How key January transfers have started at their new clubs

20.03.2020 11:39:07 Adam England
Martin Braithwaite of Barcelona
  •  It wasn’t the busiest January transfer window of recent years but there were a few notable signings
  •  Man United, Tottenham and Liverpool were among the top Premier League clubs to make additions
  •  With the season suspended, some players have made bigger impacts at their new teams than others so far

 

We might be missing the Premier League right now, but it gives us the ideal team to look back on some of the key men of the January transfer window, to see how they have been getting on at their new clubs.

 

BRUNO FERNANDESSporting Lisbon to Man United 

The 25-year-old midfielder didn’t come cheap. The initial fee of £47 million made him the most expensive signing of the transfer window, but it seems to have already paid off. Man United have improved since the turn of the year, and were potentially on course for a top four finish before the delay. It’s no surprise that the Portuguese international was named Premier League Player of the Month in February, as he seems to be the catalyst for United’s noted upturn in form. If this season does eventually go ahead, it could well be because of him that the Theatre of Dreams sees Champions League football again next term.

 

STEVEN BERGWIJNPSV to Tottenham 

It’s not the best time to be joining Tottenham, as they’re very much in a state of flux at the moment. Yet, he was able to make an instant impression by scoring on his debut and then again against Wolves. He’s just 22, too, so has time to improve further. Unfortunately, he sprained his ankle against Burnley just before the season was suspended, so the winger is set to face a fairly lengthy time on the sidelines. Spurs supporters will be hoping that he can pick up where he left off when he does return to action, as he seems to a definite hit so far.

 

TAKUMI MINAMINORed Bull Salzburg to Liverpool

A low-risk, pretty inexpensive signing for Liverpool, Minamino has made a decent if not spectacular start to life at Anfield. It’s probably not fair to judge Minamino so far as not long after his arrival did the club fall into a spell of somewhat dodgy form. We’d probably see him playing a bigger role in the latter stages of the season, acting as backup for Liverpool’s attacking stars, but obviously this will have to wait. He hasn’t yet scored for his new club, but he needs time to settle in, and we could be seeing a lot more to come from the Japan international.

 

ODION IGHALOShanghai Shenua to Man United 

The second Old Trafford new boy on this list, Ighalo has made almost as large an impression as Fernandes. It might have been an unexpected signing, and perhaps underwhelming after United’s links to Erling Braut Håland before his move to Dortmund (more on him later). A boyhood supporter of the Red Devils, he hadn’t managed to score in the Premier League before the league’s suspension, but thanks to good form in the FA Cup and the Europa League, he’s got four goals in eight games overall. He might not be a world star, but he’s adapted to life in Manchester pretty well.

 

CHRISTIAN ERIKSENTottenham to Inter

Let’s face it. Eriksen is probably thanking his lucky stars that he’s not in London anymore. Tottenham are in a bit of a crisis at the moment and Inter were able to get the Dane at around £17 million, a steal when considering the levels he’s performed at over the past decade or so. His first appearance was positive, as he came on for Alexis Sanchez in a cup win against Fiorentina, and he scored his first goal around three weeks later against Ludogorets Razgrad in the Europa League. Spurs know all too well what they’ve lost, but their loss is definitely Inter’s gain.

 

ERLING BRAUT HÅLANDRed Bull Salzburg to Borussia Dortmund

The man of the moment. He doesn’t turn 20 until July, but has made a stunning start to life at Borussia Dortmund. Not only did he become the first Bundesliga player to score five goals in his first two games, with a hat-trick on his debut, but he also scored a brace against PSG in the first league of the Champions League tie between the two clubs. His rise has been remarkable and he’s part of a vibrant young team at Dortmund alongside Jadon Sancho, Dan-Axel Zagadou and the rest. A future Ballon D’or winner? Don’t bet against it. And for €20 million? An absolute steal.

 

MARTIN BRAITHWAITE Leganes to Barcelona

Okay, so strictly speaking this move didn’t take place in the transfer window. But it would be difficult to talk about recent transfers without giving a mention to the former Middlesbrough man. He set up two goals on his debut at home to Eibar, in a 5-0 win. He’s never going to be first-choice in a full-strength Barça side, but he’s pretty much met his requirements so far. It’s only been about a month since his transfer, so he hasn’t had as much time to bed in the others on this list before the season was halted – the jury’s stlll out on the signing.

 

 

 

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