Another deadline day has come and gone and we are all in agreement in the Football Transfer Tavern it was hardly a vintage one.
Even Sky Sports News supremo Jim White struggled to sound enthusiastic during the closing hours yesterday, with the biggest deal to be announced when the clock struck 11pm was that West Bromwich Albion had managed to secure Darren Fletcher from Manchester United on a free transfer.
The Red Devils themselves were pretty quiet with Louis van Gaal trimming some more of the deadwood rather than adding new faces himself.
Whilst Tottenham didn’t do much to help themselves in the battle for the top four with Daniel Levy only splashing the cash on a player who will spend the remainder of the season on loan at MK Dons.
With United and Tottenham in mind, we have identified five of the worst pieces of business on show this January transfer window.
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Click on Louis van Gaal to reveal the 5 worst deals this January transfer window.
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Andy Kellett to Manchester United – Loan
Manchester United fans were all in agreement the defence was in desperate need of strengthening this month with youngsters such as Paddy McNair been called upon during the first part of the season.
But rather than go out and sign an established centre back, Louis van Gaal has opted to add 21-year-old Andy Kellett on loan from Bolton Wanderers as his only defensive addition.
Kellett has played just once for the Trotters and has recently spent time on loan at Plymouth Argyle earlier this term. He has simply been brought in to boost the numbers in United’s Under-21 squad – a majorly disappointing signing on deadline day for the Red Devils.
Aaron Lennon to Everton – Loan
The former England man has barely featured at Tottenham this season under Mauricio Pochettino so a loan move made sense in many ways. But the fact Tottenham are pushing for a top four place and their only arrival was teen sensation Dele Alli – who was promptly sent back on loan to MK Dons – suggests the idea of letting Lennon go without a replacement is not so smart.
And from an Everton point of view, is Lennon really the man you want to call upon when you are in a relegation dogfight?
Scott Sinclair to Aston Villa – Loan
Aston Villa have not scored in the Premier League for more than 10 hours so clearly a goal scorer was what was required this January transfer window.
Instead, the long suffering Villa fans have been forced to settle for Scott Sinclair – a man who hasn’t scored a Premier League goal in goodness knows how long and will be wearing the number 9 shirt at Villa Park.
Last January, Paul Lambert signed Grant Holt on loan so the one positive on this move is I suppose you can say it is a minor upgrade in terms of pace at least!
Yaya Sanogo to Crystal Palace – Loan
For Yaya Sanogo, this is a great opportunity to prove the doubters wrong. But from an outsiders perspective, for a team scrapping to stay in the Premier League, a loan signing of a young unproven striker who is yet to score a Premier League goal is not what is required.
When you consider Sunderland completed the signing of Jermaine Defoe and Palace added Sanogo and Shola Ameobi to a strikeforce of which Maraoune Chamakh is already a part, from the outside it does not look good.
In fairness, the young Frenchman did score in the FA Cup win at Southampton and has time on his side to prove the doubters wrong. It is certainly a gamble however by Alan Pardew.
Mohamed Salah to Fiorentina – Loan
From a Chelsea point of view, essentially swapping Juan Cuadrado for Andre Schurrle and Mohamed Salah is excellent business. But, spare a thought for Fiorentina fans today, who on deadline day saw their star man taken away from them – and Chelsea flop Salah brought in on loan as a replacement. The perfect example of just how cruel the transfer window can prove to be.
