Arsenal and Manchester United top class, Chelsea miss key area, Everton fail – January transfer window grades

Chelsea stole the show with their transfers this month, while it was a relatively quiet one for their west London rivals.

Elsewhere, Manchester City were involved in perhaps the most unexpected deal, while Brighton stood firm after already losing one key player.

Here, we grade every single Premier League club, and just a quick note – this by no means represents each clubs’ standing in the table. Evidently, as you will see, some clubs felt there was no need to strengthen. Others, meanwhile, were constrained by tighter purse strings… And Everton? Who actually knows what went on there on deadline day?

Arsenal

Ins

• Leandro Trossard (Brighton, £27m)
• Jakub Kiwior (Spezia, £20m)
• Jorginho (Chelsea, £12m)

Outs

• Miguel Azeez (Wigan, loan)
• Cedric Soares (Fulham, loan)
• Brooke Norton-Cuffy (Coventry, on loan for remainder of the season)
• Arthur Okonkwo (Sturm Graz, loan)
• Ovie Ejeheri (SJK Seinajoki, loan)
• Harry Clarke (Ipswich, undisclosed)
• Marquinhos (Norwich, long-term deal)
• Omar Rekik (Wigan, loan)
• Albert Sambi Lokonga (Crystal Palace, loan)

It adds weight to the prospect of Arsenal signing Declan Rice in the summer too, and with Leandro Trossard adding to their forward line, it could prove to be a shrewd transfer window for the Premier League leaders without spending big.

Grade: A-

Aston Villa

Ins

• Alex Moreno (Real Betis, undisclosed)
• Jhon Duran (Chicago Fire, £18m)

Outs

• Cameron Archer (Middlesbrough, on loan for remainder of the season)
• Danny Ings (West Ham, £15m)
• Indiana Vassilev (St Louis City, undisclosed)
• Frederic Guilbert (Strasbourg, undisclosed)
• Tyreik Wright (Plymouth, loan)
• Morgan Sanson (Strasbourg, loan)

A curious one. Alex Moreno looks to be a solid addition in defence, with the right-back impressing after an injury to Lucas Digne, but it is difficult to understand why Villa were willing to let Danny Ings leave.

Jhon Duran may have arrived from Chicago Fire, but a 19-year-old striker from the MLS is no comparison (yet) to the Premier League stalwart that is Ings, and letting West Ham sign the 30-year-old is quite simply a bonus for the Hammers and a loss that Villa have not properly replaced.

Grade: C

Bournemouth

Ins

• Dango Ouattara (Lorient, undisclosed)
• Darren Randolph (West Ham, undisclosed)
• Antoine Semenyo (Bristol City, undisclosed)
• Matias Vina (Roma, loan)
• Gavin Kilkenny (Charlton, loan)
• Illia Zabarnyi (Dinamo Kiev, undisclosed)
• Hamed Traore (Sassuolo, loan)

Outs

• Jamal Low (QPR, loan)
• Ferdinand Okoh (Dorchester, loan)
• James Hill (Hearts, loan)
• Will Dennis (Slough, loan)

The financial muscle of most Premier League clubs, and even those around Bournemouth in the relegation scrap, have given us a sinking feeling about the Cherries’ hopes of survival. They will, of course, hope Antoine Semenyo and Dango Ouattara can provide the desired firepower up front, but whether it’s enough, we’re not so sure. Nevertheless, they’ve tried, hence the “+”.

Grade: C+

Brentford

Ins

• Byron Wilson (Coventry, free. N.B. Transfer was completed on Nov 25)
• Kevin Schade (Freiburg, loan)
• Conor McManus (Bray Wanderers, free)
• Beaux Booth (Dorking)
• Romeo Beckham (Inter Miami, loan)
• Vincent Angelini (Watford)

Outs

• Aaron Pressley (Accrington Stanley, loan)
• Ellery Balcombe (Bristol Rovers, loan)
• Tariqe Fosu (Rotherham, loan)
• Paris Maghoma (MK Dons, loan)
• Charlie Goode (Blackpool, loan)
• Edon Pruti (Hartlepool)
• Mads Bech (Groningen, loan)

Do you rock the boat at a club exceeding expectations and flying high in eighth in the Premier League table? Evidently not, with Brentford making several squad signings – and indeed mainly for Brentford B – but no one transfer standing out. That is no bad thing, given the joy Thomas Frank is having with his current crop, so ignore the grade. Their position in the league is safely an “A” right now.

Grade: D

Brighton

Ins

• Facundo Bounanotte (Rosario Central, undisclosed fee. N.B. Transfer was completed on Nov 2)
• Jamie Mullins (Bohemians, undisclosed)
• Yasin Ayari (AIK, undisclosed)
• Mark O’Mahony (Cork, undisclosed)

Outs

• Leandro Trossard (Arsenal, £27m)
• Reda Khadra (Birmingham, loan)
• Aaron Connolly (Hull, loan)
• Ed Turns (Leyton Orient, loan)
• Todd Miller (Doncaster, loan)

Brighton are the go-to team for the Premier League’s Big Six these days, and with the £2.5m Kaoru Mitoma emerging as another gem, you cannot help but think this trend will continue into the summer and beyond. At least they held onto Moises Caicedo, despite both Arsenal and Chelsea testing their resolve, and so their grade – despite the loss of Trossard – reflects their efforts to stave off interest in Caicedo after being dismantled these past 24 months.

Grade: B+

Chelsea

Ins

• David Datro Fofana (Molde, £10.6m. N.B. Transfer was agreed on December 28 with Fofana joining on January 7)
• Benoit Badiashile (Monaco, £32.76m)
• Andrey Santos (Vasco da Gama, £18m)
• Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid, loan)
• Mykhaylo Mudryk (Shakhtar Donetsk, £89m)
• Noni Madueke (PSV, undisclosed)
• Malo Gusto (Lyon, £26.3m)
• Enzo Fernandez (Benfica, £107m)

Outs

• Bashir Humphreys (Paderborn, loan)
• Cesare Casadei (Reading, loan)
• Malo Gusto (Lyon, loan)
• Jorginho (Arsenal, £12m)

The odds are against them, but with a Champions League to fight for as well, it will be fascinating to see whether Graham Potter can manage this bloated squad and improve performances. A decent few months should at least guarantee him a first full season with the Blues come 2023-24.

In summary, if you’ve got the money and nous to navigate FFP, spend it, but it has felt like a scattergun approach, and with no new No. 9, we just can’t give them an “A”.

Grade: B+

Crystal Palace

Ins

• Naouirou Ahamada (Stuttgart, £9.7m)
• Albert Sambi Lokonga (Arsenal, loan)

Outs

• Killian Phillips (Shrewsbury Town, loan. N.B. Loan was completed on December 29)
• Jack Butland (Manchester United, loan)
• Malcolm Ebowei (Hull City, loan)
• Ryan Bartley (Eastbourne Borough, loan)
• John-Kymani Gordon (Carlisle, loan)
• David Boateng (Dover, loan)

The sound of crickets was playing out at Crystal Palace for the majority of the month, having not made a signing in the opening 30 days of the window, but they corrected that on deadline day.

They eventually strengthened their midfield, but it remains to be seen whether Naouirou Ahamada and Arsenal loanee Albert Sambi Lokonga will be starters.

Grade: B

Everton

Ins

Outs

• Salomon Rondon (Released. N.B. Release came on December 16)
• Nathan Broadhead (Ipswich, Undisclosed)
• Eldin Jakupovic (Los Angeles FC, undisclosed)
• Tom Cannon (Preston, loan)
• Niels Nkounkou (Saint-Etienne, loan)
• Sebastian Quirk (Accrington Stanley, undisclosed)
• Anthony Gordon (Newcastle, undisclosed)
• Joe Anderson (Sunderland, undisclosed)

This grade had the potential to be anything on the morning of deadline day, as it all depended on how they spent the initial £40m – the reported fee Newcastle paid for Anthony Gordon – under new manager Sean Dyche.

The answer? Well, after almost splashing it all on Conor Gallagher, they spent it on absolutely no one. Do you get a grade if you don’t turn up? This could prove catastrophic for their survival hopes, but they must hope fireman Dyche can reinvigorate the squad that they’ve got.

Grade: Fail – Did not attend the class

Fulham

Ins

• Sasa Lukic (Torinho, undisclosed)
• Cedric Soares (Arsenal, loan)
• Shane Duffy (Brighton)

Outs

• Anthony Knockaert (Huddersfield, loan)
• Ibane Bowat (Den Bosch, loan)

Much like their west London neighbours Brentford, Fulham appeared unwilling to disrupt a squad going above and beyond many people’s predictions. They did make a triple signing on deadline day, though, with the trio far from certain starters but solid additions to the cause that is an unlikely push for European football.

Grade: C

Leeds United

Ins

• Weston McKennie (Juventus, loan)
• Max Wober (RB Salzburg, undisclosed fee)
• Georginio Rutter (Hoffenheim, £36m)
• Diogo Monteiro (Servette, undisclosed)

Outs

• Alfie McCalmont (Carlisle, Loan)
• Leo Hjelde (Rotherham, loan)
• Max Dean (MK Dons, undisclosed)
• Mateusz Klich (DC United, undisclosed)
• Cody Drameh (Luton, loan)
• Joe Gelhardt (Leeds, loan)

Landing Weston McKennie could prove a masterstroke for Leeds, with the 24-year-old calling it an “easy decision” after joining from Juventus on loan. Add to that a club-record fee for Georginio Rutter and evidently Leeds have done all they can this month in their bid to preserve their Premier League status. No huge outgoings makes that a decent window for Jesse Marsch’s side.

Grade: A-

Leicester City

Ins

• Victor Kristiansen (FC Copenhagen, undisclosed)
• Tete (Shakhtar Donetsk/Lyon, loan)
• Nathan Opoku (FDM Field Masters Sporting Club, undisclosed)
• Harry Souttar (Stoke, undisclosed)

Outs

• George Hirst (Ipswich, loan)
• Ben Nelson (Doncaster, loan)
• Jakub Stolarczyk (Hartlepool, loan)
• Nathan Opoku (OH Leuven, loan)
• Ayoze Perez (Real Betis, loan)

Leicester fans have been somewhat downbeat since their quieter than quiet summer window, and this January is unlikely to have boosted their mood. Finances are tight at the King Power, and it’s showing. They boast a squad too good to go down, but we’ve heard that before. Let’s see if Tete can give them that much-needed spark.

Grade: C

Liverpool

Ins

• Cody Gakpo (PSV, £37m. N.B. Transfer was completed on December 28)

Outs

• Jarell Quansah (Bristol Rovers, loan)
• Jake Cain (Swindon, undisclosed)

The arrival of just Cody Gakpo is unlikely to please Liverpool fans, but as Jurgen Klopp said time and time again this month, the club could not throw money at their problems despite their injury crisis.

Gakpo could yet emerge as a quality signing for Liverpool, but their need for a midfield reset was not addressed in this window – such issues are not easily resolved mid-season – and so that explains the grade, especially as one solitary signing makes that top-four push all the more difficult.

Grade: D

Manchester City

Ins

• Maximo Perrone (Velez Sarsfield, undisclosed)

Outs

• Nahuel Bustos (Talleres, loan. N.B. Loan was completed on December 23)
• Morgan Rogers (Blackpool, loan)
• Josh Wilson-Esbrand (Coventry City, loan)
• Liam Delap (Preston, loan)
• Kayky (Bahia, loan)
• Joao Cancelo (Bayern Munich, loan)

Grade: D

Manchester United

Ins

• Marcel Sabitzer (Bayenr Munich, loan)
• Jack Butland (Crystal, Palace, loan)
• Wout Weghorst (Burnley, loan)

Outs

• Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr, free. N.B. Ronaldo was released on November 22 but he did not join Al-Nassr until December 30)
• Shola Shoretire (Bolton, loan)
• Charlie Savage (Forest Green, loan)
• Charlie McNeill (Newport, loan)
• Di’Shon Bernard (Portsmouth, loan)

That move signalled it is Ten Hag running the show, and no one really can deny that they are going in the right direction under the Dutchman’s watch. For that reason, we’re tacking Ronaldo’s departure onto their January dealings, and giving them what may be viewed as a generous grade.

Grade: A

Newcastle United

Ins

• Amadou Diallo (Free agent. N.B. Transfer was completed on November 17)
• Garang Kuol (Central Coast Mariners, £300,000. N.B. Transfer was completed on December 1, Kuol joined Newcastle on January 1)
• Anthony Gordon (Everton, undisclosed)

Outs

• Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest, loan)
• Garang Kuol (Hearts, loan)
• Joe White (Exeter, loan)
• Niall Brookwell (Darlington, loan)
• Dylan Stephenson (Hamilton, loan)
• Kell Watts (Peterborough, loan)
• Dan Langley (Spennymoor, loan)
• Jonjo Shelvey (Nottingham Forest, undisclosed)

Swapping Chris Wood for Anthony Gordon is an intriguing one, and though the latter is far more unproven, he at least has the ability to play across the forward line for Newcastle.

That said, you would rate this as a relatively quiet window for the richest club in the world, but if the Champions League is secured then it could be rather different come the summer. They’re ahead of schedule, and could soon get the big-name players to back up that ambition.

Grade: B-

Nottingham Forest

Ins

• Gustavo Scarpa (Palmeiras, free. N.B. Transfer was completed on December 4)
• Felipe (Atletico Madrid, undisclosed)
• Danilo (Palmeiras, undisclosed)
• Chris Wood (Newcastle United, loan)
• Jonjo Shelvey (Newcastle, undisclosed)
• Keylor Navas (Paris Saint-Germain, loan)

Outs

• Josh Bowler (Blackpool, loan)
• Dale Taylor (Burton, loan)
• Aaron Donnelly (Port Vale, loan)
• Ateef Konate (Oxford United, loan)

Grade: B+

Southampton

Ins

• Mislav Orsic (Dinamo Zagreb, £6m)
• Carlos Alcaraz (Racing Club, £12m)
• James Bree (Luton Town, undisclosed)
• Paul Onuachu (Genk, undisclosed)
• Kamaldeen Sulemana (Rennes, undisclosed)

Outs

• Dynel Simeu (Morecambe, loan)
• Dan Nlundulu (Bolton, loan)
• Ryan Finnigan (Crewe, loan)
• Nico Lawrence (Torquay, loan)
• Will Tizzard (Chippenham Town, loan)
• Kazeem Olaigbe (Harrogate Town, loan)

Our guess is that it could be a painful few months for Saints fans, but they certainly did their best on deadline day, signing Kamaldeen Sulemana for a club record and bringing in the top scorer from Belgium, Paul Onuachu, too. They will hope it’s enough to lift them off the bottom of the table and to 17th and above by May, but it’s going to be difficult. At least they tried to address their shortcomings on the final day, though.

Grade: B

Tottenham

Ins

• Arnaut Danjuma (Villarreal, loan)
• Bryan Gil (Sevilla, loan)
• Pedro Porro (Sporting Lisbon, loan)

Outs

• Bryan Gil (Sevilla, loan)
• Djed Spence (Rennes, loan)
• Harvey White (Derby, loan)
• Matt Doherty (Atletico Madrid, contract terminated)
• Adam Hayton (Barnsley, undisclosed)

Grade: B

West Ham

Ins

• Luizao (Sao Paulo, undisclosed. N.B. Transfer was completed on December 19)
• Danny Ings (Aston Villa, £15m)
• Harrison Ashby (Newcastle, £3m)

Outs

• Thierry Nevers (Bradford, loan)
• Brian Kinnear (Falkirk, loan)
• Craig Dawson (Wolves, £3.3m)
• Pierre Ekwah (Sunderland, undisclosed)
• Darren Randolph (Bournemouth, loan)
• Conor Coventry (Rotherham, loan)

Kudos to West Ham. As mentioned above, signing Ings could prove invaluable, although they really do boast a squad that should never be in a relegation fight anyway. A quiet window otherwise.

Grade: B-

Wolves

Ins

• Matheu Cunha (Atletico Madrid, loan with £44m obligation to buy. N.B. Transfer was completed December 25)
• Mario Lemina (Nice, undisclosed)
• Pablo Sarabia (PSG, undisclosed)
• Craig Dawson (West Ham, £3.3m)
• Joao Gomes (Flamengo, £15m)
• Dan Bentley (Bristol City, undisclosed)
• Joao Gomes (Flamengo, undisclosed)

Outs

• Leo Bonatini (Relased, N.B. Release came on December 2)
• Leonardo Campana (Inter Miami, £2.3m. N.B. Transfer was completed on December 19)
• Goncalo Guedes – (Benfica, loan)
• Joe Young (Telford, loan)
• Theo Corbeanu (Arminia Bielefeld, loan)
• Fabio Silva (PSV Eindhoven, loan – recalled from Anderlecht loan)
• Matija Sarkic (Stoke, loan)

With the club embroiled in a relegation scrap, once again Wolves’ dealings are difficult to grade right now as it all depends on whether they stay up. Mario Lemina looks set for plenty of game-time, but it is Matheus Cunha who Wolves could do with finding form – and quickly. They are a goal-shy team, Wolves, having scored the fewest (12) of any Premier League side.

Grade: C