As the dust settles on the January transfer window, let’s take a look at the Premier League clubs and the business that they did during this window. Some teams dove into the loan market rather than permanent signings, but some teams splashed considerably. In total the Premier League has spent a mammoth £815m in this transfer window – equivalent to more than the combined spend by all clubs in the Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1.
Join us as we run through the business done in January for the top teams in the Premier League. Make sure to visit the LV BET Sports Blog to get more information about transfers, match previews and betting tips.
Arsenal
The league leaders went into the January transfer window hopeful of adding to their team and kill off some concerns about their squad depth. They have done just that by snatching Leandro Trossard from Brighton, who wanted a move away from the Amex Stadium, especially when Arsenal came knocking on the door. This added more versatility to the team, which will result in either Saka or Martinelli rested in certain games. The other addition to Mikel Arteta’s squad might come as a surprise, as they recruited Jorginho from Chelsea. The midfielder is seen as a calm presence in the team which might be a pivotal characteristic later in the season when tough games approach. The age of both the signings doesn’t comfort with the rest of the squad, as Arteta wanted to build a young team full of chaotic energy and hunger to win.
Arsenal was heavily linked with Moises Caicedo of Brighton, but they had their £60m bid rejected by the club as they did not want to let him go just yet — they might entertain a bid for him in summer. One needs to say that the recruitment from Arsenal has been incredible, and these two additions will only help the ambitions of the team whilst also giving more options to Arteta when he needs to change the attacking dynamic.
Arsenal are priced at 4/5 (1.80) to win the Premier League, making them the favourites for the first time this season.
Manchester City
The reigning Premier League champions haven’t been involved in many transfer talks, especially incoming ones. One of the biggest pieces of news coming from the Etihad was the departure of Joao Cancelo on loan to Bayern Munich. There has been talks about a potential rift between the Portuguese and Pep Guardiola, but both the manager and the player have turned this down. Other talks surrounded Bernardo Silva, who wanted to move to another club, but that was halted, and he might seek another club in summer.
The chances of Manchester City winning the title have been reduced to 33/25 (2.32), with the two games against Arsenal are still to be played, which will sway the chances one way or the other.
Manchester United
Manchester United did most of their business in summer, but an injury to their key player Christian Eriksen during the FA Cup tie against Reading, forced the hand of the club to act swiftly. Marcel Sabitzer will join the Red Devils on loan until the end of the season with no obligation to buy. This is a smart piece of business from United; for once, instead of splashing the cash on a rushed signing, they are opting to go for the loan and to re-evaluate the options available in summer.
Sabitzer’s rise came during his time with RB Leipzig where he was part of a very fun team to watch, pressing high and full of energy. That same form was not replicated at Bayern Munich, but he is ranked lower than some of the household names currently in the Bayern squad. The other loanee was Wout Weghorst, who has already played a couple of games for United.
Manchester United are well poised to finish in the top four with their chances of doing so priced at 1/3 (1.33)
Newcastle United
A lot of talks and rumours surrounded Anthony Gordon, and he finally made it out of Everton when Newcastle came calling. It’s difficult to say no to the project Newcastle United are building and, for a young Englishman such as Gordon, it might be the best option for him to grow as a player and learn. Newcastle paid a total of £45m for the winger, making him the second most expensive signing.
On the other hand, this leaves Everton in a worse position than when the transfer window opened in terms of personnel, as the Toffees have not conducted any business during the past month.
Champions League football is the aim for Eddie Howe and his squad and we are pricing their chances of doing so at 7/9 (1.77)
Spurs
Tottenham have signed right-back Pedro Porro from Sporting Lisbon on loan until the end of the season with an obligation to buy for £39m this summer. Spurs have paid an initial loan fee of around £5m to sign the 23-year-old on deadline day after weeks of negotiations. The Spaniard has been a key performer for Sporting this season – he scored three goals and assisted 11 in 26 appearances.
For Antonio Conte, this will be a major upgrade in a key position, as Doherty had his contract cancelled to make way for the incoming replacement. This upgrade will potentially solve most of the problems for Tottenham, who despite a great start to the season, are suffering a dip in form.
The goal of getting into the Champions League position is once again the aim for Antonio Conte and his squad – the chances of this happening again is priced at 14/5 (3.80)
Chelsea:
The biggest spenders this window are surely Chelsea with plenty of incoming players with lofty price tags. The most recent being on deadline day when they managed to get the signing of Enzo Fernandez over the line for a British-record £106.8m from Benfica. The World Cup winner has signed an eight-and-a-half-year deal at Stamford Bridge to keep him at the club until the summer of 2031. If you are asking the question of how are Chelsea able to spend this much and why are they offering long contracts, make sure to visit LV BET Sports Blog where we explain just that.
Chelsea also signed winger Mykhailo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk in a deal worth around £88.5m, despite the player showing his desire to join Arsenal instead. Joao Felix arrived on loan from Atletico Madrid for the remainder of the season, but his sending-off against Fulham has already tainted this move.
Other signings were made such as Monaco’s Badiashile for £35m, ex-Spurs winger Madueke for £29m, Malo Gusto coming in from Lyon for a fee of £26.3m, with the 19-year-old spending the rest of the season back in France on loan. The last player signed was Andrey Santos from Vasco da Gama for an undisclosed fee.
It will surely be interesting to see how Graham Potter fits all these talented players in his starting 11 and what will be the end result. Chelsea are priced at 8/1 (9.00) to get into the top four places.
Liverpool:
Liverpool are suffering one of their worst seasons under Jurgen Klopp, currently sitting in 10th place. The football on show has been poor, with not enough zest as one would expect from the Reds. Injuries to key personnel such as Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino, Darwin Nunez, Virgil van Dijk and Arthur Melo impeded Liverpool’s play, especially since who came in to fill some gaps in the squad also ended up injured.
Reinforcements were needed, and the Dutch international Cody Gakpo was signed on a £35m deal from PSV. He is yet to register a goal for the Reds, but many are warming up to the signing as he is showing great desire and motivation to push his team forward in the table. At the moment, the feeling at Anfield is of damage limitation rather than pushing for titles.
Getting into the top four places will be a great achievement for the Reds and they are priced at 16/7 (3.30) to do so.