5 of the best free transfers of the January window
The January transfer window this season is still a week away from shutting and has proved to be a thrilling window thus far. The final week of the window will be hectic for many clubs across the world as they try to finalize deals.
As clubs push for deals for the second half of the season and with a few days to go, the intensity of the window could spiral to new heights. Numerous deals hang in the balance going into the final week of the window, as managers and CEO's scramble to help their clubs with quality players for the rest of the season.
Here we take a look at five of the best free transfers negotiated by clubs during the January transfer window.
#5 Manuel Iturra (Malaga)
Former Chilean central defensive midfielder, Manuel Iturra recently completed his move from Necaxa to Malaga in the Spanish top flight. The player began his career with Universidad Chile in 2003 and spent his first seven professional years as a player with the club. In 2012, Iturra made the move from South America to Spain to join Real Murcia in Segunda Division.
A year later, he joined Malaga for the first time in his career and then switched to join Granada, where he spent two seasons. Italian Serie A outfit, Udinese signed Iturra to dictate the game at a pace he sets with his distribution skill in 2015 and the Chilean spent a season at the club before the player joined Mexican side Necaxa for a year.
The move to Malaga comes at a crucial time for the club as they languish at bottom of the table and are odds-on favourites to get relegated. The strong presence of a former player like Iturra could bring about a change in fortune for the club with stability in the middle of the field.