English Premier League January Sales: Top 10 Transfers

The January sales are different for everyone—some love the bargains, taking advantage of the sales—while others (the spoiled children or Manchester City) often have money to burn after the festive period and will quite literally, spend it on anything.

I am very much a mix of the two and love having money to burn but need to be “tempted” with a cheeky discount.

Now that you know how the writer spends his cash, let us look at how the Barclays Premier League spent theirs. Who spent big, who got a bargain and who got the diamond in the rough?

Top January Sales

Jimmy Bullard was a top flight sensation after he arrived with Wigan Athletic a few years back and now after a successful spell with Fulham, the “near” England international has joined Hull City in a move that will do little for his England chances but it is quite a coup for Hull.

£5 million for a 29-year-old who may be capable of keeping the Tigers up beyond “second season syndrome” is a great piece of business.

Hull City weren’t finished there and brought in Manchester United’s 25-year-old Angolan, Manucho, on loan until the end of the season. The Angolan is a classy player who, although unproven at this level, has a good pedigree.

The striker was named in the 2008 African Nations Cup team of the tournament but will spend the rest of the season playing for his United future.

Will he Manucho to impress?

A lot has been written about Manchester City’s bid for the Brazilian, Kaka, and I myself have written quite a bit about my disbelief at signing Craig Bellamy but in Nigel De Jong, they have signed a quality no nonsense midfielder.

The £14 million price tag aside, expect British football to be pretty comfortable for the Ajax schooled Dutch international.

James Beattie has already scored twice since his £3.5 million return to the top flight—proving he still has what it takes. Stoke City will need another couple, if they don’t want to be playing Championship football again next season though.

He proves that no matter what your situation, train hard, play well and you’ll get your rewards.

And no one proves that theory more than Emile Heskey.

Martin O’Neill is certainly a shrewd operator and the decision to sign Heskey has already earned his side three points and a vital three points at that. Heskey will add vital experience to a young side and O’Neill will be hoping the £3.5 million turns into £20 million Champions League smackers.

Columbia’s Hugo Rodallega made his Wigan Athletic debut during their hard fought draw against Liverpool and made quite the impression by crashing a long range free kick against Pepe Reina’s crossbar. I for one, want to see a lot more of this fella.

One fellow we will be seeing a lot less of—not that we saw much of England’s greatest super sub very often—is Matt Derbyshire. The striker has joined Greek giants Olympiakos on loan for the rest of the season.

It is great to see English players having a go on the continent—that reason alone is why he makes this story.

Some players just have “a manager” and El Hadji Diouf’s is “Big Sam” Allardyce. The Senegal international is a player most people have very little time for but he has done the business for Sam before and if anyone can get the best out of him, it is the new Blackburn manager.

If a player ever “truly” deserved to be rewarded for their average career then it would be Shay Given. The Irish international must have holes in him as he has taken so many shots for Newcastle United over the last decade.

Oh and don’t forget what he has won during those 10 years, wait, it would be impossible to forget nothing.

So a bumper pay day and perhaps a chance of “finally” winning something at Manchester City. Still behind a leaky defence though, he must like being kept busy.

Chelsea needed a boost after losing out 2-0 to title rivals Liverpool on Sunday before transfer deadline day and in Ricardo Quaresma, the Stamford Bridge side have that lift.

The Portuguese winger joins on loan from Inter Milan where he had been frozen out by Jose Mourinho and will hopefully be keen to prove himself at his bosses former stomping ground.

Now that you have seen my list of top ten “January Sales”, all we have to do, is decide which “buy” will prove best?

With Heskey and Beattie already having earned their new sides three points, I’m not going to look any further as top flight football next season for Stoke would prove Tony Pulis’ signing most worthwhile but equally—Champions League football at Villa Park would tip the hat towards a certain Irishman.