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It's finally here! The end of the January transfer window is almost upon us. The Bale-to-United articles will finally disappear (for at least a week anyway), the squads will be set and business will resume as normal.
As a rule, the January window is always more rumour than substance, but there have been some interesting transfers this window that may have some bearing on the destiny for a few Premier League clubs (or in Aston Villa's case, a lack thereof). Here are ten January transfers that could make an impact.
January Transfers That Could Make An Impact
10. Mohamed Elneny: Basel to Arsenal, €6.6 million.
Photo: @Arsenal | Twitter
The Egyptian made his debut against Burnley in the FA Cup and looked quite good to be fair. He has a lot of energy, which at times left him out of position, but he was a dynamic, roaming presence throughout the game. He has a lot of work to do to adapt to the physicality of the league, but with Francis Coquelin back, the two could strike up a decent partnership in the middle of the park.
Should I put him on my fantasy team?
Nope. Elneny is not known for his goal threat, and there's no indication that Wenger is willing to replace Aaron Ramsey in the holding role. He may not get too much game time this year except in cup competitions.
9. Alexandre Pato: From Corinthians to Chelsea on loan.
Photo: @SkyFootball | Twitter
It's last chance saloon for the Brazilian who was once touted as the heir to Ronaldo's striker throne. The loan is something of a gamble for Chelsea, as Pato's last couple of seasons in Europe were devastated by injury and poor form. He has somewhat recovered his form in his native country, but he is nowhere near as prolific as he once was.
Whether he is one of the January transfers that could make an impact, remains to be seen.
Should I put him on my fantasy team?
Give it a game or two. If he looks hungry and sharp, then the quality around him will guarantee goals, especially now that Chelsea are recovering a little bit. But remember that he's still playing second-fiddle to Diego Costa, so he's going to be keeping those bench seats nice and warm for a little while.
8. Jonjo Shelvey: From Swansea to Newcastle, Undisclosed fee.
Photo: @ChronicleNUFC | Twitter
Swansea may have shot themselves in the foot by letting Shelvey leave. So far, he has slotted in at Newcastle brilliantly, finally replacing that large Yohan Cabaye-sized hole in the Magpies midfield. Shelvey was not in the best of form at Swansea, but to be fair, neither was anyone else as the Swans plummeted towards the bottom of the table.
Should I put him on my fantasy team?
He's always good for a goal or an assist, but there are too many other midfielders that are doing better than him at the moment. Sorry Jonjo, there's just no room for you.
7. Steven Naismith: Everton to Norwich, Undisclosed fee.
Photo: @NorwichCityFC | Twitter
"The Translucent Messi," as the Men in Blazers refer to him. Naismith hit the ground running on his debut for the Canaries, and he will be a vital source of goals and assists if the Norfolk club wish to stay up. It's a great move by Alex Neil, whose side continue to hover above the relegation zone.
Should I put him on my fantasy team?
Similar to Shelvey, there are just too many other midfielders doing better at the moment. Although, Naismith makes a great back-up as he usually contributes something when he plays, which will be a lot more often at Norwich.
6. Andros Townsend: Tottenham to Newcastle, Undisclosed fee.
Photo: @NUFC | Twitter
If it's last chance saloon for Pato, then it goes double for Andros Townsend. He is one of the January transfers that could make an impact, but most believe won't. The former Spurs winger has proven in the past that he has talent in abundance, at both club and international level.
But injuries, a high-profile training ground bust-up, and a frustrating lack of consistency have seen him fail to reach the potential he displayed a few seasons ago. That being said, he is still a very good player on his day, with a wicked shot that bears some comparison to Arjen Robben.
Should I put him on my fantasy team?
Yes, if the price is right. A change of scenery and some extended game time could see him return to form. The only downside is that he may have to displace Moussa Sissoko from the side, but it seems more likely that Steve McClaren will play Sissoko at center-mid with Townsend on the right wing. A Newcastle team with Wijnaldum, Townsend, Sissoko and Shelvey could be a frightening prospect indeed.
5. Mario Suarez: Fiorentina to Watford, Undisclosed fee.
Photo: @T_Deeney | Twitter
Watford continue to enjoy a fantastic season under Quique Sanchez Flores, and their astute business in the transfer market has contributed to that. The arrival of Etienne Capoue provided a stable platform for the Hornets to build off of, and we should expect the arrival of Mario Suarez to only improve that.
Suarez was fantastic at Atletico Madrid, and while he didn't find his form at Fiorentina, he is still a midfielder of the highest quality. Add into that the fact that Suarez has already played under Flores at Atletico, and this transfer feels like a winner.
Should I put him on my fantasy team?
Yes, Watford are extremely hard to break down, especially at home, and Suarez will only improve that solidarity. He'll be good for some clean sheet points, and can also chip in offensively on occasion.
4. Juan Iturbe: Roma to Bournemouth on loan.
Photo: @ASRoma_MP | Twitter
Who would have thought a couple years ago that Juan Iturbe would be playing for Bournemouth? The Argentinian was in great form for Roma two seasons ago, but he has since come off the boil, prompting Roma to offload him to the Cherries. Despite that, Iturbe is still a massively talented player, and in this season of all seasons, the stage is set for him to get back to his best.
Should I put him on my fantasy team?
No. It's not clear how much game time he is going to get. So far, he has seen only one substitute appearance for the senior team, yet he completed 90 minutes and scored a hat-trick for the U21's, so it may just be an issue of getting him some match fitness. Leave him off for now, but he is a good enough player that you should keep an eye on him in the coming weeks.
3. Benick Afobe: Wolves to Bournemouth, Undisclosed fee.
Photo: @Sportive23_ | Twitter
One of the January transfers that could make an impact is Benick Afobe. The former Arsenal youth player has already scored two in three games for Bournemouth, and doesn't look like slowing down. After the unfortunate loss of Callum Wilson to injury, the Cherries desperately needed a striker to keep their Premier League dream alive. Afobe looks as if he is the answer to those prayers.
Should I put him on my fantasy team?
Yes. He's cheap and in a purple patch. Perfect back-up striker.
2. Demarai Gray: Birmingham City to Leicester, Undisclosed fee.
Photo: @BettingZone | Twitter
This kid is exciting. He has wonderful close control, terrific pace and gives defenders nightmares. Like most kids, his final product can be questionable at times, but he is not afraid to use either foot, and with a little more experience, he could be a star.
What's more important, though, is that he fits Leicester's style of play perfectly, and will add some depth coming up to the end of the season. Leicester look to be serious about this title charge.
Should I put him on my fantasy team?
Not yet. He's a wonderful talent, but his final product is lacking and he probably won't dislodge anyone from the first team quite yet. Definitely keep the name in mind for next season though.
1. Charlie Austin- QPR to Southampton, Undisclosed fee.
Photo: @premierleague | Twitter
What a coup. How did nobody else pick up Charlie Austin when QPR were relegated? Well, he reminded everyone of how stupid they are when he scored against Manchester United minutes after coming on as a substitute. Southampton are starting to pick up a bit of good form, and with a fit and firing Charlie Austin in their ranks, the upper echelons of the table are going to be looking behind them nervously.
Should I put him on my fantasy team?
Yes. Austin is pure class, and he'll thrive with the quality of deliveries he'll get from Dusan Tadic and James Ward-Prowse on the south coast. This is a list of January transfers that could make an impact, but Charlie Austin has already made an impact. What an overachiever.
