# TOP TEN TRANSFERS OF JANUARY
IN THE FOOTBALL #
1. Juan Mata (Chelsea - Manchester United €45m)
MANCHESTER UNTIED
Very rarely does one come across a transfer out of which
everyone wins. However, Juan Mata's move from Chelsea to Manchester
United appears to be one such deal.
The Blues received €45 million for a player that coach Jose Mourinho deemed surplus to requirements almost immediately upon his return to Stamford Bridge, while Old Trafford has already been lifted by the arrival of one of the most talented attacking midfielders in the world. Meanwhile, Spain international Mata can now look forward to first-team football in this, a World Cup year.
The Blues received €45 million for a player that coach Jose Mourinho deemed surplus to requirements almost immediately upon his return to Stamford Bridge, while Old Trafford has already been lifted by the arrival of one of the most talented attacking midfielders in the world. Meanwhile, Spain international Mata can now look forward to first-team football in this, a World Cup year.
2. Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow - AC Milan Free)
AC MILAN
AC Milan have been lambasted for their transfer dealings in
recent years. However, much-maligned CEO Adriano Galliani has pulled off
a masterstroke in persuading Keisuke Honda to move to San Siro on a
free transfer from CSKA Moscow.
As he demonstrated during last summer's Confederations Cup in Brazil, the 27-year-old Japan international is an intelligent, versatile and technically gifted attacking midfielder. He may have been initially confused as to where Milan wanted him to line up, after playing under three different coaches in one week, but he should flourish under new boss Clarence Seedorf.
As he demonstrated during last summer's Confederations Cup in Brazil, the 27-year-old Japan international is an intelligent, versatile and technically gifted attacking midfielder. He may have been initially confused as to where Milan wanted him to line up, after playing under three different coaches in one week, but he should flourish under new boss Clarence Seedorf.
3. Radja Nainggolan (Cagliari - Roma €3m Loan)
ROMA
Roma enjoyed two notable victories over Juventus in January.
The first came in the Coppa Italia; the second in the transfer market,
when the Giallorossi beat the Bianconeri to the signature of Radja Nainggolan.
The capital club agreed to pay Cagliari €3 million to take the Belgian - who was also pursued by Napoli - on loan for the remainder of the season, with the option of acquiring half of his ownership rights in the summer. Given Roma made room for Nainggolan by offloading Michael Bradley to Toronto FC for €7.3m, director of football Walter Sabatini should be feeling pretty happy with himself right now.
The capital club agreed to pay Cagliari €3 million to take the Belgian - who was also pursued by Napoli - on loan for the remainder of the season, with the option of acquiring half of his ownership rights in the summer. Given Roma made room for Nainggolan by offloading Michael Bradley to Toronto FC for €7.3m, director of football Walter Sabatini should be feeling pretty happy with himself right now.
4. Mohamed Salah (Basel - Chelsea €13.4m)
CHELSEA
While much has been made about the way in which Chelsea have
signed a Liverpool target for the second successive transfer window,
the Blues knew long before their Premier League rivals made a move for
Mohamed Salah that the Egypt international was a serious talent.
Indeed, the 21-year-old winger has already scored twice at Stamford Bridge, for former club Basel, while he also netted the winner in the Swiss club's 1-0 home win over Chelsea in the Champions League group stages in November. Blues fans will feel it was worth handing over €13.4 million just to avoid having to play against Salah again!
Indeed, the 21-year-old winger has already scored twice at Stamford Bridge, for former club Basel, while he also netted the winner in the Swiss club's 1-0 home win over Chelsea in the Champions League group stages in November. Blues fans will feel it was worth handing over €13.4 million just to avoid having to play against Salah again!
5. Aiden McGeady (Spartak Moscow - Everton Undisclosed Fee)
EVERTON
Aiden McGeady admitted this week that Spartak Moscow
repeatedly requested "silly money" whenever a club expressed an interest
in signing him, which is precisely why Robert Martinez was left
frustrated when he made a move for the Republic of Ireland
international's while still in charge of Wigan last summer. However, the
now Everton boss finally got his man this month.
The Spaniard had initially hoped to merely persuade the former Celtic starlet to move to Goodison Park on a free transfer in the summer, but he was pleasantly surprised when Spartak, who had ordered McGeady to train with the youth team because of his refusal to sign a contract extension, agreed to sell the player in January for an undisclosed - but undoubtedly minimal - fee. When McGeady regains full fitness, the 27-year-old should prove a bargain buy.
The Spaniard had initially hoped to merely persuade the former Celtic starlet to move to Goodison Park on a free transfer in the summer, but he was pleasantly surprised when Spartak, who had ordered McGeady to train with the youth team because of his refusal to sign a contract extension, agreed to sell the player in January for an undisclosed - but undoubtedly minimal - fee. When McGeady regains full fitness, the 27-year-old should prove a bargain buy.
6. Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle United - Paris Saint-Germain €24m)
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
It has been rumoured that senior players at Paris
Saint-Germain were not in favour of the club's pursuit of Yohan Cabaye,
given how well stocked the Ligue 1 leaders are in the midfield
department. There was also the fact that €24 million is quite an
investment in a 28-year-old.
However, Cabaye has been one of the top players in the Premier League for some time now, as underlined by Arsenal's failed bid for the former Lille man last summer and Manchester United's interest in him this January. Indeed, with his defensive diligence, broad passing range and eye for goal, it should not take the France international very long at all to win over the doubters in the PSG dressing room.
However, Cabaye has been one of the top players in the Premier League for some time now, as underlined by Arsenal's failed bid for the former Lille man last summer and Manchester United's interest in him this January. Indeed, with his defensive diligence, broad passing range and eye for goal, it should not take the France international very long at all to win over the doubters in the PSG dressing room.
7. Hernanes (Lazio - Inter €20m)
INTER MILAN
On the evidence of this season, Inter's decision to pay Lazio €20 million for Hernanes seems unwise. However, the Nerazzurri
do not believe that they are signing the Hernanes of this season,
rather the versatile midfielder that lit up Serie A in his three
previous campaigns at the Stadio Olimpico.
Their thinking is sound, particularly as the 'old Hernanes' has resurfaced in recent weeks, no doubt awoken from his slumber by the prospect of a move to San Siro. Thursday's tearful goodbye underlined what a wrench it has been for the 28-year-old Brazil international to leave Lazio. But the fact he felt the need to move for the sake of his career suggests that Inter have signed a reinvigorated player and an extremely talented one at that.
Their thinking is sound, particularly as the 'old Hernanes' has resurfaced in recent weeks, no doubt awoken from his slumber by the prospect of a move to San Siro. Thursday's tearful goodbye underlined what a wrench it has been for the 28-year-old Brazil international to leave Lazio. But the fact he felt the need to move for the sake of his career suggests that Inter have signed a reinvigorated player and an extremely talented one at that.
8. Pablo Daniel Osvaldo (Southampton - Juventus Loan)
JUVENTUS
To say that Pablo Daniel Osvaldo has a chequered past would
be putting it mildly. This, after all, is a player who has now twice
been disciplined for lashing out at team-mates. However, when he wants
to be, he remains one of the most effective 'old-school' No.9s in the
world.
Yet, while his strength is undeniably his strength, as Kevin Keegan once famously said of Emile Heskey, he is also blessed with terrific technique - witness his sublime goal for Southampton against Manchester City earlier this season. And that is precisely why Juve had decided to take a gamble on a striker who will pull out all the stops to secure himself a place in Italy's World Cup squad.
Yet, while his strength is undeniably his strength, as Kevin Keegan once famously said of Emile Heskey, he is also blessed with terrific technique - witness his sublime goal for Southampton against Manchester City earlier this season. And that is precisely why Juve had decided to take a gamble on a striker who will pull out all the stops to secure himself a place in Italy's World Cup squad.
9. Diego (Wolfsburg - Atletico Madrid Loan)
ATLETICO MADRID
They say you should never go back but Diego never wanted to
leave Atletico Madrid in the first place, so his return to the Vicente
Calderon looks like a great deal for both player and club. Admittedly,
the Brazilian playmaker has never quite realised his full potential,
having failed to make the grade at Juventus, while his time in Wolfsburg
has been turbulent to say the least.
However, at 28, he is still very much in his prime and, given he has already proven himself in La Liga during his previous loan stint at Atletico, in 2011-12, he should provide not only inspiration but much-needed depth to a Rojiblancos squad chasing a first Primera Division title since 1996.
However, at 28, he is still very much in his prime and, given he has already proven himself in La Liga during his previous loan stint at Atletico, in 2011-12, he should provide not only inspiration but much-needed depth to a Rojiblancos squad chasing a first Primera Division title since 1996.
10. Lewis Holtby (Tottenham to Fulham Loan)
FULHAM
Tottenham literally could not wait to get their hands on
Lewis Holtby. Despite having already persuaded the midfielder to sign a
pre-contract agreement last January, Spurs then decided to pay Schalke
€1.75 million to move to White Hart Lane right away.
Just 12 months later, Spurs have allowed the 23-year-od to leave on loan. Holtby failed to flourish at Tottenham but the Germany international has not become a bad player overnight. On the contrary, he remains a very good one and has the perfect opportunity to prove as much by helping Fulham avoid relegation between now and the end of the season.
Just 12 months later, Spurs have allowed the 23-year-od to leave on loan. Holtby failed to flourish at Tottenham but the Germany international has not become a bad player overnight. On the contrary, he remains a very good one and has the perfect opportunity to prove as much by helping Fulham avoid relegation between now and the end of the season.
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