Top 20 Best Signings Of the January 2013 Transfer Window

The best bits of business during the January transfer window.



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20. Brek Shea: FC Dallas to Stoke City £2.5m

The American arrives with a relatively big reputation after impressing at FC Dallas over the past couple of seasons. The lanky winger will certainly fit in with his similarly imposing team-mates and Tony Pulis will hope that the American international can adapt to life in the English top tier swiftly.

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Shea cost Stoke City £2.5m, a decent price for a player who is just 22 years of age and certainly has the potential to be a success.

Shea netted 19 goals in 98 appearances for FC Dallas but is yet to net in 15 appearances for the United States national team.

One wonders what his Potters team-mates will make of his life away from the game, Shea is an abstract artist, no doubt something he can chat about with Ryan Shawcross, who is himself a big fan of Dadaism.





19. Vegard Forren: Molde to Southampton £3.5m

The Saints beat off interest from both Merseyside clubs Everton and Liverpool to sign the in-form centre-back, who Nigel Adkins brought in before he was axed. New boss Mauricio Pochettino hopes will hope the Norwegian helps to steady things at the back.

The deal is said to have cost the St Mary's club £3.5m and the 24 year old has put pen to paper on a four and a half year contract. He is due to be unveiled later today.

Forren has helped Solskjaer's Molde side to back to back domestic titles and has been scouted by a number of Premier League sides this term.

The one club man rejected a move to Belgium last summer.





18. Angelo Henriquez: Man United to Wigan Athletic (Loan)

A move that suits all parties, the young Chilean scored within seven minutes of his Premier League debut for the Latics and could well help keep Wigan Athletic clear of the drop.

Clearly Sir Alex Ferguson felt there is more to be gained by sending Angelo Henriquez to Wigan on a loan deal than the young striker representing his country at the South American Under 20 Championship and a short term move to the DW Stadium should give the Chilean international a good grounding in Premier League experience.

Roberto Martinez could well feel he could do with some attacking support though his Latics side did manage to net three times at Villa Park on the weekend.





17. Loic Remy: Marseille to QPR £8m

QPR hijack Remy's apparent move to Newcastle United and have already seen the French international make an impact at the West London side.

Having finished as Marseille's top scorer over the past two seasons Remy was forced out of first team action by new boss Elie Baup and was destined to leave the Stade Velodrome sooner rather than later.

Harry Redknapp needed a striker who could hit the ground running and help pull QPR away from the drop zone and thus far appears to be well worth the £8m investment the Loftus Road side made.

Scored within 14 minutes of his debut away at West Ham.





16. Joe Cole: Liverpool to West Ham Free

The 31 year old returned to Upton Park after an unsuccessful spell at Anfield and will hope a move back to East London will re-ignite a career that was in danger of stagnating at the Merseyside club.

Though the former England man was beginning to break back into the first team picture under Brendan Rodgers, scoring twice in his last four appearances, it seems clear that Cole was not part of the Northern Irishman's long term plans and as such a move to West Ham appears best for all concerned.

Cole notched up 150 appearances for West Ham in his previous spell at the club, which ended when the Londoner was sold to Chelsea in August 2003 in a deal worth £6.6m.

Sam Allardyce was keen to bring in added creativity to an attack that has at times looked brittle this term. West Ham started the season brightly but have fallen away somewhat over the past six weeks and the Hammers boss will hope the addition of the a former fan favourite will help boost the club in the second half of the campaign.





15. Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa: Montpellier to Newcastle United £7m

Newcastle United beat off a number of Europe's big sides to win the race to bring in the adaptable young French defender.

Yanga-Mbiwa extended his Montpellier contract in the summer by two years through to 2015 on the understanding the club would not stand in his way if an acceptable offer were made for his services.

Arsenal and AC Milan were also reportedly interested in the defender, who made his France debut last season.

Mbiwa is just one an entire army of French talent at St James' Park.





14. John Stones: Barnsley to Everton £3m

Wigan are understood to have had an offer accepted for Stones on deadline day morning to move into pole position to sign the 18-year-old right-back, who is also comfortable playing at centre-back.

But Everton joined the race for the signature of the England under-19 international defender when having an offer of their own accepted – believed to be in the region of £3million – and concluded the transfer with minutes to spare before the close of the deadline.

Everton have been keen to sign a full-back to provide cover with Seamus Coleman, who has made the right-back berth his own this season, currently sidelined with injury.





13. Luciano Becchio: Leeds United to Norwich City Part-Exchange

The 29 year old former Merida forward has been a stunning success at Elland Road, scoring 86 goals in 221 appearances for Leeds United, becoming something of a cult hero at the club.

Chris Hughton will hope that new injection of firepower will help get his Canaries season back on track after a series of poor results effectively canceled out all the good work Norwich City had put into the opening months of the season.

Becchio certainly has the potential to convert Championship success to life in the English top tier, was a cult hero at Elland Road and may well achieve the same status at Carrow Road before too long.





12. Urby Emanuelson: AC Milan to Fulham (Loan)

The 26 year old, who can play in a number of positions, has fallen down the San Siro pecking order and appears keen on garnering some much needed playing time.

Emanuelson is on route to London where he will undergo a medical.

"I will finish the season with a loan deal," he told De Telegraaf.

"I have worked in a very good way with him (Martin Jol) at Ajax and am happy as he gives me the chance.

"Martin has a lot of confidence in me and that's what I need right now. At AC Milan I ended up on the bench from nowhere and I was really shocked with that. The previous two months were hard.

"At my age it is important to play week in, week out."

The adaptable Dutchman is something of a coup signing and clearly having former Ajax boss Martin Jol in charge at Craven Cottage helped to get the deal sewn up. Emanuelson could well be a signing that helps push Fulham back up the table in the second half of the season.





11. Moussa Sissoko: Toulouse to Newcastle United £2.5m

Mali-born Sissoko, who made 192 Ligue 1 appearances for Toulouse and scored 20 goals, is one of a host of January signings made by Alan Pardew, who is desperate to see his side achieve an upturn in form.

"This transfer window has proved very productive for us and Moussa arriving today is a massive plus for the club," Magpies boss Alan Pardew said.

"He will bring drive and energy to the squad, he is a winner and that's why I'm especially pleased to have him with us.

"What all our signings this window bring is essential competition for places and that is great for the remainder of the season."

Sissoko was chased by a number of other big sides and the rangy midfielder has the attributes to make it in the English top tier having arguably outgrown his Ligue 1 side.





10. Mathieu Debuchy: Lille to Newcastle United Undisclosed

The 27-year-old, who has played more than 230 times for the Ligue 1 side during a 10-year spell, including in their league and cup-winning double year in the 2010-2011 season, signed a five-and-a-half year contract at St James' Park.

The Magpies' manager Alan Pardew said they were "absolutely delighted" to have signed Debuchy, who will join his former team-mate and international colleague Yohan Cabaye in northeast England.

"It's no secret we've been trailing him for some time now and to have reached this point fills me with great excitement and anticipation in respect of what he will be able to offer the team," Pardew added.

"At the same time it's a huge relief to actually have him with us now."

Indeed Debuchy is a player Pardew tracked for some months and will now hope to see the attack minded full-back make an impact at St James' Park.





9. Danny Graham: Swansea City to Sunderland £5.5m

The 27 year old had something of a limited role in Michael Laudrup's first team picture this term, due chiefly to the good form shown by summer signing Michu, and a move away from the Liberty Stadium had been on the cards for some weeks.

Black Cats boss Martin O'Neill was clearly mindful of the lack of effective attacking options in his Sunderland squad and knew that if he were to lose Steven Fletcher to injury then he would have little or no meaningful cover for the Scot.

Graham finished as the Swans top scorer last term with 12 goals in 32 Premier League starts and thus far this season has netted seven goals in all competitions.

One wonders just how Sunderland fans will take to the Gateshead born forward given his public statements of hatred for the club in the past.





8. Jack Butland: Birmingham City to Stoke City £4m

The young Birmingham City keeper has made a rapid rise up the footballing ladder and is now a Premier League custodian.

Last year the teenager went from being sent out on loan to Cheltenham to being selected for Roy Hodgson's Euro 2012 squad to representing Team GB in the Summer Olympics before being an ever present with his St Andrews' side.

Butland was reportedly also approached by Chelsea but seemingly felt that a move to Stoke City would give him a better chance of securing regular first team football.

The 19 year old must first unseat in-form Bosnian Asmir Begovic in order to earn his first top tier start.





7. Christopher Samba: Anzhi to QPR £12m

The former Blackburn defender moved to Russia a year ago, but jumped at the chance of a return to England as Harry Redknapp finally ended his search for a centre-back following failed attempts to sign Jonas Olsson, William Gallas, Michael Dawson and Joleon Lescott.

QPR manager Harry Redknapp had previously tried to sign Samba last season when Tottenham manager only to miss out to Anzhi. He will fill the void left by Ryan Nelson, who has left Loftus Road to become coach of MLS side Toronto FC.

The deal is said to have cost a club record £12.5m according to the Daily Mail.

Samba could well prove to be a priceless signing if he helps to keep things tight at the back and QPR avoid the drop.





6. Philippe Coutinho: Inter Milan to Liverpool £8.5m

The Inter Milan man became Liverpool's second signing of the summer with Brendan Rodgers having brought in Chelsea forward Daniel Sturridge early in the month.

The 20 year old was once dubbed the 'Next Kaka' and is a player who would considered the next superstar of South American football, but to be fair the former Vasca da Gama playmaker has struggled to live up to expectations over the course of the past couple of seasons.

Brendan Rodgers has reportedly been scouting the San Siro youngster, who has become something of a bit-part player under boss Andrea Stramaccioni this term.

Last season Coutinho experienced some success whilst on loan at La Liga side Espanyol, netting five goals 16 appearances for the Barcelona based side.

A move to Liverpool represents a chance for the young Brazilian to re-ignite a career that was brimful of promise a couple of years ago.





5. Nacho Monreal: Malaga to Arsenal £8.3m

Monreal has impressed in his 18 months at Malaga, helping his side to secure a Champions League berth and becomes the second player to make the move from La Rosaleda to the Emirates Stadium in the past year, with Santi Cazorla making the same switch last summer.

Though perhaps not a spectacular signing the arrival of Monreal serves to assist in the problem area on the left hand side of Arsenal's defence. Kieran Gibbs has been very able when fit but has been sidelined far too often and Andre Santos has been woeful over the past year and therefore a move to sign the Spanish international was a timely one.

The Pamplona born left-back racked up over 120 appearances for Osasuna before moving to Malaga in a £4.5m deal in June 2011.





4. Lewis Holtby: Schalke to Tottenham £1.25m

Lewis Holtby was originally due to arrive at White Hart Lane in the summer on a free transfer from Schalke after the two clubs struck a pre-contract agreement, but Tottenham paid out to buy him sooner when Sandro was ruled out through injury. Holtby, the German under-21 captain, is a classy midfield player and the Premier League will welcome him with open arms.

Having impressed in the Bundesliga Holtby had been linked with a host of clubs and Tottenham will be pleased with the fact they appear to have beaten Arsenal to the signing of the young midfield talent.

The £1.25m payment to bring forward the deal was clearly one worth making, not least because Holtby had begun to receive a fair bit of abuse from some sections of the Schalke support.





3. Daniel Sturridge: Chelsea to Liverpool £12m

The transfer figure may have raised a few eyebrows, but Daniel Sturridge has already repaid part of the £12million fee Liverpool splashed out.

The young England star has already built an understanding with Luis Suarez, given a new lease of life to buddy Jordan Henderson and improve Liverpool. The Anfield club look a much better side since his arrival, the Oldham giantkilling aside!

Three goals in five matches also helped to secure an England re-call and Brendan Rodgers will be pleased to have another goal-scoring option in his armoury.





2. Wilfried Zaha: Crystal Palace to Man United £15m

Manchester United beat off the competition to buy Wilfried Zaha, a star of the Championship with Crystal Palace, and there is every reason to expect him to be twice the player he already is when he officially moves to Old Trafford in the summer.

Already an England international, Zaha has the hallmarks to become a top class player under Sir Alex Ferguson's tutelage and he can become a star for many years to come.

The 20 year old attacker has the makings of a real top talent and will more than likely replace Nani in the Man United first team picture when he joins the club following the unfinished business he has with the Eagles.

Zaha is the latest in a string of youthful additions Sir Alex Ferguson has made as he looks to build for the future as one by one his old guard call it a day.





1. Demba Ba: Newacstle United to Chelsea £7.5m

Demba Ba scored twice on his Blues debut and already looks twice the player £50m Fernando Torres does in Chelsea colours. The Senegal international is arguably playing something of a waiting game as Rafa Benitez steadfastly sticks with the Spaniard, or is being told to do so by owner Roman Abramovich, but in the long run the former Newcastle United man will prove to be an excellent Stamford Bridge acquisition.

£7.5m is an excellent price to pay for a player of Ba's proven Premier League experience and he is seemingly a perfect long term replacement for Didier Drogba.

The speedy attacker is seemingly a much better fit as a spearhead of the Chelsea attack as his game fits more neatly with the approach play of the club's dynamic creative trio of Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Oscar.


~CaughtOffside » Chelsea FC~
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