Top Five January Signings So Far

With the Premier League season now at the halfway stage and the hectic Christmas schedule having a big impact at both ends of the league table, the January transfer window offers sides the perfect opportunity to add to their sides.

Whether it be a striker for some much-needed goals or someone to tighten up the defence in order to push on in the second half of the season, the January window is always a busy one.

In today’s blog we will review the top 5 January signings so far and provide an insight as to what to expect from each player.

5.    Jason PUNCHEON  –  Crystal Palace > Huddersfield (loan)

Bottom of the table Huddersfield are currently 8 points adrift from safety and look certain to return to the Championship after just two seasons. The Yorkshiremen have struggled to pick up results so far this season and have since parted company with former manager David Wagner. Before his departure however, Wagner did manage to secure the loan signing of midfielder Puncheon from rivals Crystal Palace until the end of the season. Puncheon, 32, will help to bring in some much-needed premier league experience for this season’s strugglers, with the Englishman set for his 200th top flight appearance in the coming weeks. The Terriers will be hopeful that Puncheon can add goals and assists from midfield for the league’s lowest scorers in what already appears to be a mammoth task to survive the drop.

4.    Nathaniel CLYNE  –  Liverpool > Bournemouth (loan)

Bournemouth have enjoyed a mixed season so far under manager Eddie Howe. The Cherries got off to a flyer with an impressive run of results early in the season leaving them in a lofty position in the league. However, in recent months results have taken a turn and Bournemouth have slowly began sliding down the table, coinciding with regular right back and club captain Simon Francis being ruled out for up to 9 months with injury. As a result, the club have moved to bring in full-back Nathaniel Clyne from Liverpool on a loan short term deal. Clyne, an England international has struggled for game time recently due to consistent injury problems and has fallen down the pecking order at Anfield. Blessed with lightning pace, Clyne can provide a major impact at both ends of the pitch provided he can rediscover his form shown in past seasons.

3.    Ryan BABEL – Besiktas > Fulham (loan)

Another one of this season’s strugglers, Fulham, have signed former Liverpool winger Ryan Babel from Turkish side Besiktas. Dutch international Babel, 32, has signed for Claudio Ranieri’s side on a temporary deal until the end of the season. No stranger to the Premier League following a previous three-and-a-half-year spell at Anfield, Babel will be sure to excite fans with his creative flair and hope to ease the burden on striker Alexander Mitrovic to get the goals to keep the London club in the Premier League. Despite his best years probably behind him, Babel will join Fulham as a player with a good pedigree on both the club and international stage and bring some much-valued experience to what is a relatively young squad.

2.    Christian PULISIC  –  Borussia Dortmund > Chelsea (£58mil, loan back)

The first major transfer story of the 2019 January window was the announcement of US International Christian Pulisic’s move to Chelsea. The 20-year-old attacker became the most expensive American in history following the reported £58 million move and will return to Dortmund on loan for the remainder of the season. Tipped as one of the most exciting young players in the world, Pulisic’s pace, skill and eye for goal will be sure to make him a top success in England over the next few seasons, with the blues battling off competition for his signature from a number of Europe’s top clubs.

1.    Dominic SOLANKE  –  Liverpool > Bournemouth (£19mil)

In another impressive signing for Bournemouth, Solanke joins Liverpool teammate Clyne in moving to the south coast club. As mentioned previously, the Cherries recent form has dropped and with current forward Callum Wilson continually being linked with moves to a top club, Howe has has added England international Solanke to increase competition amongst his already impressive attacking options. Highly rated at both youth and senior level, Solanke has yet to be afforded a consistent run in the side during his time at Chelsea and Liverpool but is sure to get his chance to shine at Bournemouth. A technically gifted, athletic and physical player, Solanke is sure to cause plenty problems for Premier League defenders in the coming months.