Merseyside scoring four times and two assists for Liverpool in 17 matches this season. However, due to limited chances at the club, looking at his record for Red Bull Salzburg would give Southampton fans a better indication of what to expect.
In Minamino’s final six months at Salzburg, he registered five goals and five assists in 14 league matches while starting for a team that included wonder-kid striker Erling Haland. Before that season Minamino had two double-digit scoring seasons, 2015/16 and 2016/17, showing his ability to score goals, something that Liverpool fans never saw. Overall this a solid signing with benefits to all parties.
Signing rating: 8/10
Joe Willock
Club from: Arsenal, Club to: Newcastle United, Fee: Loan, Position: Midfielder, Age: 21
Joe Willock would’ve expected to push on this year but even though he’s been impressive in the Europa League, he’s started just twice in the league. His appearances in Europe have shown him to be creative and versatile with an eye for goal. The English midfielder registered three goals and three assists in six games. Newcastle need Willock’s creativity as their 22 goals only rank 15th in the Premier League. The Magpies will be hoping Willock can turn their season around, they have just 1 win in their last 10 games.
Signing rating: 7/10
Ben Davies
Club from: Preston North End, Club to: Liverpool, Fee: £1.6 million, Position: Defender, Age: 25
If you’d have told Ben Davies on January 1st that he’d be signing for Liverpool on deadline day, he’d have called you crazy.
Fast forward a month and the former Preston man was joining Ozan Kabak as an emergency solution at centre-back. It is unclear where Davies is in the current pecking order but Nathaniel Phillips was selected ahead of him for the defeat to Brighton on Wednesday night but training with the quality that Liverpool posses is only going to up Davies’ value and allow them to sell him for profit.
The 25-year-old has made 184 first-team appearances in the lower levels of the game and fits in with the Liverpool mold of what is expected of a defender. He is good on the ball, tall, and fast enough to keep up with the pace of the Premier League.
Signing rating: 6/10
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