Wednesday 1 February 2017 16:57, UK
The January transfer window's shut so who has done the best business?
The mid-term sales have traditionally been the time when clubs battling the drop scrap to sign reinforcements, but who's got value for money and should your side have done more?
Soccer Saturday's Charlie Nicholas runs the rule over the top-flight teams' January activity and gives his verdict...
Ins: Cohen Bramall (Hednesford, undisclosed)
Outs: Jon Toral (Rangers, loan), Chuba Akpom (Brighton, loan), Dan Crowley (Go Ahead Eagles, loan), Kaylen Hinds (Stevenage, loan), Stephy Mavididi (Charlton, loan), Krystian Bielik (Birmingham, loan), Matt Macey (Luton, loan), Mark Bola (Notts County, loan)
Charlie says: Should they have done more? Yes. The loans all make sense but I'd have liked to have seen a couple of sales - Carl Jenkinson, Mathieu Debuchy, for example. That money could have gone towards what for me would have been two of the biggest deals this window: new contracts for Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil. The greatest statement Arsenal could have made would have been to retain those two players and I'm disappointed they haven't.
Ins: Aaron Ramsdale (Sheffield United, undisclosed)
Outs: Emerson Hyndman (Rangers, loan), Glenn Murray (Brighton, £3m), Jordan Lee (Torquay, loan), Brandon Goodship (Yeovil, free), Callum Buckley (Aldershot, loan), Lewis Grabban (Reading, loan), Jordan Green (Leyton Oreitn, loan), Harry Cornick & Joe Quigley (both Gillingham, loan), Marc Wilson (West Brom, loan)
Charlie says: They've brought in a highly-rated goalkeeping prospect but for me they've worked the market well to get players out because the budget's massive for - in relative terms, no disrespect - a small club. The Glenn Murray sale was a good one. Eddie Howe tried his best for John Terry and Asmir Begovic and then - fair play to them - Nathan Ake right at the death. If Howe had got a couple of those in it'd have been sensational - A+! - but it wasn't to be; it's a standard C.
Ins: Joey Barton (unattached, free), Ashley Westwood (Aston Villa, £5m), Robbie Brady (Norwich, undisclosed)
Outs: Lukas Jutkiewicz (Birmingham, £1m), Daniel Lafferty (Sheffield United, loan), Chris Long (Bolton, loan), Josh Ginnelly (Lincoln, loan), Aidan O'Neill (Oldham, loan), Michael Kightly (Burton, loan)
Charlie says: Ashley Westwood's a steady, economical player; I think there had been a few moans about him among the Villa fans so I think it was right to let him move on. Joey Barton was a disaster at Rangers but he's got quality and this manager, Sean Dyche, will get the best out of him. They tried for Andy Robertson too but with Robbie Brady also arriving, it's a pretty decent window.
Ins: none
Outs: Jay Dasilva (Charlton, loan), Oscar (Shanghai SIPG, £60m), John Obi Mikel (Tianjin TEDA, undisclosed), Isaiah Brown (Huddersfield, loan), Charlie Colkett (Swindon, loan), Fankaty Dabo (Swindon, loan), Islam Feruz (Swindon, loan), Nathan Baxter (Solihull Moors, loan), Patrick Bamford (Middlesbrough, undisclosed), Fikayo Tomori (Brighton, loan), Dion Conroy (Swindon, undisclosed)
Charlie says: I was surprised by the amount of business they tried to do over the last couple of days - especially given the amount of players they've got out on loan. But Antonio Conte clearly doesn't stand still. If Celtic could have got £25m for Moussa Dembele, I think it would have been a brilliant deal - possibly even a bit over the top - but he's stayed put for now. They tried for Craig Gordon too but they don't need much. Nothing's materialised but they've got some players out for good money. It's a C.
Ins: Jeffrey Schlupp (Leicester, £12.5m), Patrick van Aanholt (Sunderland, £14m), Luka Milivojevic (Olympiakos, £12.5m), Mamadou Sakho (Crystal Palace, loan)
Outs: Hiram Boateng (Northampton, loan), Freddie Ladapo (Shrewsbury, loan), Keshi Anderson (Northampton, loan), Jordon Mutch (Reading, loan)
Charlie says: I get Schlupp, I don't quite get Schlupp and Van Aanholt; I think it's a lot of money for players I see in similar positions. Sam Allardyce is saying Van Aanholt will be a left-back but I don't trust his defensive qualities. I think he should have nailed a deal for Carl Jenkinson but I had a feeling Sam would have something else up his sleeve... Milivojevic was leftfield but he's managed to get Sakho over the line.
Ins: Ademola Lookman (Charlton, £7.5m), Morgan Schneiderlin (Manchester United, £24m), Anton Donkor (Wolfsburg, loan)
Outs: Conor Grant (Doncaster, loan), Tom Cleverley (Watford, loan), Callum Connolly (Wigan, loan), Oumar Niasse (Hull, loan), Gethin Jones (Barnsley, loan), Antony Evans (Morecambe, loan), Nathan Holland (West Ham, undisclosed), Gerard Deulofeu (AC Milan, loan), Russell Griffiths (Motherwell, loan), Tyias Browning (Preston, loan), Bryan Oviedo (Sunderland, undisclosed), Darron Gibson (Sunderland, undisclosed), Calum Dyson (Grimsby, loan), Conor AcAleny (Oxford, loan)
Charlie says: Morgan Schneiderlin is a lovely signing - different class - whereas Ademola Lookman could be a star next season. This window's been mainly about Ronald Koeman flexing his muscles and making his mind up about which players he wants to keep or let leave, before he does some proper business in the summer. They're mid-table, they're happy, there's been no need for panic.
Ins: Markus Henriksen (AZ Alkmaar, £4.5m), Oumar Niasse (Everton, loan), Evandro (Porto, loan), Omar Elabdellaoui (Olympiakos, loan), Lazar Markovic (Liverpool, loan), Andrea Ranocchia (Inter Milan, loan), Alfred N'Diaye (Villarreal, loan), Kamil Grosicki (Rennes, undisclosed)
Outs: Jonathan Edwards (Accrington, loan), Harvey Rodgers (Accrington, loan), Johan Ter Horst (York, loan), Allan McGregor (Cardiff, loan), Jake Livermore (West Brom, £10m), Robert Snodgrass (West Ham, £10.2m), James Weir and Alex Bruce (both Wigan, both loan)
Charlie's verdict: They got good money for Jake Livermore but he was their best midfielder, for me. They've kept Andrew Robertson - they had to; I think he's got the best delivery in the league with that left foot. Andrea Ranocchia's an interesting one - a physical, robust centre-half. I like the sound of that. Evandro looks a tidy player, too. Throw in Markovic and I think this Hull team have got a real chance now. I tipped them to go down last week but now I'm having second thoughts...
Ins: Wilfred Ndidi (Genk, £15m), Molla Wague (Udinese, loan)
Outs: Jeffrey Schlupp (Crystal Palace, £12.5m), Harvey Barnes (MK Dons, loan), Luis Hernandez (Malaga, £1.75m), Matt James (Barnsley, loan), Callum Elder (Barnsley, loan)
Charlie says: Claudio Ranieri needed to get that players that were surplus to requirements out and money in. But I'm not sure about the guys he's brought in in this window and the summer's; I think they've confused the issue. They're in a relegation battle and yet they don't have enough options when it comes to the centre-backs, who are struggling at the moment. For me, they were also wrong to keep hold off Leonardo Ulloa, when he wants to leave. I can't seem him playing with too much energy if he comes off the bench now.
Ins: none
Outs: Mamadou Sakho (Crystal Palace, loan), Pedro Chirivella (Go Ahead Eagles, loan), Tiago Ilori (Reading, undisclosed), Joe Maguire (Fleetwood, undisclosed), Lazar Markovic (Hull, loan), Cameron Brannagan (Fleetwood, loan)
Charlie says: It was always going to be more outs than ins but while it's great holding on to Philippe Coutinho, I feel Liverpool are not good enough defensively to win the title and they could even be suspect when it comes to finishing top four. That would be a shocker for them. Plenty of youngsters have been blooded but centre-backs aren't coming through, Sakho's gone and they've got nobody in to replace him. A club of Liverpool's stature should have gone out and added someone on loan. Jurgen Klopp's taken a massive risk; I think he could have gone abroad and got some defensive protection in.
Ins: Yangel Herrera - Atletico Venezuela (undisclosed)
Outs: Pablo Maffeo (Girona, loan), Manu Garcia (NAC Breda, loan), Ian Lawlor (Doncaster, undisclosed), George Glendon (Fleetwood, undisclosed), David Faupala (Chesterfield, loan), Jack Byrne (Wigan, undisclosed)
Charlie says: Gabriel Jesus has arrived but he'd already been signed; he's quick and talented and I think he'll fit in really quickly, unlike Nolito, who I've been really disappointed with. The top clubs are looking to do business in the summer and trusting the players they've got but I think, like Liverpool, Pep Guardiola should have gone into the market for another centre-back. I'm glad to see him back but Vincent Kompany is too much of a risk. I think they should have gone in for one, maybe two full-backs as well. No risk for City but no gain. It's a D.
Ins: none
Outs: Sam Johnstone (Aston Villa, loan), Morgan Schneiderlin (Everton, £24m), Joe Riley (Sheffield United, loan), Memphis Depay (Lyon, £21.7m), Sean Goss (QPR, undisclosed)
Charlie says: They spent big in the summer. Has Jose Mourinho got it right? The structure and organisation is there but I don't think they're exciting. They're too reliant on Zlatan Ibrahimovic. I'm not surprised that Wayne Rooney is staying put but I expect him to go at the end of the season. They were right to let Memphis Depay go, though - he was a bit of a show pony. Morgan Schneiderlin leaving was good business, too. I don't think the ambition was there to go for the title, though, and their top-four ambition seems based more on trying to maintain their togetherness under Mourinho than bringing any extras in.
Ins: Rudy Gestede (Aston Villa, undisclosed), Patrick Bamford (Chelsea, £10m), Adlene Guedioura (Watford, undisclosed)
Outs: Tomas Meijas (Rayo Vallecano, loan), Julien de Sart (Derby, loan), David Nugent (Derby, undisclosed), Emilio Nsue, (Birmingham, undisclosed), Bryn Morris (Shrewsbury, free), Jonny Burn (Bristol Rovers, loan), Joe Fryer (Hartlepool, loan), Mark Kitching (Rochdale, loan), Carlos de Pena (Real Oviedo, loan), Arnel Jakupovic (Empoli, undisclosed)
Charlie says: They're a good side. I'm surprised by the position they're in. I've watched quite a bit of Boro this season; their fans shout 'Attack, Attack, Attack!' and Aitor Karanka's too cautious. Rudy Gestede's a good replacement if Alvaro Negredo gets injured and I do like Patrick Bamford. He had a good spell at Boro and he's a good footballer. I'd play Negredo with Bamford just behind him, and Traore and I think if they play that at home, they'll win ganmes and be safe.
Ins: Mouez Hassen (Nice, loan), Manolo Gabbiadini (Napoli, undisclosed)
Outs: Dominic Gape (Wycombe, free), Jose Fonte (West Ham, £8m)
Charlie says: I was slightly disappointed with them - until they signed Gabbiadini, because they needed a forward. Jose Fonte leaving was a big one because he's a leader. but they've held on to Virgil van Dijk. That's a huge positive. A replacement goalkeeper makes sense too..
Ins: Lee Grant (Derby, £1.3m), Saido Berahino (West Brom, £12m)
Outs: Jakob Haugaard (Wigan, loan), Joel Taylor (Rochdale, loan), Bojan (Mainz, loan), Moha El Ouriachi (Hearts, loan)
Charlie says: He'll take three or four matches to get up to speed but Saido Berahino could be one of the signings of the window. They've needed a forward and I think he fits perfectly. Could he play with Peter Crouch? Absolutely. Lee Grant has been steady. They've got a decent squad and no black mark from me over Bojan; he's had a poor season so far. He seemed half-hearted; move him on and get money back in the summer.
Ins: Joleon Lescott (unattached, free), Bryan Oviedo (Everton, undisclosed), Darron Gibson (Everton, undisclosed)
Outs: Patrick van Aanholt (Crystal Palace, £14m)
Charlie says: I like what David Moyes has done and, crucially, Jermain Defoe didn't go. They tried their best to get Ulloa but the ambition at least was there. I like the signings from Everton and Lescott's a solid addition for me, too, despite some of the fans not seeming impressed. If only they'd managed to get Phil Jagielka - that would have been sensational. All in all, though, Moyes has busted a gut to try and get them out of trouble. His effort's been undeniable.
Ins: Luciano Narsingh (PSV Eindhoven, £4m), Martin Olsson (Norwich, undisclosed), Tom Carroll (Tottenham, undisclosed)
Outs: Alex Bray (Rotherham, loan), Marvin Emnes (Blackburn, loan), Mo Barrow (Leeds, loan)
Charlie says: In Paul Clement they've got a manager who's thinking long- rather than short-term. Carroll's a good footballer, Olsson's honest and hard-working. They've kept Fernando Llorente but they needed another striker for me.
Ins:
Outs: Ryan Loft (Stevenage, loan), Tom Carroll (Swansea, undisclosed), Connor Ogilvie (Stevenage, loan), Luke Amos (Southend, loan)
Charlie says: They obviously weren't that interested in getting many in this window but they're building a stadium in London and that's not cheap. Shipping out a few going makes sense. Short and sweet but I can't give them higher than a D.
Ins: Tom Cleverley (Everton, loan), Mauro Zarate (Fiorentina, undisclosed), M'Baye Niang (AC Milan, loan)
Outs: Adalberto Penaranda (Malaga, loan), Alex Jakubiak (Wycombe, loan)
Charlie says: I'm not that impressed with their business, to be honest. I don't think Cleverley or Zarate are the right fits for this Watford team and their pattern of play.
Ins: Jake Livermore (Hull, £10m), Marc Wilson (Bournemouth, loan)
Outs: Callum McManaman (Sheff Wed, loan), Craig Gardner (Birmingham, loan), Tyler Roberts (Shrewsbury, loan), Andre Wright (Yeovil, loan), Saido Berahino (Stoke, £12m)
Charlie says: They couldn't get Schneiderlin but they get a decent mark because I think Livermore's a very clever signing. Moving Berahino on finally means they've covered their costs too. They'll be safe this season, no problem.
Ins: Jose Fonte (Southampton, £8m), Nathan Holland (Everton, undisclosed), Robert Snodgrass (Hull, £10.2m)
Outs: Dimitri Payet (Marseille, £25m) Martin Samuelsen (Peterborough, loan), Lewis Page (Charlton, undisclosed), Jaanai Gordon (Newport, loan), Josh Cullen (Bradford, loan), Alex Pike (Cheltenham, loan), Marcus Browne (Wigan,
loan), Toni Martinez (Oxford, loan)
Charlie says: West Ham and Slaven Bilic have done very good business, in my book. I like Fonte - he's a leader, as I've said - and Snodgrass is the creative spark. It was a absolute no-brainer getting Payet away from the club when he didn't want to play for them. They've got good money for him too.
Who do YOU think did the best January business and whose dealings gets the thumbs-down? Tweet us @SkyFootball of leave a comment below if you're reading on skysports.com
