The January transfer window is never the optimum time to buy. Desperate clubs take desperate measures, either paying over-the-odds or taking whatever is available. Consequently, the success rate is low.
These five however, well these five were very much the exception to the rule.
Virgil Van Dijk (Southampton to Liverpool)
The previous summer, Liverpool snared Mo Salah, and brought in Andy Robertson for a bargain £10m.
Now what was needed, as Jurgen Klopp constructed a side capable of challenging for silverware, was a leader, a defensive keystone to all they were building.
Big Virg is BOSS. 👊
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 4, 2019
Another massive performance from @VirgilvDijk against @SpursOfficial. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/lKLkTtZOxJ
He arrived in the towering form of Van Dijk, who Liverpool had already made serious overtures to signing the August before, prompting the player to put in a transfer request and even briefly, go on strike.
On January 1st a then world record fee for a defender brought the saga to an end and the Reds’ Premier League odds tumbled at a stroke.
Luis Suarez (Ajax to Liverpool)
With this being the second highly successful mid-season coup for the Merseyside giants it may be tempting to believe they have January transfers nailed.
Let’s not forget therefore that on the same day of the Uruguayan’s unveiling, Liverpool also splashed out £35m for Andy Carroll.
El Pistolero was considered something of a risk, what with his penchant for controversy and numerous disciplinary issues from his time in Holland. His prolificacy in front of goal however was never in doubt.
An Anfield, the striker went up a level, becoming arguably the most phenomenally impactful player in the Premier League since Thierry Henry. 120 goal contributions from 110 top-flight appearances says it all.
Nemanja Vidic (Spartak Moscow to Manchester United)
A failsafe football prediction is that at least one top-flight side will sign a centre-back this month who goes on to vastly improve their circumstances through to May.
That’s because, for whatever reason, it is far easier to dislodge a top-class defender from his club halfway through a campaign than securing a fit and firing forward.
On this day in 2005, Man United spent £7 million on a defender called Nemanja Vidic:
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) December 25, 2022
Premier League: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
League Cup: 🏆🏆🏆
Club World Cup: 🏆
Champions League: 🏆
What a gift 🎁 pic.twitter.com/ZSqF9PFSKk
A more comprehensive list of successful January signings would be heavily populated by stoppers, with Branislav Ivanovic and Gary Cahill – both to Chelsea – coming to mind, as well as Aymeric Laporte’s switch to Manchester City. There’s also the aforementioned Van Dijk.
And Vidic would surely have to be included. A four-time stalwart of the PFA Team of the Year, and a Champions League-winning rock, how could he not?
Jermain Defoe (Toronto to Sunderland)
The Black Cats were in the relegation doldrums in 2014/15 and seemed fated to drop when they took a gamble and brought back the well-seasoned Defoe to English football, aged 33.
Their gamble paid off handsomely.
Among the former England international’s priceless quartet of goals was a sensational long-range volley that decided a Tyne-Wear derby while a late decider at Goodison, with a handful of fixtures left, lifted them out of the bottom three.
It was a lowly fee that concluded the deal. Treble it and it would still represent a steal.
Bruno Fernandes (Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United)
In his opening year-and-a-half at Old Trafford, the Portuguese midfielder racked up an astonishing 46 direct goal involvements and his influence prevails, presently a pivotal figure in Erik Ten Hag’s plans.
Just me and a Mancunian celebrating winning in the derby 😁🔴 pic.twitter.com/rkEj8q18Zd
— Bruno Fernandes (@B_Fernandes8) January 14, 2023
For far too long, a club of United’s stature went without a difference-maker of substantial quality, a player capable of navigating a path through low-blocks and getting proverbial bums off seats.
Courtesy of a £67m swoop mid-season in 2020, they finally had one.
FIRST PUBLISHED: 18th January 2023
