Top 10 January transfers by Premier League clubs
The January transfer window is rarely ever used to haul in major targets for any club. But sometimes clubs go all out to fix broken seasons or to get a potential star available in the window from a smaller club.
And while there are loads of spectacular duds from the January transfer window (a story for another day), there have been the rare gems who have lit up the Premier League over the years.
Following are a few notables mentions that just missed out on the top 10 spots. Each one delivered high value to their team irrespective of the financial value of the transfer, but could not beat out the impact (for their respective teams, as per their aspirations) made by those in the top 10.
Notable mentions:
1) Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea to Liverpool for £13.5 million in January 2013) - Daniel Sturridge's career has been a bit of a stop-start process at every club that he has been in.
But just his stellar season with Suarez in the 2013-14 season where they almost bullied their way through to the title with one of the shoddiest defensive units that did its best to drag them down, was worth getting him a notable mention.
The £13.5 million they paid for him would have been a real steal if they had actually won the title in 2014, but irrespective it was a spectacular effort.
2) Theo Walcott (Southampton to Arsenal for £9.45 million in January 2006) - Theo Walcott is another story that reads along the same lines, albeit, an even more injury-riddled past. Walcott arrived at Arsenal with a lot of hype and he, has in spurts, delivered on a lot of that promise.
But they have always been in spurts. Every time he stays fit he does wonders for Arsenal by adding a new dynamic of speed and directness that they lack otherwise.
3) Seamus Coleman (from Sligo Rovers to Everton for £70,000 in January 2009) - Seamus Coleman would likely make one of the top positions on the list if this were a list that considered best investment to return ratio.
But irrespective of the amount paid, Seamus Coleman has been one of the best January signings of all time by forming one of the best wing back duos in the league.
Everton have often failed to meet their lofty ambitions, but never has it been due to the lack of quality or effort on the part of Baines or Coleman, who have had multiple opportunities to move to bigger clubs throughout the last few years, that they have refused.
Close misses:
Ryan Shawcross (Manchester United to Stoke City for £1.35 million in January 2008)
Asmir Begovic (Portsmouth to Stoke City for £3.5 million in January 2010)
Scott Dann (Blackburn to Crystal Palace for £1.75 million in January 2014)
Now, let's take a look at the 10 best January signings made by Premier League clubs:
#10 Mikel Arteta (Real Sociedad to Everton - £2.5 million - January 2005)
Mikel Arteta joined Everton on loan with the option to buy in the January transfer window in 2005. He played an instrumental role in taking the club to the 4th position and helping them qualify for the UEFA Champions League in his first season, finishing above more fancied sides like Liverpool and Tottenham.
His signing was made permanent in the following summer transfer window and Arteta went on to make stellar contributions to the team landing him the club's player of the season honours multiple times and also the best midfielder of the season 2005-06 ahead of Player Of The Year, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Best season for Everton - 2006/07 (9 goals and 9 assists)
Arteta hit the ground running right from the start of the season with a goal in the very first game against Watford, and kept up the pace throughout the season with a direct contribution to 18 goals.
While Everton finished 6th in the Premier League, Arteta played with the Spanish swagger that the Premier League wasn't used to. His performance was at its peak in the 3-0 win Everton pulled off against bitter rivals Liverpool, that till date remains one of the biggest wins for Everton against Liverpool.