RATING TEAMS' TRANSFER WINDOW!
TRANSFER WINDOW ROUND-UP AND RATINGS: HOW EUROPE'S BIG TEAMS FARED
-Mitansh Kagalwala
-ARSENAL
Arsenal and
making nearly-signings, name a more iconic duo. This time around, again,
Arsenal botched up several transfers, including Dusan Vlahovic, Alexander Isak,
and Arthur. This coupled with the exit of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leaves
Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah as their only strikers. There has been a
mass exit as the Gunners look to trim their wage bill, with several fringe
players departing the club. Arsenal have made only one signing: Austin Trusty,
who will spend the remainder of the season back on loan at Colorado Rapids.
Transfer
Window Rating: D-
Ins: Austin
Trusty (undisclosed fee from Colorado Rapids)
Outs: Austin
Trusty (Loan, to Colorado Rapids), Harry Clarke (Loan to Hibernian), Ainsley
Maitland Niles (Loan to Roma), Folarin Balogun (Loan to Middlesbrough), Dejan
Iliev (Released), Brooke Norton-Cuffy (Loan to Lincoln City), Sead Kolasinac
(free to Marseille), Pablo Mari (Loan to Udinese), Karl Hein (Loan to Reading),
Tyreece John Jules (Loan to Sheffield Wednesday), Calum Chambers (free to Aston
Villa), Nikolaj Moller (Loan to FC Den Bosch), Jordi Osei Tutu (loan to
Rotherham United), Tim Akinola (loan to Dundee United), Pierre-Emerick
Aubameyang (loan to Barcelona).
-BAYERN
MUNICH
A low-key
transfer window for the German giants, who didn’t require much from it. No
marquee signings nor departures from the Allianz Arena, who have stayed
relatively injury-free for the month of January.
Transfer
Window Rating: B-
Ins: Liu
Shaoziyang (from Wuhan Three Towns FC)
Outs:
Bright Arrey-Mbi (loan to Cologne), Oliver Batista Meier (free to Dynamo
Dresden), Michael Cuisance (undisclosed to Venezia FC)
-CHELSEA
A quiet
transfer window for the European Champions, who failed to truly add to their squad.
With the Chelsea squad already stretched to the limit, the Blues failed to
increase their squad depth, a move which could cause trouble. Chelsea missed
out on several targets, including Sergino Dest, Ousmane Dembele, Leyvin Kurzawa
and Borna Sosa. Further, they failed to resolve the contract situations of
Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta, with the trio set
to leave on free transfers in the summer.
Transfer
Window Rating: C
Ins:
Kenedy (end of loan, from Flamengo), Dylan Williams (undisclosed fee, from
Derby County), Mason Burstow (undisclosed fee, from Charlton Athletic)
Outs:
Jamie Cumming (Loan to MK Dons), Lewis Baker (undisclosed fee, to Stoke City),
Juan Castillo (Loan to Charlton Athletic), Tino Anjorin (loan to Huddersfield),
-FC
BARCELONA
FC
Barcelona have had a very good January transfer window, all things considered.
Despite their financial condition, Barca have made three much needed signings
in the forward positions. They also managed to accomplish the impossible,
offloading Philippe Coutinho on loan to Aston Villa, and renewing Samuel
Umtiti, lowering both their wages. However, the only defensive reinforcement
Barca added to their squad is a 38-year old Dani Alves, failing to sign Nicolas
Tagliafico or Noussair Mazraoui from Ajax. Further, the Dembele situation
remains up in the air, with the Frenchman set to leave for free in the summer
after spending the rest of the season on the bench, following the collapse of
contract talks.
Transfer
Window Rating: B+
Ins:
Ferran Torres (£46.7 million, from Manchester City),
Adama Traore (Loan from Wolves), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (free transfer, from
Arsenal), Dani Alves (free agent).
Outs:
Philippe Coutinho (Loan to Aston Villa), Alex Collado (Loan to Granada C.F), Iñaki Peña (Loan to Galatasaray), Yusuf Demir (End of
Loan from Rapid Vienna)
In Photo: Barcelona's Ferran Torres
-JUVENTUS
The best
transfer window the Old Lady have had in years, with top-4 very much in their
sights now. Juve signed a much-needed striker, securing the highly sought after
Dusan Vlahovic from Fiorentina, while also adding Denis Zakaria to their
midfield in a cut-price deal. The Old Lady also let go of a few of their fringe
players, most notably Aaron Ramsey, who played only 112 minutes this season,
and cost about €41,000 per minute he played. All in
all, an excellent transfer window for the Old Lady.
Transfer
Window Rating: A
Ins:
Dusan Vlahovic (£62.8 million, from Fiorentina),
Denis Zakaria (£7.14 million, from Borussia
Monchengladbach),
Outs:
Rodrigo Bentancur (£16 million, to Tottenham Hotspur),
Dejan Kulusevski (Loan fee £8.3 million for 18 months, to
Tottenham Hotspur), Aaron Ramsey (Loan to Rangers)
In Photo: Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic
-LIVERPOOL
Liverpool
added some more explosive firepower to their frontline with the signing of Luis
Diaz from Porto. A worthy addition, Diaz has been on fire in the LIGA NOS, and
also adds to the Reds squad depth. Diaz will give Sadio Mane some tough
competition on the left side of Liverpool’s attack, and should cause defence’s
trouble. The Reds also sent out some of their younger players out on loan for
some gametime. All things considered, a good transfer window for Liverpool.
Transfer
Window Rating: B-
Ins:
Luis Diaz (£40.5 million, from Porto)
Outs:
Morgan Boyes (free, to Livingston), Tony Gallacher (free, to St Johnstone), Nat
Phillips (Loan, to Bournemouth), Neco Williams (Loan, to Fulham)
In Photo: Liverpool's Luis Diaz
-MANCHESTER
UNITED
United’s
most controversial news in January was not related to any transfers, but the
Mason Greenwood case. Manchester United have lost one of their best attackers,
however, that is not a point of consideration currently, and rightly so. United
made no signings, but did let several squad players leave on loan. Donny Van De
Beek finally moved away from Old Trafford in search of regular minutes, and we
hope the Dutchman can revive his career. The lack of squad depth could come
back to bite United.
Transfer
Window Rating: C-
Ins: No
players were signed
Outs:
Teden Menghi (Loan, to Birmingham), Axel Tuanzebe (Loan to Napoli), Ethan Laird
(Loan, to Bournemouth), Reece Devine (Loan, to Walsall), Anthony Martial (Loan,
to Sevilla), Amad Diallo (Loan, to Rangers), Donny Van De Beek (Loan, to
Everton), Matej Kovar (Loan, to Burton Albion)
-MANCHESTER
CITY
Another
transfer window with little activity in the Blue half of Manchester, City
finally signed a striker in Julian Alvarez. However, the ex-River Plate man
will spend the rest of the season on loan at the River Plate. City, however,
lost young attacker Ferran Torres in a high profile move to Barcelona, and also
sent out their youngsters on loan. A solid January window for the Champions
elect.
Transfer
Window Rating: C+
Ins:
Julian Alvarez (£14.1 million, from River Plate)
Outs:
Ferran Torres (£46.7 million, to FC Barcelona), Julian
Alvarez (Loan, to River Plate), Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Loan, to Stoke City),
Tommy Doyle (Loan, to Cardiff), Finley Burns (Loan, to Swansea), James Trafford
(Loan, to Bolton), Patrick Roberts (undisclosed fee, to Sunderland), Luka Ilic
(unconfirmed), Matt Smith (undisclosed fee, to MK Dons), Cameron Gdadebo (free,
to Colchester), Sammy Robinson (free, to Port Vale), Luke Bolton (free, to
Salford)
In Photo: Manchester City's Julian Alvarez
-PARIS
SAINT-GERMAIN
Ah, how
dreams die. Touted the best transfer window of all time, PSG’s stars have flopped
massively. Sergio Ramos, Lionel Messi and Gini Wijnaldum have all been in
woeful form, and PSG’s midfield is non-existent, apart from Marco Verratti.
Even when the Italian has played, PSG have been unable to play well.
Even though PSG’s wage bill is already staggering, reinforcements in midfield
and defence were required to balance the side, but none have come. In fact, PSG
were most strongly linked with Ousmane Dembele, another winger. In this form,
we expect Real Madrid to absolutely batter the Parisians.
Transfer
Window Rating: D
Ins:
Garissone Innocent (Return from loan to Vannes), Kenny Nagera (Return from loan
to SC Bastia)
Outs: Sergio
Rico (Loan, to RCD Mallorca), Kenny Nagera (Loan, to US Avranches), Rafinha
(Loan, to Real Sociedad), Teddy Alloh (Loan, to KAS Eupen)
-Real
Madrid
A quiet
window from Los Blancos, as they prepare to face PSG in the UEFA Champions
League. No immediate reinforcements were required, however, fans would have
liked an influx of young blood, especially in midfield. The arrival of Kylian
Mbappe for free in the summer is basically set in stone, while Antonio Rudiger
is another who will likely join Los Blancos for free in the summer. A solid
window for the Madrid side, who are favourites to win La Liga.
Transfer
Window Rating: B
Ins: No
players were signed
Outs: No players were sold
Sources:
www.transfermarkt.com
www.football.london
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