Rickie Lambert and 20 Players Who Will Regret Not Leaving PL Clubs in January
While a quiet January transfer window may be encouraging news for critics of mid-season Premier League business, a lack of activity sees a number of players remain at clubs when perhaps they should have moved.
For one reason or another, the first-team prospects of many players are hampered, and the January window represents an opportunity to seek more a promising situation.
But many stuck with their clubs, for better or worse.
With Liverpool's Rickie Lambert a feature midway through our list, here is every Premier League club's player who may regret not moving in the January transfer window.
Arsenal: Emiliano Martinez
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Earlier this season, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger dismissed speculation linking him with a move for Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, with James Benge of the London Evening Standard relaying his words.
"We have three goalkeepers who for me are top class and there is a big competition going on," Wenger claimed. "I have no doubt we have the needed quality."
These goalkeepers stand as Wojciech Szczesny, David Ospina and Emiliano Martinez.
However, while having three "top class" goalkeepers is a comfortable position for Wenger, to be in Martinez's situation, as a 22-year-old third choice, must not be the most encouraging.
Martinez kept three clean sheets in three starts when deployed in the Arsenal goal towards the end of 2014 but, now behind both Szcezesny and Ospina once more, may regret sticking around.
Aston Villa: Fabian Delph
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Aston Villa secured what was arguably their ideal January transfer deal when Fabian Delph signed a new four-and-a-half year contract, as reported by the club's official website.
Delph's commitment represents a huge boost for a club that is struggling in a relegation battle this season, but for the midfielder himself, this may have been a misguided move—Delph may have tied himself to a sinking ship.
Villa's lack of transfer activity in January, with the signings of Carles Gil and Scott Sinclair the only deals secured by manager Paul Lambert, could well limit their chances of survival this season.
Delph could have moved to a stable club in January and saved himself the hassle.
Burnley: Ross Wallace
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Curling a remarkable stoppage-time free-kick over the Leicester City wall and into Kasper Schmeichel's net announced Ross Wallace once more to the Premier League stage, but despite these heroics, the midfielder has continued a lowly backup role at Burnley this season.
Wallace has made 10 appearances in the league in 2014/15, with just one coming as a starter.
January represented an opportunity for Wallace to look elsewhere, as his chances of breaking into Sean Dyche's first team look slim.
Chelsea: Petr Cech
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Petr Cech was one of the most hotly debated possible transfer targets in the January window, as the Chelsea veteran has seen his first-team place usurped by younger model Thibaut Courtois this season.
Cech has made just four Premier League appearances so far this season and, at 32, needs to be playing regularly.
The likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Real Madrid have all been mentioned as possible destinations for the goalkeeper, but Cech has so far opted to remain at Stamford Bridge as Courtois' backup.
But another half-season behind the 22-year-old will surely only serve to frustrate Cech.
Crystal Palace: Wayne Hennessey
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Another backup goalkeeper now, and Crystal Palace stopper Wayne Hennessey is another player whose stock can only fall this term, with another half-season behind first-choice selection Julian Speroni looking likely.
Despite a managerial takeover, Hennessey has so far failed to make an impact on the Palace first team, with new boss Alan Pardew preferring Speroni—much like his predecessor, Neil Warnock.
Hennessey, a comfortable low-level Premier League goalkeeper, may regret not seeking a January move.
Everton: Kevin Mirallas
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After the furore over his missed penalty in Everton's 0-0 draw at home to West Bromwich Albion, Kevin Mirallas looked close to leaving the Goodison Park outfit in January.
Whether his decision to assume spot-kick duties ahead of regular taker Leighton Baines that night was a means of engineering a move away from Everton or expressing his determination to improve their form remains to be seen.
But Ian Herbert of The Independent confirmed interest elsewhere: "With an inquiry about [Mirallas] from Tottenham Hotspur already declined by Everton in the transfer window...Mirallas perceives his last big move as a chance to earn a lucrative contract."
If Everton's poor form continues this season, Mirallas' transfer options—which also reportedly included Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund—may diminish.
A January move may have been the perfect time for Mirallas to move on.
Hull City: Yannick Sagbo
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Hull City manager Steve Bruce was in desperate search for attacking reinforcements on deadline day, and striker Yannick Sagbo definitely did not seem to represent a viable option.
Sagbo, who joined the club from Ligue 1 side Evian in 2013, has made just three substitute appearances this season.
With Dame N'Doye joining from Lokomotiv Moscow at the end of the January window, Sagbo will only see his chances decrease and will surely regret not looking for a move from the club.
Leicester City: Chris Wood
8 of 20
After scoring in Leicester City's opening-day draw with Everton, the future looked bright for striker Chris Wood.
However, with just seven Premier League appearances with the Foxes to his name this season, and the big-money January arrival of Andrej Kramaric to contend with alongside summer signing Leonardo Ulloa, Wood looked set for a January move.
Nothing materialised, and Wood currently remains on the Leicester books.
At 23 years old, Wood is at a crucial stage in his development, and a January move would have aided his progress. At Leicester, the striker is likely to stagnate.
Liverpool: Rickie Lambert
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Lambert faced an important decision on deadline day when Villa offered Liverpool £5 million for his services, according John Percy of The Telegraph.
Villa are decidedly lacking in terms of attacking options, with Libor Kozak just returning from long-term injury and Christian Benteke, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann all struggling for form, and Lambert could have looked forward to the regular first-team football he has been starved of on Merseyside.
Leave his boyhood club in search of game time, or remain settled in a backup role at Liverpool? Lambert's choice was incredibly important for many reasons, but the striker decided to stay.
With Daniel Sturridge now returning from injury, Lambert's options will be limited even further—should he have opted for the move to Villa?
Manchester City: Stevan Jovetic
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With the big-money arrival of Wilfried Bony at Manchester City in January, one of regular rotational strikers Stevan Jovetic and Edin Dzeko looked likely to leave the club in search of first-team football.
Jovetic was linked, by John Richardson of the Express, with a move to Serie A giants Juventus, and the striker would likely have received more first-team opportunities in Turin.
Mike Keegan of MailOnline even suggests that one of the pair looks set to be replaced by Bony in City's 21-man Champions League squad in 2015.
Nevertheless, Jovetic remains in Manchester but could regret this as the season progresses.
Manchester United: Adnan Januzaj
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Promising Manchester United midfielder Adnan Januzaj was heavily linked with a loan move in January, with Everton reportedly leading the charge.
However, Chris Wheeler and Mike Keegan of MailOnline reported on deadline day how the 19-year-old preferred "to stay and fight for his place at Old Trafford."
This comes despite a lack of first-team opportunities this season, and the midfielder's belief, according to Jamie Jackson of the Guardian, that "[Louis van Gaal's] system can make it more difficult for me to play."
Januzaj's lack of prospects under Van Gaal this season may hamper his progress, and a developmental loan would have been a wise move.
Newcastle United: Papiss Cisse
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Newcastle United can be fairly happy with their outgoing transfer business in the January window, with several players leaving on loan moves on deadline day, including Davide Santon, Haris Vuckic and Shane Ferguson.
Each of these players faced minimal game time under current interim manager John Carver, and their respective temporary moves will benefit their progress.
Another player who is experiencing a marginalisation at Newcastle this season is striker Papiss Cisse.
Cisse has made just one appearance in the Premier League under Carver so far, although fitness issues have contributed to this.
But, with Ayoze Perez preferred as Newcastle's striker, Cisse may regret not pushing for a move to a club that would offer him more than an impact role.
Queens Park Rangers: Adel Taarabt
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Adel Taarabt's spell at Queens Park Rangers has been perpetually fraught, with the enigmatic attacking midfielder consistently marginalised at Loftus Road.
A successful spell on loan with AC Milan last season showcased Taarabt's talents when nurtured, and the 25-year-old was interested in a return to the more languid climes of Serie A in January, according to Simon Jones for MailOnline.
Taarabt claimed: "I’ve always said I want a change of scenery, and I repeat that. There’s been contact with some Italian clubs, let’s see."
With no resulting move, Taarabt remains a shrinking figure at QPR.
Although Harry Redknapp's resignation may offer redemption for the midfielder, precedent suggests Taarabt will rue not reaching success in engineering a move abroad in January.
Southampton: Emmanuel Mayuka
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Southampton's success this season under new manager Ronald Koeman has been founded on a small, tight-knit squad, with seven players making over 20 league starts so far.
As a result of this, the likes of Emmanuel Mayuka remain on the periphery, with the striker playing just 49 minutes in the Premier League in 2014/15.
The Zambia striker, who was released from the Southampton squad early for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, according to Lusaka Times, looked likely to leave the Saints this January.
Staying under Koeman's charge, however, Mayuka is likely to be continually frustrated at St. Mary's.
Stoke City: Charlie Adam
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With Stoke City manager Mark Hughes typically preferring a solid midfield partnership of Glenn Whelan and Steven N'Zonzi this season, playmaker Charlie Adam has seen his game time limited.
Adam has made just five league starts and a further 11 substitute appearances, amounting to just 583 minutes overall or 36 minutes per game.
Linked with a move to compatriot David Moyes' Real Sociedad, Adam told The Stoke Sentinel: "I would love the experience of playing abroad because it's certainly something different."
Joining Moyes in La Liga would have been an attractive prospect, with Sociedad's squad decidely light.
However, Adam concluded that "I am happy to be here at Stoke," but the midfielder may regret turning down any potential opportunities if he continues his role on the Potters' bench this season.
Sunderland: Emanuele Giaccherini
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Moving to Sunderland from Juventus in a £6.5 million deal in 2013, Emanuele Giaccherini surprised many with his choice of destination when leaving Turin.
Even more surprising, Giaccherini has made just seven Premier League appearances under Gus Poyet this season, heralding three draws and four losses—the midfielder's presence coincides cruelly with Sunderland's poor form.
Undoubtedly a considerable, cultured talent, Giaccherini simply jars with the Black Cats' playing style, and a move back to Serie A this January would likely have seen his opportunities increase once more.
The 29-year-old stuck with Poyet, however, and could regret this as the rest of 2014/15 unfolds.
Swansea City: Kyle Bartley
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After leaving Arsenal for Swansea City, Kyle Bartley would have been forgiven for assuming he would receive more first-team opportunities at his new club.
This has not transpired, however, and Bartley has made just 10 Premier League appearances in three seasons for the Swans and is behind the likes of Ashley Williams and Federico Fernandez at centre-back.
January could have presented the perfect opportunity for Bartley to move to a more suitable squad.
Impressing in a 2013/14 loan spell with Birmingham City in the Championship, perhaps a more promising environment for Bartley would have been another lower-tier club, but the defender remains on the periphery at the Liberty Stadium at present.
Tottenham Hotspur: Paulinho
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After a prominent role at Spurs under former manager Andre Villas-Boas, midfielder Paulinho has been comparatively marginalised by respective successors Tim Sherwood and Mauricio Pochettino, making just one start in the Premier League under the latter this season.
The London Evening Standard reported January interest from Valencia, Sevilla, Juventus, Inter, Milan and Fiorentina, suggesting that this lack of game time was not hampering his chances of a move.
Tom Collomosse wrote: "Paulinho is seeking clarification on his Tottenham future after becoming disillusioned at a lack of playing time."
But no deal appeared, and Paulinho remains at White Hart Lane.
Seemingly unlikely to break into Pochettino's side this season, Paulinho may regret not leaving Spurs in the January transfer window.
West Bromwich Albion: Graham Dorrans
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Graham Dorrans, a regular feature under previous West Bromwich Albion manager Alan Irvine, is set to assume a peripheral figure under new boss Tony Pulis, after appearing for just 28 minute in the Baggies manager's first three Premier League games so far.
Furthermore, with Pulis sealing a late deal for Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher on deadline day, Dorrans will likely move even lower down the pecking order.
The midfielder will have been disappointed, then, to see his deadline-day switch to Norwich City dissolve after an Eastern Daily Press-reported swap deal involving defender Martin Olsson fell apart.
Dorrans will be hoping that suggestions, from the Mirror's John Cross, of a February loan move to Carrow Road come to fruition.
West Ham United: Carlton Cole
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Carlton Cole is reported to have lambasted manager Sam Allardyce after his deadline-day move to West Brom collapsed at the last hurdle, with Darren Lewis of the Mirror claiming he declared: "[You're] wrecking my career."
Cole was set to join Pulis' side on an 18-month deal, with assurances of the first-team football that has so eluded him since his return to West Ham United.
With just four starts in the Premier League this season, among a total of 12 appearances, the 31-year-old was rightly frustrated to see his options limited in January.
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
