The January transfer window saw Premier League sides spend almost £400 million in attempts to rebuild their squads for the business end of the season.
It was frantic, chaotic, and ultimately left several clubs with unfinished business that will define their summer plans.
The calendar year so far has been defined by managerial sackings, with Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest already appointing new bosses in the dugout.
Some are chasing European football, others are desperately fighting relegation. Either way, the final three months of this season will go a long way to determining who spends what when the window reopens.
Antoine Semenyo’s £63 million switch from Bournemouth to Manchester City was the biggest deal of the window. The Citizens also secured Marc Guéhi’s services from Crystal Palace. Data from Gambling.com – who offer expert guidance for those looking to claim casino welcome bonus offers – show City still have 10/3 odds to lift their fifth title in six years come May, and adding Guéhi has already helped secure crucial points at Spurs and Liverpool.
In south London, Palace were quick to reinvest that money, with Brennan Johnson and Jørgen Strand Larsen signing from Spurs and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively. Those moves altered plenty of pieces in the betting odds for the final run-in.
Wolves are left without a proven striker in their hopes of beating the drop, while the race for the top four heats up.
From deals falling through at the last minute to clubs building their budgets in transitional years, expect another busy summer after the World Cup concludes.
Here are some of the biggest transfers you can expect when things heat up later this year when the window reopens.
Ricardo Pepi to Fulham
After failing to secure Ricardo Pepi’s signature in January, the Cottagers are expected to go back in for the PSV striker in the summer when the American returns from World Cup duty.
That news came as a devastating blow not just for Fulham but for Pepi himself, with the player making it clear to PSV that he wanted the move to London.
Pepi is eager to follow the path carved out by fellow Americans Clint Dempsey, Brian McBride and Tim Ream, all of whom became major fan favourites at Craven Cottage.
The club could secure a reduced deal of around £30 million if they move quickly after the World Cup, particularly if Pepi performs well on home soil and his value rises. Much depends on whether Marco Silva wants to stay in west London when his contract runs out, and whether the club can convince him they’re serious about building something sustainable rather than just treading water in mid-table.
Sandro Tonali to Arsenal
Arsenal could well head into the summer as Premier League champions, giving Mikel Arteta extra pulling power in the transfer market.
The Gunners are reportedly interested in Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali, depending on whether the Magpies secure Champions League football next term and can convince their best players to stay.
The midfielder was offered to Arsenal on the final day of the winter transfer window, but no move materialised.
The Italy international remains at Newcastle, but his agent has already indicated that discussions will take place with last season’s Carabao Cup winners over his future in the latter stages of the season.
Newcastle sold Alexander Isak for a record transfer fee last summer and could struggle to keep their remaining stars if they don’t finish the season strongly. Champions League football is the currency that matters to players of Tonali’s quality, and if Newcastle miss out, Arsenal will be waiting to capitalise.
Christian Pulisic to Tottenham Hotspur
Christian Pulisic is one of those players who feels like he’s been around forever, but the American is still only 27 and has been linked with a return to the Premier League with Spurs. The timing makes sense on multiple levels.
Pulisic has just 18 months left on his AC Milan contract, with the club holding an option for a further year.
Despite his outstanding form since arriving from Chelsea in 2023, talks over an extension have failed to gather momentum, much to the frustration of those close to the player.
Milan look set to secure a place in the Champions League next season, currently battling city rivals Inter for the Scudetto, but Spurs could swoop in for a cut-price deal if he performs well at the World Cup on home soil.
Joel Ordóñez to Liverpool
Liverpool are looking to rebuild their backline this summer, and Joel Ordóñez from Club Brugge represents exactly the kind of signing their recruitment team excel at identifying.
Despite signing Jérémy Jacquet in January, the Frenchman won’t arrive at Anfield until the summer and could be the replacement for Ibrahima Konaté, whose contract expires in June and has been linked with Real Madrid.
This would mean the Reds need more options. Joe Gomez remains injury-prone, and Virgil van Dijk isn’t getting any younger.
Liverpool’s succession planning for their defensive leader needs to start now, and Ordóñez fits the profile of what they’re looking for.
The Ecuadorian is part of an exciting national team that could shock a few at the World Cup, featuring alongside Paris Saint-Germain’s Willian Pacho as well as Moisés Caicedo, Piero Hincapié and Kendry Páez. That level of international pedigree at such a young age suggests a player comfortable on the biggest stages.
Ordóñez and Jacquet could form the long-term spine of Liverpool’s defence, learning from Van Dijk whilst he’s still performing at the highest level. The Dutchman has maybe two elite seasons left in him. Having his successors already at the club, absorbing his knowledge and understanding what it takes to defend for Liverpool, makes perfect sense.
The fee will likely be in the £35-43 million range, not cheap but not astronomical for a player with his potential and age profile.
The Summer Ahead
Expect another busy summer. The clubs who get their business done early, who identify their targets and move decisively, will have the advantage. But the World Cup can complicate things.
Players who perform well will see their values skyrocket. Those who disappoint might become available for less than anticipated. Injuries could derail moves entirely or create unexpected opportunities. Clubs will be watching closely, adjusting their strategies based on what unfolds over those few weeks in June.
January showed us which clubs are working to a plan and which are simply hoping for the best. The summer window will make that divide impossible to ignore.
Photo by Mylo Kaye: https://www.pexels.com/
About the Author
