10 Deals That Would Make Sense in Final Week of January Transfer Window
We're into the final week of the January transfer window, and you just get the feeling that more than a handful of big deals are on the verge of being completed.
In this tight Premier League season, the addition of one or two new signings could make all the difference to each team's respective goals, with a clever signing helping them either score more goals or keep them out at the other end.
What are the deals that would make the most sense for Premier League clubs, though?
Here are 10 that would work.
Wilfried Bony to Swansea City
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It just isn’t working out for Wilfried Bony at Manchester City, with the summer additions of Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling and the rise of Kelechi Iheanacho ensuring that Manuel Pellegrini has been able to develop a different style to the one the Ivorian was used to at former club Swansea City, where he left last January in the biggest deal of that transfer window.
These days Swansea are struggling, and bringing Bony back—perhaps on loan—would give them more of a presence up front and more of a consistent goal-getter than the hit-and-miss Bafetimbi Gomis.
Indeed, if Bony could return to South Wales and help keep the Swans up, then his status as a Swans legend would be secured.
Shane Long to Everton
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Having lost Steven Naismith to Norwich City—somewhat reluctantly, you might imagine—Everton boss Roberto Martinez could do with a quick, scurrying forward to complement the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Gerard Deulofeu and Ross Barkley for the remainder of the season as the Blues bid to set up camp in the top half of the table.
Shane Long—although somewhat spuriously linked with Liverpool by the likes of Metro—would fit that bill perfectly, and the Republic of Ireland international could be persuaded to join from Southampton following Saints’ purchase of Charlie Austin from Queens Park Rangers.
Perhaps Long, formerly of Reading, West Bromwich Albion and Hull City, would like more guaranteed first-team football elsewhere, but the move would surely make sense for Everton.
Saido Berahino to Tottenham Hotspur
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Things seem to have gone beyond the point of no return for Saido Berahino at West Bromwich Albion, where his lack of playing time—seemingly due to a bad attitude—has completely eroded the memory of his promising performances in last season’s breakthrough campaign.
The young forward needs a new challenge and a new environment, and with Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino seemingly a long-term admirer of the Englishman, the idea of bringing him in to occasionally partner Harry Kane in attack looks all the more tempting for a Spurs side still challenging on three fronts this season.
Berahino might not convince all of the people all of the time, but if given a chance, he might just surprise a few people.
Alex Teixeira to Liverpool
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It is a move that almost came out of nowhere to hit the headlines on Thursday morning, with BBC Sport's Phil McNulty among those to report it, but the more and more you think about Alex Teixeira’s potential transfer to Liverpool, the more it seems to make sense.
The Reds have struggled to score goals all season, and with the Christian Benteke experiment seemingly doomed to failure, the idea of Jurgen Klopp fielding an all-Brazilian, all-mobile front three of Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Teixeira is one that will be getting Reds fans salivating with delight.
Teixeira has scored 22 goals in 15 league appearances for Shakhtar Donetsk this season, and even if he can just hit double figures in the remainder of this campaign, he’s sure to transform Liverpool’s fortunes.
Andros Townsend to Southampton
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With Sadio Mane seemingly having his eye on a move away from the south coast in the summer, and Dusan Tadic proving somewhat inconsistent, would it not make sense for Southampton boss Ronald Koeman to step in and save Andros Townsend from what has become something of a footballing nightmare at Tottenham Hotspur?
Townsend’s somewhat direct approach would be a benefit to a Saints side that can be guilty of overplaying at times, and if they could secure the England international, it would make for a very good window following the earlier arrival of Charlie Austin.
Townsend has also been linked with a move to Newcastle, as reported by Ed Aarons of the Guardian, but Southampton’s greater security and the fact that he could stay down south might tip things in the balance of Koeman’s men.
Patrick Bamford to Norwich City
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His loan spell at Crystal Palace in the first half of the season didn’t go to plan at all as he hardly played at all, but with opportunities at Chelsea still limited, could the promising young English forward Patrick Bamford do a job at one of the relegation strugglers in the second half of the campaign?
The likes of Dieumerci Mbokani and Cameron Jerome have failed to consistently find the net for the Canaries this season as they’ve battled against relegation, and although Alex Neil has already brought in Steven Naismith to help with his side’s goalscoring problems, perhaps the addition of Bamford—who excelled on loan in the Championship with Middlesbrough last season—would give him a greater cutting edge.
Ezequiel Lavezzi to Chelsea
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The move for Pedro simply hasn’t worked out, and although Alexandre Pato looks more likely to arrive, as reported by Craig Hope of the Daily Mail, would it not be better for Chelsea to turn to the Paris Saint-Germain and Argentina stalwart Ezequiel Lavezzi to help turn their season around?
Lavezzi still maintains plenty of energy and has got used to life on the bench in the French capital as he’s watched Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani thrive.
The main concern with Pato would be that he couldn’t adapt to the physical nature of the European game, but Lavezzi has now experienced it in both Italy and France, with England the logical next step for a player who probably has just one big move left in him.
Papiss Cisse to Crystal Palace
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Crystal Palace are in dire need of a goalscorer as their season threatens to peter out, and so perhaps Alan Pardew could turn to a man who thrived under his stewardship when they worked together at Newcastle United.
Papiss Cisse has had his injury problems this season, but he also seems to have fallen down the pecking order on Tyneside as Steve McClaren has put his trust in Ayoze Perez and Aleksandar Mitrovic.
If Cisse could reprise his best form at Selhurst Park, then he would doubtless become a huge hit under Pardew again, with the Senegalese a prolific forward when he’s at his best—something the new Palace manager was often able to coax out of him.
Edinson Cavani to Manchester United
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Manchester United fans need a forward they can all get behind and see as a figurehead, and they seem to have lost confidence in Wayne Rooney’s ability to do that.
It would be a huge long shot given Paris Saint-Germain’s obligations in the Champions League, but if United could prise Edinson Cavani from the French capital, that would represent a huge coup and give Louis van Gaal a potential present to pass on to whoever takes the Old Trafford hotseat in the summer.
The Uruguayan needs a change of scenery and would thrive in England, paving the way for PSG to perhaps make a move for Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer.
Simone Zaza to Leicester City
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This one has been completely pulled out of thin air, but with Jamie Vardy’s goals having dried up and given that Claudio Ranieri possesses a great knowledge of Italian football, how about a loan move for Juventus’ Simone Zaza to help out with Leicester’s unlikely Premier League title bid?
Foxes forward Andrej Kramaric has joined Hoffenheim on loan to create a vacancy in the Leicester squad, and Ranieri might just feel some more new blood could help inspire his side as they bid to achieve what seemed to be the impossible.
Zaza would doubtless welcome some more game time ahead of Euro 2016, and although a move to England would be a gamble, it might be a gamble worth taking.
