January Transfer Window: 10 Transfers That Won't Jive with Their New Clubs

The January transfer window is one of the most important periods in the season because teams have the opportunity to strengthen their sides in order to have a strong finish to their season. The last January transfer window had plenty of activity, with some big-money moves in the window, while this January has not been filled with activity, with hardly any big moves being finalized in this window. 

There were still plenty of transfers that happened, out of which some could prove to be excellent for the respective clubs.

However, some transfers might not work out for the respective clubs because of various reasons. Players who join a new club in January do have to adjust to different conditions, which could affect their form. A preseason helps the new signings to adjust to the team’s style of play and also helps them bond with their new teammates.

However, a January move means pressure on the player right from his first game, and they might not perform to their potential. For some others, it could be that they might not be right signing for the club and might struggle since their move.

This is a list on some of the players whose January transfer move might not work out for them. 

AC Milan were strongly linked with a move for Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez, but the Argentina international could not move in this January transfer window. With Milan looking to sign a striker in this window, they managed to sign Catania talented striker Maxi Lopez.

With Antonio Cassano out of action for a while, Milan signed a striker in order to have enough depth in the position, considering that every game will be important in their fascinating battle with Juventus for the Serie A title this season.

Tevez would certainly have made a huge impact to the side because of his undoubted quality and could have established himself as a starter for Milan. However, Lopez might struggle to establish himself as a top striker for Milan because there are so many excellent strikers for the club, like Robinho, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alexandre Pato, who will be ahead of him. Also, Stephan El Sharaawy has immense potential and has impressed when given the opportunity.

With so much competition for Lopez, he might not get enough games at the club.

It was perhaps a little surprising that Tottenham signed Everton’s Louis Saha in this transfer window, especially considering that Emmanuel Adebayor has been superb for them since he was signed. With Roman Pavlyuchenko departing White Hart Lane, Harry Redknapp probably signed Saha in order to provide more depth to the team.

Saha is a very decent striker who has the ability to perform at the highest level, but inconsistency and injuries have been two of the main reasons why he has not been very prolific in recent seasons.

Though it did make sense for Redknapp to add another striker in this transfer window, Saha was probably a decent choice considering that most good strikers are not available during January. However, the French striker is very likely to spend a lot of time on the bench, and he will be behind both Adebayor and Defoe, both of whom have done well this season.

The situation with Saha is quite similar to Steven Pienaar, who joined Spurs in the last January transfer window and is now back at Everton due to lack of opportunities in the first team. However, there is also a chance that Saha could be revitalized by joining a new club like Yakubu after the latter left Everton to join Blackburn.

Sulley Muntari was signed from Inter Milan by their close rivals, AC Milan, in this January transfer window, which was quite unexpected at the start of the window. However, AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri has had to deal with many injuries to his midfielders, and the injury to new signing Alexander Merkel meant that it did make sense to sign Inter Milan’s Muntari. The Ghana midfielder has not a good time in the last few months, as he has not had regular football, spending six months on loan at Sunderland as well in the past year.

Milan have many quality midfielders in their side, but injuries to many players have left Allegri with very less options in midfield. However, Muntari might not be the solution for the team, especially when players return from injury, because there are better players than him in the side and he could once again only be a squad player. This could mean that the player might not be happy with the move, and also, Milan will have to continue to pay his wages.

Jose Antonio Reyes is a very talented footballer who was one of the best youngsters to play for Sevilla, and he established himself at the club before he moved to Arsenal. Though he showed moments of superb quality for the Gunners, he failed to be consistent enough, and after first moving on loan to Real Madrid, he signed for Atletico Madrid on a permanent deal. He did make over 100 appearances for the Madrid-based club, but with him being benched for many games this season, he has moved on to join his first club, Sevilla.

Reyes still remains a very good player and could be a key player for Sevilla. However, the fact is that he is going through a rough patch, and it will be quite demanding for him to play again for his old club. The Spanish winger is capable of producing quality moments, but his inconsistency has been one of the reasons why he has not been very successful as he could have been. However, it still seems a good move from Sevilla to sign the winger, though there exists the possibility of him not producing his best at his former club.

Paris St. Germain are on a mission to establish themselves as one of the best clubs in the world and have spent plenty of money in order to acquire quality players like Javier Pastore and Kevin Gameiro. The French club have made their ambitions clear by signing a quality manager in Carlo Ancelotti as well, and aspire to win the league title this season. They have been linked with many players in the past and have shown that they have the ability to spend money to acquire quality players.

However, it is not yet certain as to whether it was the right decision to sign Maxwell from FC Barcelona in this January transfer window because he has been average for the Spanish giants and will probably take time to adjust to the French league. The left back has played for top clubs such as Inter Milan and Ajax as well, but at the age of 30, he does not present the future of Paris St. Germain. Also, he has not been solid for Barcelona and could struggle if targeted by pacy wingers in the French league as well.

Vedran Corluka was signed on a six-month loan deal from Tottenham by German club Bayer Leverkusen before the end of the transfer window. Kyle Walker has progressed impressively for Spurs this season and has made the right back slot his own, which is why Corluka has had to move to a different club.

Corluka has performed decently for Spurs when given the opportunity, but the dynamism of Walker has meant that he has been given the chance to establish himself as the first-choice right back, and he has done well this season.

As a result of Walker taking his chance, Corluka has had to look for a move elsewhere in order to obtain regular football. However, the question is whether he is the right choice for Bayer Leverkusen who need solidity at the back, and they desperately need some good results at this stage of the season with many teams fighting for the top spot.

Corluka could be a decent signing for the club, but there also exists the possibility that his weaknesses could be tested against pacy, technically good wingers in the Bundesliga.

Sunderland had a bad start to the season, which eventually contributed to the sacking of Steve Bruce, but they made a very smart decision to appoint former Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill.

Since his appointment, Sunderland have shown tremendous belief and are comfortably away from the relegation zone. He has shown that he is still very capable as he is transforming Sunderland’s season. However, his decision to sign Wayne Bridge from City does raise quite a few eyebrows.

It is because of the fact that Wayne Bridge has not played much at all in the last year or so, and it could contribute in him lacking match fitness. Also, his wages are likely to be high, and he will be expected to deliver whenever his manager uses him. However, he needs time to settle down at Sunderland and might not get many games, especially if O’Neill uses the exciting Kieran Richardson at left back.

Manchester City are one of the strongest teams in the league, both in terms of quality and financial capability, which is the reason why they have been able to acquire many quality players over the years.

However, the signing of David Pizarro is a bit of a surprise considering that they have the funds to sign better quality players. Pizarro is a decent midfielder who can provide more quality depth to the team. Roberto Mancini has brought plenty of players to the Etihad stadium, with some of them proving to be big successes to the club, like David Silva.

However, one has to question why Mancini had to sign Pizarro in this January transfer window because he does have quality midfielders in the squad even if Yaya Toure is not playing. Nigel De Jong and Owen Hargreaves are both very good players and can be excellent squad players.

Pizarro might not even get enough playing time for City and could be another signing like Patrick Vieira, except that the experience of the Frenchman was very important in helping them have the right spirit.

Marco Borriello was signed by Juventus on a six-month loan deal from Roma in one of the more surprising moves of the January transfer window. Boriella did have some decent periods for AC Milan, but ultimately, he did not have the quality required to push Milan to win titles, which is why they signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho.

The 29-year-old Italy international was sold by Milan to Roma, and though he did have a decent first season at the club, he has failed to hold on to a place under new manager Luis Enrique.

Borriello has made very less appearances for Roma and has moved to Juventus on a loan deal in this January transfer window. However, it is quite surprising considering the fact that Juventus do have some top strikers and Borriello could again not be a regular for his new side as well. At his age, he needs to be playing regularly, and it looks like he could be on the move again in the summer if he does not get enough playing time.

Ravel Morrison is one of the most talented players to emerge from Manchester United’s academy in recent years, but after years of having trouble with him, it was always probable that he will leave Old Trafford soon.

Morrison was sold for a relatively nominal fee to West Ham, who could have a real quality player if he can fulfill his undoubted potential. However, it will be very difficult to manage him because of his attitude, and he could have to deal with a completely different style of play at West Ham.

Under Sam Allardyce, he will have to work very hard and fight for every ball because it will be a fight for West Ham to gain promotion to the Premier League. Morrison cannot afford to have any behavioral problems at West Ham because it will not be tolerated, as they have a tough manager in “Big Sam”.

If Sir Alex Ferguson cannot mould him into a better player, then it will be difficult for almost any manager in the world to get the best out of the teenager.