January Transfer Window Deals: Ranking the Best and Worst in the Premier League
Jonathan Woo@woo_jonathanwoo
Correspondent IApril 5, 2011January Transfer Window Deals: Ranking the Best and Worst in the Premier League
It's been two months since the close of January's transfer season, and what better time than now to look back and recap the window's best and worst deals of significance.
Chelsea's bid for David Luiz paid huge dividends in the club's climb back towards the top of the Premier League, as it looks to repeat as champions of England's top flight.
At the same time, Aston Villa's decision to seek out Jean Makoun from Olympique Marseille has added little value to the club and has left Villa in dire straits to avoid relegation.
With the hopes that midseason changes would encourage positive movement in the tables, some clubs made climbs while others have fallen.
Here are the five best and the five worst moves to date in the Premiership from January's transfer window.
Starting with the worst...
Curtis Davies (left)
What Birmingham thought they were getting in the 26-year-old Curtis Davies may have been completely misjudged and/or misinterpreted.
The once-promising center back has appeared in just two Premier League fixtures for the Blues, one via the bench. Though Davies was thought to be a part of the club's maintenance of a mid-table position, Birmingham now finds itself clinging to 15th in the standings, just two points out of the relegation zone.
Instead of a defensive prospect, the club may have been better off seeking a player of the offensive school of thought. With the Blues posting just 30 goals to date—just one better than the league's worst, Wigan—the former Villa defender seems to add little to Birmingham's woeful scoring options.
Jean Makoun
As it turns out, Aston Villa's problems couldn't be solved by simply adding a quite formidable defensive midfielder in Jean Makoun.
For around a reported £4 million, the Cameroonian footballer has done little to prevent Villa's slide towards the relegation zone. Tied for third worst in goals allowed with 53, Villa is 16th in the table with hardly any answers that potentially could have them avoid the nPower Championship next season.
Makoun may prove to be a valuable asset down the road, but Villa is in desperate need of solid players in the back third. Better goal production in the front third would provide the obvious lift. In fact, Gerard Houllier needs help all the way around.
If the club can survive the season without relegation, expect significant changes going into the subsequent campaign.
Andy Carroll
No doubt that the 22-year-old England international is an incredible talent, but for the pricey tag of £35 million, one would expect immediate production given the type of goal-scoring ability he displayed with Newcastle.
Though Andy Carroll went through a short injury bite, he has come close to recording his first goal with Liverpool. A ferocious climb in the table has the Reds sniffing the fifth place Europa League qualification spot (currently occupied by Tottenham), and a top-form Carroll could certainly bring that potential to realization.
Perhaps in the future, the expensive investment will pay full dividends, but for now, Carroll is a heavy asset that continues to harbor high anticipation.
Maybe Liverpool overpaid for the youngster after securing a wealth of funds from the Fernando Torres sale, but come on now. For £20, £25 or £35, most would expect more.
Edin Dzeko
In one of the more anticipated and watched transfer sagas in January, Edin Dzeko's move to Manchester City was met with excitement and questions surrounding the club's scoring potential and combination in the final third as the Bosnian joined Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli at Eastlands.
But in eight Premier League appearances, the ultra-talented striker has yet to record his first goal for the club after being hailed as a consistent goal threat with his former club, Wolfsburg.
Much like Carroll, Dzeko's £27 million came with very high expectations. And though City's manager, Roberto Mancini, called Dzeko a player that could help win titles, the 6'4" forward has yet to make that sort of impact.
Again, like Carroll, perhaps it will take some extra time for Dzeko to find his form in a new country with a club whose roster is littered with internationals.
At most clubs, a newcomer with a price tag as hefty as Dzeko's would warrant immediate and consistent first 11 selections. Not here.
Fernando Torres
Maybe we won't witness Fernando Torres' return to immaculate form. But for £50 million, one would expect more than a mere decoy striker of sorts to open up space for the incumbent Didier Drogba and company.
Torres has yet to record a goal or an assist for Chelsea, but there is no denying that his mere presence demands respect from opposing defenses.
However, surely even Carlo Ancelotti anticipated more tangible production from the Spanish international. Despite the manager's claim to not expect Torres to find the net, a £50 million signing should be capable of finding a goal or two.
Torres said he needs time to settle, but if that is code for buying more time to find his form, Chelsea fans could be waiting a little longer.
But such a hefty price for a striker to serve more of a secondary role in the club's climb into the top four in the EPL is quite the investment.
On to the Best, Starting with...David Wheater (left)
One move that has gone somewhat under the radar was Bolton's acquisition of David Wheater from Middlesbrough.
Since the 6'5" center back made his Premier League debut as an early substitute in a 2-0 win over Everton, the 24-year-old has started every match, including three FA Cup appearances.
Though Bolton has had losing results in back-to-back league matches, the club are still in good shape for a top-half finish.
For a reported bargain price of £2.3 million, Wheater seemingly has performed beyond expectations as he has had hardly any dip in form since arriving at the Reebok.
Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez is making his mark at Anfield as Liverpool continues to climb the table.
The Argentine scored in his debut for the club as a substitute, but his ability to create for himself and his teammates will be what makes the £23 million investment worthwhile. Suarez has two goals and two assists in his six appearances in Liverpool colors.
The former Ajax man was no stranger to scoring goals in Holland's top flight, and Suarez brought his scoring touch to Merseyside.
Gone is the infatuation with Fernando Torres' continual search for form. The goal-scoring show belongs to Suarez and the in-form Reds.
Daniel Sturridge
Bolton was a definite winner during January's transfer window, and the acquisition of Daniel Sturridge on loan from Chelsea is a telling sign of potential for the Trotters for the remainder of the season.
Sturridge's bright side immediately showed at the Reebok, as he scored in his debut as a substitute. His run of good form continued, scoring in each of the next three matches.
The 21-year-old striker plays with a style that complements the more sturdy Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander.
Although the youngster hasn't found the net in the last three matches, his pace can legitimately stretch the field and open space in the final third.
With good production early on, Sturridge has shown comfort at his new club.
Darren Bent
Although Aston Villa sit 16th in the table (mostly a result of poor defending), the Darren Bent deal has proven to be a great signing.
Since Bent joined the club, he's made nine starts, scoring five times, including a double in Villa's most recent fixture, a 2-2 draw against Everton.
The 27-year-old is hardly to blame for Villa's drop in the standings. Despite the reported £24 million the club paid for Bent, his production has matched the price tag.
Villa could be due for big changes during the summer, but building around a prized asset like Bent could be a solid, long-term plan.
David Luiz
He was a heavily sought-after target through much of January, and many thought a deal for David Luiz would not be finalized. But Chelsea nabbed a footballer who may be one of the most promising young defenders in the entire world.
For €25 million, the Blues may have gotten a bargain for how productive and crucial Luiz has been in Chelsea's rise into the top four in the table.
With the club facing some injuries in the back third, the Brazilian has jumped into the starting 11 and has not missed a bit, providing solid play on defense and making his own runs into the final third. He's already scored twice for Chelsea in six league appearances after scoring just six times over five seasons with Benfica.
After being a relatively unknown asset in Portugal, Luiz has risen to prominence as a bright young star in England.