New Start: Some new signings who will be ready to make the difference at their new clubs
The dust has finally settled after the latest deals have been finalised from the January transfer window. A few clubs have pulled off ridiculous bargains while others have sanctioned questionable moves. Now we are left wondering which new signings will prove to be worth their price-tag?
10. Tanguy Ndombele - Spurs to Lyon (Loan with buy-option)
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For Tanguy Ndombele, his time at White Hart Lane has simply left much to be desired. Spurs made him their record signing not long after finishing runners-up in the Champions League final in 2019. The £63 million they paid to Lyon looked to signal their intent of capturing silverware soon.
But in the two and a half seasons since, he hasn't shown much of his elegant dribbling skills and boisterous confidence that had made him a hot property in France. But with Bruno Guimaraes completing a move to Newcastle, a spot had opened up in midfield at the Ndombele's former club.
But in the two and a half seasons since, he hasn't shown much of his elegant dribbling skills and boisterous confidence that had made him a hot property in France. But with Bruno Guimaraes completing a move to Newcastle, a spot had opened up in midfield at the Ndombele's former club.
Now is Ndombele's time to shine. This loan move opens the door to consistent starting opportunities in a league where he regularly out-shone opposition midfielders every week. If he is able to return to anywhere near his level from the last time he pulled on a Lyon shirt, Les Gones fans will be pleading with the club to exercise his £54 million buy-option.
9. Lucas Digne - Everton to Aston Villa (£27m)
Not so long ago, Lucas Digne was easily amongst the most productive full-backs in the Premier League and mostly was impressive during his time on the blue half of Merseyside. But with Rafa Benitez coming in as Everton's new manager last summer, it has been a badly-kept secret that the two have not seen eye to eye. Which no doubt was instrumental to Digne leaving the club in January.
But Everton's loss appears to be Aston Villa's gain. During the 2020-21 season, Digne recorded the most assists (7), most chances created (46) and most passes into the opposition box (208) at Everton. For multiple years he was Everton's best creator and their mundane form during the 2021-22 campaign, where he's barely featured, is no coincidence.
Aston Villa have already had a glimpse of what he can do as he poetically assisted the winner against his old club in just his second league appearance for Aston Villa. If he keeps this up, he is surely going to be a favourite of the Villa faithful in no time.
8. Anthony Martial - Man United to Sevilla (Loan)
Sevilla are high-flyers in this year's La Liga campaign sitting comfortably in 2nd place and only four points adrift of Real Madrid. Sevilla have famously enjoyed a lot of success in the Europa League over the years but this has been their best chance to make a run at the league title for a really long time. But so far they have been outscored by 4 other La Liga sides this season.
Step forward: Anthony Martial.
Step forward: Anthony Martial.
Credit: The Independent
It's an understatement to say Martial has a point to prove. Only two seasons ago, he was one of the Premier League's most prolific forwards, registering 23 league goals and assists with an efficient 67.8% shooting accuracy in 2019-20. He's gone from playing over 2,600 minutes in the league that season to just 209 this campaign.
But Martial is still only 26 years old, and has much of his pace, powerful dribbling and instinct to be in the right places to score goals. In a Sevilla side that is missing goals and a talented forward who is missing game time, he could be exactly what Sevilla need to keep up in the title race.
7. Robin Gosens - Atalanta to Inter (Loan with obligation to buy)
One of the bargains of the window was Inter securing the services of Robin Gosens from rivals Atlanta. The Nerazurri are enjoying a great domestic campaign having won the Supercoppa Italiana recently against Juventus and are perched right at the top of the Serie A table.
The signing of Gosens adds to their left flank, one of the league's most creative defenders. He has an impressive 25 goals and 18 assists since joining Atalanta in 2017 and has the 5th most assists of Serie A defender in this time.
Plus with Ivan Perišić not yet certain to renew with Inter, the Italian champions have the left side of their defence in safe hands for at least the next few years. Although, Inter will have to wait to see the dynamic German in action, as he continues to recover from a long-term hamstring injury.
The signing of Gosens adds to their left flank, one of the league's most creative defenders. He has an impressive 25 goals and 18 assists since joining Atalanta in 2017 and has the 5th most assists of Serie A defender in this time.
Plus with Ivan Perišić not yet certain to renew with Inter, the Italian champions have the left side of their defence in safe hands for at least the next few years. Although, Inter will have to wait to see the dynamic German in action, as he continues to recover from a long-term hamstring injury.
6. Philippe Coutinho - Barcelona to Aston Villa (Loan with buy-option)
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El Magico marked his return to the Premier League with a sensational cameo against Man United in Aston Villa's comeback draw. He came off the bench and helped create the first goal his side scored before he snatched the equaliser 10 minutes before full-time.
It served as a timely reminder of what the Brazilian playmaker could do with confidence in his play. It would be an understatement to say his time at Barcelona has not exactly gone to plan despite the trophies he's added to his cabinet since he left Liverpool four years ago.
But once upon a time, Coutinho left very few in doubt of his status as a world class player. Now getting to play in the league that helped make his name, could very well make him a dream signing for the Villains. It's hard to ignore they still have a Jack Grealish-sized hole in their creative department. Who better to fill that up than with the elite passing and dazzling dribbling ability that Coutinho can still provide?
It served as a timely reminder of what the Brazilian playmaker could do with confidence in his play. It would be an understatement to say his time at Barcelona has not exactly gone to plan despite the trophies he's added to his cabinet since he left Liverpool four years ago.
But once upon a time, Coutinho left very few in doubt of his status as a world class player. Now getting to play in the league that helped make his name, could very well make him a dream signing for the Villains. It's hard to ignore they still have a Jack Grealish-sized hole in their creative department. Who better to fill that up than with the elite passing and dazzling dribbling ability that Coutinho can still provide?
5. Ferran Torres - Man City to Barcelona (£49.5m)
The first half of this season has left many football fans unable to recognise the elite reputation that Barcelona have seemingly always had. In the span of a few months, the Blaugrana have crashed out of the Champions League, domestic cups and they don't look like contenders for this season's La liga title.
They have signed numerous attackers to reinforce their credentials but the most exciting has to be the young Spanish forward who made waves at the Euros last summer. Ferran Torres has been unfortunate to be nursing a metatarsal injury that has kept him out since October. But just before that he had a brilliant display against Arsenal where he scored a brace and assisted another as he wreaked havoc on the Gunners' backline.
He offers Barcelona an injection of pace and dynamic movement that should make life very easy for his midfielders to create chances. As he can be deployed on the wing or at centre-forward, he even allows for new formation options that Xavi may want to explore. If nothing else, his electric displays in attack should give Barcelona fans something to smile about this season.
He offers Barcelona an injection of pace and dynamic movement that should make life very easy for his midfielders to create chances. As he can be deployed on the wing or at centre-forward, he even allows for new formation options that Xavi may want to explore. If nothing else, his electric displays in attack should give Barcelona fans something to smile about this season.
4. Denis Zakaria - Borussia Monchengladbach to Juventus (£7.7m)
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The Swiss international has been one of the most in-form midfielders in Europe's top leagues this season after having a standout first half of the season with Bor. Monchengladbach. He had long been linked with a move to Man United but it was The Old Lady that managed to attract his services away from the Bundesliga.
The do-it-all midfielder adds steel to the midfield of which Juventus have been lacking for the last couple of seasons. He is great in physical challenges, can run all day and is a superb passer. And if that wasn't enough, he's shown he has an eye for the occasional goal as he scored on his debut in Juve's 2-0 win against Verona.
The do-it-all midfielder adds steel to the midfield of which Juventus have been lacking for the last couple of seasons. He is great in physical challenges, can run all day and is a superb passer. And if that wasn't enough, he's shown he has an eye for the occasional goal as he scored on his debut in Juve's 2-0 win against Verona.
Don't be surprised when many pundits are calling him one of the best bargains of recent years.
3. Christian Eriksen - Unattached to Brentford (Free)
🔴⚪#BrentfordFC #EriksenJoins pic.twitter.com/EgCAiS1HUz
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) February 7, 2022
A year ago, such a transfer would have been almost unimaginable. But such is the beauty of football; it is nothing if not unpredictable. One of Europe's elite midfielders joins a team that had never competed in the Premier League before this season ever... and it doesn't hurt that it's for free too.
Christian Eriksen had already spent several years lighting up the Premier League and accumulated 113 goal contributions at Spurs before he left for Inter two years ago. Now he is coming back as a Serie A champion and getting back to full match-fitness after recovering from the frightening collapse he endured at Euro 2020.
But Eriksen's return is more than just a feel-good story. He's an ace of an attacking midfielder and when utilised in his preferred position he is a brilliant creator and long-distance goal threat. If he can return to anywhere near his previous level, he will undoubtedly transform Brentford's chances to avoid relegation.
Christian Eriksen had already spent several years lighting up the Premier League and accumulated 113 goal contributions at Spurs before he left for Inter two years ago. Now he is coming back as a Serie A champion and getting back to full match-fitness after recovering from the frightening collapse he endured at Euro 2020.
But Eriksen's return is more than just a feel-good story. He's an ace of an attacking midfielder and when utilised in his preferred position he is a brilliant creator and long-distance goal threat. If he can return to anywhere near his previous level, he will undoubtedly transform Brentford's chances to avoid relegation.
2. Luis Díaz - Porto to Liverpool (£40.5m)
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As if opposition defences didn't already have their hands full trying to contain the pace of Mo Salah and Sadio Mane. Now Liverpool have acquired another deadly speedster in Luis Díaz. The Colombian's move to Anfield had attracted a lot of media attention as Liverpool pipped Spurs to signing him when a deal looked almost complete.
Luis Díaz is not only rapid but a wonderfully gifted dribbler, capable of gliding past numerous players in one go. But this season it's his goal scoring that has taken the Primeira Liga. His 14 league goals in just 18 matches have fired Porto to the top of the Portuguese league table. Only Benfica’s Darwin Nuñez's 16 goal tally beats his own so far.
He also played a starring role for Colombia in last summer's Copa America, where he was joint top-scorer and was selected for the team of the tournament. His 4 goals were only matched by a certain Lionel Messi. His debut assist in the Reds' latest FA cup win will show that Jurgen Klopp will have a selection headache soon.
Luis Díaz is not only rapid but a wonderfully gifted dribbler, capable of gliding past numerous players in one go. But this season it's his goal scoring that has taken the Primeira Liga. His 14 league goals in just 18 matches have fired Porto to the top of the Portuguese league table. Only Benfica’s Darwin Nuñez's 16 goal tally beats his own so far.
He also played a starring role for Colombia in last summer's Copa America, where he was joint top-scorer and was selected for the team of the tournament. His 4 goals were only matched by a certain Lionel Messi. His debut assist in the Reds' latest FA cup win will show that Jurgen Klopp will have a selection headache soon.
1. Dušan Vlahović - Fiorentina to Juventus (£73.4m)
Credit: Juventus FC via GETTY IMAGES
The highest transfer fee paid of any deal that took place during the January window. But when you're one of Europe's most talked-about young talents: it's to be expected. Over the past year, Juventus' new man has catapulted himself into the conversation of the world's best upcoming strikers.
The Serie A hitman had capped off 2021 in excellent fashion by equalling Cristiano Ronaldo's Serie A record for goals scored in a calendar year (33). Vlahović has stunningly achieved this at the tender age of 21 years. Not only that, but he is Serie A’s joint top-scorer this season with 18 league goals and is averaging a goal every 108 minutes.
Also since the start of the 2020-21 season, his return of 38 Serie A goals was as many as Juve's attacking trio of Paulo Dybala, Federico Chiesa and Álvaro Morata combined. It's no wonder Juventus came calling. And just to show that the black and white striped jersey isn't too heavy for him, he's scored an audacious chip on his debut.
The Serie A hitman had capped off 2021 in excellent fashion by equalling Cristiano Ronaldo's Serie A record for goals scored in a calendar year (33). Vlahović has stunningly achieved this at the tender age of 21 years. Not only that, but he is Serie A’s joint top-scorer this season with 18 league goals and is averaging a goal every 108 minutes.
Also since the start of the 2020-21 season, his return of 38 Serie A goals was as many as Juve's attacking trio of Paulo Dybala, Federico Chiesa and Álvaro Morata combined. It's no wonder Juventus came calling. And just to show that the black and white striped jersey isn't too heavy for him, he's scored an audacious chip on his debut.
Surely a foreboding of what's to come for one of Europe's red-hot prospects.
(Lead Image Credit: William Okafor-Oregan)
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