TRANSFER LOSER: LIVERPOOL Needing a winger and a left-back this January , the Reds were gazumped on Salah and then tried but failed to secure Yevhen Konoplyanka in his stead. Add that to the fact that there was no full-back in sight and a rather thin squad remains unstrengthened. WINNER: MANCHESTER UNITED There is no question that the Red Devils need more work than this but the major revamping is best saved for the summer. For now, signing a player as talented as Juan Mata is a great statement of intent - plus David Moyes finally offloaded Anderson and gave Wilfried Zaha and an army of other youngsters vital playing opportunities on loan. LOSER: ARSENAL The big target, Julian Draxler, eluded Arsene Wenger and the Gunners boss was unsuccessful in pursuing Miroslav Klose, leaving no back-up for the tired Olivier Giroud up front. Meanwhile, the signing of Kim Kallstrom - out to pasture in Russia - looks a rather desperate alternative to Blaise Matuidi and Morgan Schneiderlin. WINNER: WEST HAM With an injury-ravaged squad, more or less anybody at all would have been good for the Hammers - yet not only have they signed several new faces but they are of higher quality than fans had any right to expect. Pablo Armero is the unexpected highlight but Marco Borriello and Antonio Nocerino, if they are hungry enough to impress, could shine. LOSER: MANCHESTER CITY Although arguably the squad with the least need to improve in January, if there was one area that required a boost for City it was centre-back and Portos astronomical quote for Eliaquim Mangala will come as a serious blow. Fernando, too, would have added quality but, rebuffed, Manuel Pellegrini will have to make do with what he has. WINNER: CARDIFF CITY Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wasted no time in using his connections to bring some fascinating players to Wales. Mats Moller Daehli and Magnus Wolff Eikrem are two Norwegians with plenty of talent while the managers Manchester United past allowed him to secure Fabio and loanee Wilfried Zaha, who will be desperate to impress after a stunted top-flight start. LOSER: TOTTENHAM Spurs did not need much other than to trim a squad bloated by the willy-nilly spending of the Gareth Bale money but could now be in a sticky spot after Jermain Defoe departs for Toronto. With Dimitar Berbatov opting for Monaco on deadline day, Tim Sherwood now only has Harry Kane as back-up should he wish to field two strikers. WINNER: SOUTHAMPTON You dont need to make a statement signing to have a successful transfer window. The Saints shipped out a disruptive big name who was failing to adapt in Dani Osvaldo - and they may yet turn a profit on him - while keeping key men like Luke Shaw and Morgan Schneiderlin. A strong squad come out of January more united than before. LOSER: SWANSEA CITY With injury issues in both midfield and attack, the Swans made the windows biggest blunder by forgetting the deadline to cancel Ki Sung-Yuengs increasingly inexplicable loan spell at Sunderland. Meanwhile, in seeking cover for the likes of Michu and Wilfried Bony, all they could muster were the Championships David Ngog and Marvin Emnes, deals that smack of aiming too low. WINNER: CHELSEA Knock it if you like but the Blues approach to youth is starting to pay dividends and, in Nemanja Matic, they reacquired the ideal midfielder after time spent maturing at Benfica. Alongside that, they sold an unwanted player to a major rival for £37 million, beat Liverpool to Mohamed Salah and signed one of Europes best young talents in Kurt Zouma.
Posted on: Sat, 01 Feb 2014 20:03:18 +0000
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