The 5 best January transfers (Part 2) - Premier League

by Chris

Welcome to the fifteenth edition of the Sporting Lowdown advent calendar! This will be continued until the 24th December so any requests for my opinion will most likely be included in the 24 and in the future.

I've been extremely lazy with this blog in the past 6 days, so I need to make up 6 blogs in the next 4 days which means either double or triple headers in the next few days. But in this edition I will be recounting 5 more of the best January transfers in Premier League history.

Clint DEMPSEY
New England Revolution to Fulham

$4m in Jan 2006

At the time Fulham were a club on the up, only 4 years away from their only European final and export, but the American joined his compatriots McBride and Bocanegra at Craven Cottage whilst lingering at the bottom of the Premier League. In that 06-07 season he scored the goal against Liverpool in a 1-0 victory which secured their safety. He was an inconsistent figure in the next few seasons but he fully left his mark on Fulham and established himself as a club icon when he scored a stunning chip in a 4-1 victory over Juventus, seeing his team into a European final with giants Atletico Madrid. Although they eventually lost the match thanks to a 116th minute winner from Uruguayan hitman Diego Forlan, Dempsey and his side did a great job getting there, all the way from the Playoff rounds I may add, and without the American from October-March via a cruciate-ligament injury. He was eventually sold to Tottenham in 2012 for £6m.

Gary CAHILL

Bolton to Chelsea

£7m in Jan 2012

A solid figure in Chelsea blue for the previous 6 years, Gary Cahill, for all of Abramovich's millions, could be one of the best value-for-money signings in recent years. After leaving Bolton who were eventually relegated later that season, Cahill found himself holding the Champions League trophy aloft in Munich rather than being down in the Championship. The now-Chelsea skipper is a shoe-in for England in Russia next year, and at the age of 32 has made 58 appearances for his country. Cahill, like his predecessor Terry, has picked a habit of scoring important goals and regularly too, scoring eventual winners against Liverpool, Manchester United and a victory against Stoke which saw Chelsea lead the pack by seven at Christmas last year. 

Daniel STURRIDGE

Chelsea to Liverpool

£12m in Jan 2013

A Chelsea export this time, Sturridge arrived at Anfield and scored on his debut against Mansfield Town in the FA Cup third round, and stormed to 10 in his first 14 Premier League games for the club. His partnership with fellow January transfer Luis Suarez abolished all before them the next season, guiding Liverpool to second and being the two top scorers in the League, with 33 and 21 respectively. Injury has plagued Sturridge however, and this has undoubtedly been a hindrance to his speed and performance in recent years. He has hit 48 in 98 Premier League games, an excellent record, but his potential to succeed and become of the best in Premier League history has been dealt several serious blows by his injury record. He has been linked with loan moves away this January having fallen behind Firmino, Solanke, and Ings in the pecking order at Anfield, and his desire to be on the plane in the summer is probably going to lead to him leaving the club this January.

Patrice EVRA

Monaco to Manchester United

£7m in Jan 2006

Although nowadays a controversial figure, the Frenchman was one of the world's best in his days at Manchester United. He failed to fit in straight away however, being brought off by Alex Ferguson before half-time in a Manchester Derby debut. But with multiple league titles and a champions league medal, 8 years later, he left for Juventus as possibly Manchester United's best ever left back, playing 273 times and scoring 7 times in the League. He has since reached a champions league final with Juventus and been released from Marseille for Karate kicking a taunting fan, but he still 'loves this game'

Christophe DUGARRY

Bordeaux to Birmingham City

Loan in Jan 2003

Who? Yes, that was my question whilst researching this topic, but Dugarry was a catalyst in saving Bruce's blues. The world cup winner swooped in from Bordeaux to single-handedly keep Birmingham in the top division by scoring five in City's last 6 games. He couldn't maintain this level of performance the next season, and left for Qatar, but his success goes down as one of the greatest January signings of all time.

I hope you enjoyed this edition of the Sporting Lowdown, and there possibly will be another out tonight, and definitely a lot in the next 4-5 days!

Chris :)