F365's Transfer Review Part One

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*It's only the major moves we're considering here...

ARSENAL
INS: Thierry Henry (loan from New York Red Bulls), Thomas Eisfeld (£600,000 from Borussia Dortmund).
OUTS: Emmanuel Frimpong (loan to Wolves), Vito Mannone (loan to Hull), Ryo Miyaichi (loan to Bolton).
What was said? Arsene Wenger: "We lose players like Chamakh and Gervinho to the Africa Cup of Nations so hopefully, touch wood, we do not get any injuries to our strikers. But if an opportunity turns up in that department then we will buy."

Was there ever a chance Arsenal were going to buy a striker? The loan return of Thierry Henry brought a brief giddy spell, but the excitement has now fizzled out with the whooping for joy replaced by jeering for Wenger. From what we know of Thomas Eisfeld, he's a great prospect (predictably) but has already suffered one major injury in his brief career to date. Perhaps he'll be a real find, or perhaps he'll be another Amaury Bischoff. "Who?" you ask. Exactly.

January might not be a great market for transfers, but a new left-back should've been a priority. As Wenger said before the defeats to Fulham and Swansea, "'It would be stupid for us to drop points because we don't have a left back." Quite.


ASTON VILLA
INS: Enda Stevens (undisclosed from Shamrock Rovers), Robbie Keane (loan from LA Galaxy).
OUTS: Fabian Delph (loan to Leeds), Nathan Delfouneso (loan to Leicester City).
What was said? Alex McLeish: "We have to trade before we can bring new faces in, but that's not to say we definitely won't do something if no-one goes out the door so there are still possibilities."

On the face of it Villa's January business looks standard and uninspiring, but Robbie Keane has returned from stateside looking refreshed and back to his old self. The striker was chuffing awful in a similar spell at West Ham last season, but his performances for Villa have been excellent. The two goals against Wolves showed he still has an eye for goal.

Enda Stevens isn't a bad signing either. The left-back has Europa League experience with Shamrock Rovers this season and given Stephen Warnock's recent form McLeish could do with a bit of back-up in that department.

If Keane and Villa continue their current form, a top ten finish is possible.


BLACKBURN ROVERS
INS: Anthony Modeste (loan from Bordeaux), Marcus Olsson (free from Halmstads), Bradley Orr (undisc from QPR).
OUTS: Jason Roberts (nominal to Reading) Keith Andrews (undisc to West Brom).
What was said? Steve Kean: "We have spoken about new players that are going to be coming in during the window. I think in the position we are in, and we are losing bodies, it is important we are active now so that as soon as the window opens we can get some players in."

It sounded as though Steve Kean had a masterplan at the beginning of January, but surely it didn't involve the three deals Blackburn eventually completed. Apparently Anthony Modeste was regularly laughed at by his own fans in Bordeaux, which doesn't sound too nice or indeed hopeful for Rovers. The Marcus Olsson deal reminds us of a 5-a-side captain trying to make-up numbers. Picture the scene at the training ground...

Kean: "So boys, do you know anyone else we can call?"
Martin Olsson: "Umm, I've got a brother."
Kean: "Ideal. We'll give him a ring."

As for Bradley Orr, signing an unwanted right-back from your relegation rivals (who happen to be splashing the cash) must feel like being kicked in the nuts by a mule. Kean is hardly at fault for Blackburn's woes though; it was Venky's who talked of Ronaldinho and Beckham and it's Venky's who have failed to deliver yet again, with Rovers set to fight for their dear lives.


BOLTON WANDERERS
INS: Tim Ream (£2.5million from New York Red Bulls), Ryo Miyaichi (loan from Arsenal), Marvin Sordell (£3.5million from Watford).
OUTS: Gary Cahill (£7million to Chelsea).
What was said? Owen Coyle: "If you don't have money, then there are ways and means of improving your team."

...Or you could just sell your best defender so that you do have money to spend. The sale of Cahill might be a risk, with Bolton embroiled in a relegation battle, but taking £7million now or nothing in the summer was a tough predicament.

It's been quite an awful window for Wanderers though. Interest in Nedum Onouha failed to come to anything, a deadline-day bid for Wilfried Zaha was rejected and Josh McEachran chose Swansea ahead of a move to the Trotters. The signings Coyle did manage to make smack of desperation. Ream and Sordell are unproven and will need time to settle (that Bolton don't have), while Miyaichi looks a talent but isn't what they need for a relegation scrap.


CHELSEA
INS: Gary Cahill (£7million from Bolton), Kevin de Bruyne (£7m from Genk), Patrick Bamford (£1.5million from Nottingham Forest).
OUTS: Nicolas Anelka (free to Shanghai Shenhua), Gael Kakuta (loan to Dijon), Josh McEachran (loan to Swansea), Patrick van Aanholt (loan to Vitesse Arnhem), Alex (£4.5million to PSG), Kevin de Bruyne (loan to Genk).
What's been said? Andre Villas-Boas: "We are aware of Gary's contractual situation. He's an interesting player for the club."

He might be interesting to you Andre, but the rest of us found the Gary Cahill saga to be one of the most boring things imaginable. Cahill isn't a bad acquisition, but would you really have him in your team instead of Alex? The Blues have frequently looked ropey at the back and it was a surprise the Brazilian was never called upon.

Along with Cahill, Chelsea have continued their policy of buying for the future with the signings of De Bruyne and Bamford. De Bruyne will certainly add quality in the long-term, but Chelsea perhaps needed more in the present, with Liverpool and Arsenal hot on their tails for the final Champions League spot. Unless Fernando Torres starts scoring soon, letting Nicolas Anelka leave halfway through the season may look foolish.


EVERTON
INS: Landon Donovan (loan from LA Galaxy), Darron Gibson (undisclosed from Manchester United), Nikica Jelavic (£5.5million from Rangers), Steven Pienaar (loan from Tottenham)
OUTS: Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (£5million to Spartak Moscow), Louis Saha (nominal to Tottenham).
What's been said? David Moyes: "I am trying to get a centre-forward in and that would certainly lift the mood. We know that we are a little bit short and if we could get someone in it would help us, if we can't then we will keep going."

Consider the mood lifted, David. Everton can claim to be the biggest winners of the window, shipping out wee Bily (who won't be a great loss) and bringing in four first-teamers. Jelavic in particular was a great piece of business for a mid-table team, with the club apparently taking advantage of the £1.5million Rangers owed them from the Michael Ball deal all the way back in 2001.

Donovan and Gibson beef up the squad, while Steven Pienaar added a pinch of spice at the eleventh hour - kudos to Kenwright for that. To cap it all off, they only went and beat the bloody league leaders as well. It looks as if Everton's season has just been given a firm kick up the backside.


FULHAM
INS: Jack Grimmer (£200,000 from Aberdeen), Lasse Vigen Christensen (undisclosed from FC Midtjylland), Ryan Williams (undisc from Portsmouth), Pavel Pogrebnyak (undiscl. from Stuttgart).
OUTS: Bobby Zamora (£5million to QPR).
What was said? Martin Jol: "That is just paper talk. Dimitar Berbatov is at Man United and is quite happy. And if he moves I don't think it will be possible for our club to get him."

Martin certainly had a fancy for the Berb, but it was unlikely Fulham were ever going to bring in anyone of that quality. Pogrebnyak has only one goal in 14 Bundesliga appearances this season, so perhaps it would have been better to keep hold of Bobby Zamora. There's a chance the club's hand was forced with that one, though.

The rest of Fulham's 'ins' are ones for the future, so it's a case of continuing as they are and hoping that the sale of Zamora won't prove to be a mistake.


LIVERPOOL
INS: Jordan Ibe (undisclosed from Wycombe), Danny Ward (£100,000 from Wrexham).
OUTS: Danny Wilson (loan to Blackpool)
What was said? Kenny Dalglish: "We have the option to add if we want to, but we also have another option that we don't have to."

Unsurprisingly, Liverpool were a lot quieter than last year. After having their fingers burnt by the Carroll deal, the Anfield outfit refrained from splurging their dollar on this occasion. The squad is fairly balanced as it is, and there weren't many players available that could have improved the first-team.

Andy Carroll's form has improved of late and with Suarez's return imminent, Kenny must be confident that his squad can find the final push for fourth place.


MANCHESTER CITY
INS: David Pizarro (loan from Roma).
OUTS: Nedum Onuoha (£2.5m to QPR), Ben Mee (undisc. to Burnley), Wayne Bridge (loan to Sunderland).
What was said? Roberto Mancini: "We want to sell first and after that we may have time to buy someone if it's possible. There are players that could be good for us but every time we want to buy a player their clubs ask for lots of money."

There have been busier transfer windows for Man City. Mancini went to Rome with a list that had one name on it - Daniele De Rossi - and yet somehow he came back with 32-year-old David Pizarro on loan. We're not sure what went wrong, but it looks as though Sheikh Mansour has curbed the rattle 'n' roll for the time being.

Given the defensive crisis (yes, Stefan Savic is a crisis) in recent weeks, it seems odd to let Nedum Onuoha, who's both solid and versatile, leave for pittance without a replacement. Cracks are starting to appear and fans must be hoping for the speedy and safe return of Yaya Toure. Will Mancini say he's 'like a new signing'?


MANCHESTER UNITED
INS: Paul Scholes (unattached).
OUTS: Federico Macheda (loan to QPR), Darron Gibson (undisclosed to Everton), Mame Biram Diouf (undisc to Hannover), Ravel Morrison (£800,000 to West Ham).
What was said? Sir Alex Ferguson: "I am perfectly happy with the strength of our squad in terms of depth, quality and age range. I will not be swayed by the endless tweets and blogs urging the club to get busy in the transfer market next month."

The best piece of business for United was the sale of Darron Gibson. His winning goal for Everton against City saw the Champions regain points parity at the top, coming at a time when they're in form while City are slipping. United have regained momentum, in part down to the return of passing maestro Paul Scholes, and perhaps the lack of new signings will help to maintain harmony in the squad at this crucial stage.

Plenty of United fans will be disappointed at Ravel Morrison's departure, but good players don't leave the club unless something isn't right. It's a shame that the prodigious talent never fulfilled his potential at Old Trafford; maybe a cuddle from Big Sam is just what he needs.

Matthew Stanger - he's on Twitter