5) Louis Saha- In January 2000, Louis Saha signed for Man United from Fulham for just £2 million. Though he would never really go on to be a United great, this was mainly due to injuries. When he was fit, Saha held the ball up well and scored some tremendous goals from inside and outside the box. He scored 42 goals in 124 matches and won two League titles with United.
4) Ashley Young- Ashley Young signed for Aston Villa from Watford in January 2007. Young went on to be a major player in Martin O’Neil’s Aston Villa side that challenged for fourth place. During his time at Villa, Young also became an England regular and in 2011 won a move to Manchester United.
3) Javier Mascherano- Mascherano had originally come to England with Carlos Tevez to West Ham United, though he never seemed to be able to break into the West Ham team. In 2007, Mascherano completed a move to Liverpool and, alongside Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso, created one of the best midfields in the Premier League. He continued to develop into one of the best defensive midfielders in the world and helped Liverpool to second place in the title in 2009.
2) Cristope Dugary- Few of you might remember when Dugary shocked the world and joined relegation threatened Birmingham City in January 2003. The former Barcleona and Juventus striker scored five goals in his opening five matches to help the blues out of relegation. He was named in the Premier League’s Best XI for the season and was one of the most artistic and inventive players that the league has seen. It was a really great signing for Steve Bruce and Birmingham.
1) Evra and Vidic- In a double deal in January 2007, Man United signed Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra for a total of just £12 million. Since then, the two have been fixtures in the Man United defence and often in the Premier League Best defence. They have each won four League titles, a Champions League, a Club World Cup and two League Cups as well as captaining United on numerous occasions.
Worst
5) Ricardo Quaresma- Quaresma, who had been a star performer for Portugal and had been dubbed the new Ronaldo, signed for Chelsea in January 2009 from Inter Milan. Much was expected of the bright young spark, and he was thought to be one of the best players in the world. Quaresma was in fact so disappointing that he only managed to receive 97 minutes in five games for Chelsea and was shipped back to Italy at the end of the season.
4) Jean Ali Boumsong- The French international centre defender was signed by Newcastle from Rangers for £8 million in January 2004. Boumsong became synonymous with mistakes, lapses in concentration and gaffes. It seemed that almost every time Boumsong played, a mistake would lead to a goal. He was eventually sold to the Italian Serie B.
3) Alfonso Alves- The Brazilian striker had been the top scorer in Europe the season before for Heerenveen and had scored 45 goals in his last 38 matches when he joined Middlesboro in January 2008 for nearly £13 million. Middlesboro, who very recently had gotten to the UEFA Cup final, hoped that Alves would bring them to the next level. Instead, with just four goals that season Middlesboro were relegated.
2) Fernando Torres- The Spanish striker, who was top scorer for Spain in Euro 2004, seemed like he could do no wrong at Liverpool. He was easily the most feared striker in the league, with tremendous pace and great finishing ability, but after his immense 50 million pound move to Chelsea, the striker can’t do anything right. He has lost a yard of pace and his confidence; overall, the transfer has been a miserable disaster.
1) Andy Carroll- Nobody quite knows why Kenny Dalglish and Liverpool were willing to pay £35 million for the Newcastle striker whose only real asset was his great heading ability, but the striker came to Liverpool in January 2011. Carroll not only struggled to score goals but struggled even to make basic passes and half a season later he was shipped out on loan to West Ham United.
How will this year’s January transfers fare in their new teams? Will they be a major success or a huge failure?
