Derby

Top January Deals: Who Will Make The Difference?

The January transfer window has now closed and the Premier League clubs who have invested big money on new signings are going to want to see a good return for their money. Bryan Sanchez looks at who went where and how much for, although as is tradition with the winter window most transfers came with undisclosed fees attached.

Tottenham

Juande Ramos’s reign at White Hart Lane has been stop start so far this season.

He has raised Spurs’ commitment and fitness level on the pitch but their ever-unreliable defence is still the Spaniard’s main problem, not to mention the lack of natural left sided players. The 5-1 hammering of their north London rivals Arsenal in the Carling Cup showed us they are a major attacking force but the late equaliser against Manchester United in the league highlights their ongoing defensive frailties.

It is no secret there will be mass clearout come the summer but already he has come down on those he feels are surplus to requirements. Paul Stalteri, Antony Gardner, and surprisingly Jermain Defoe have all left Tottenham with the pint-sized England international joining Portsmouth having been quoted as saying he would stay at Spurs only last week.

Even so, Ramos seems to be happy with just Berbatov, Keane and Bent as his side’s main attacking threat. His signings in January are an indication that he wants to bring in quality in the areas that need improving. In comes central defender Jonathan Woodgate (Undis, approx £7m) from Middlesbrough and highly-rated Scottish right-back Alan Hutton (£8m). Add wing-backs Welshman Chris Gunter from Cardiff City (Undis) and left-sided Brazilian Gilberto (Undis) from Hertha Berlin and the Spurs defence looks to be strengthening, but only time will tell given Woodgate, King and Bale’s fitness troubles in recent times as to how solid the backline will be.

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Portsmouth

Harry Redknapp was a favourite for the England manager’s job when Steve McClaren was sacked, but due to circumstances outside of football it seems it may be too late for him to become his national side’s main man, though only time will tell. That aside, he has continued his excellent ability to turn what many consider to be ‘lesser’ sides into Uefa Cup contenders.

He has done it with West Ham and now on the South Coast. Portsmouth are not renowned for their ability to challenge for Europe but since Redknapp’s second coming the boys from Fratton Park are turning heads. His acquisition of Benjani from Auxerre was fantastic as the African’s goals have been vital during the last two seasons but his business sense is also important.

He has now sold his top marksman to Manchester City for a profit (pending paperwork clarification) and brought in arguably an even better striker in Jermain Defoe (Undis, approx £9m). The pair worked together during Redknapp’s time at West Ham and was Defoe’s main reason for moving down south. He will be partnered alongside loan signing from Lyon, Milan Baros. Lassana Diarra also joins Pompey (£5m) from Arsenal to strengthen the central midfield.

Fulham

Roy Hodgson’s task at Fulham is a tough one.

Taking over from Lawrie Sanchez was always going to be hard. The west London side will always live in the shadows of their nearest rivals Chelsea but with Mohamed Al Fayed as chairman resources will always be there, and it has been no different during the mid-season sales. They may not be spending the kind of money Roman Abramovich has but Hodgson’s knowledge of central European football has seen some new faces arrive at Craven Cottage who may well pull them out of trouble.

Former Manchester United youth player Erik Nevland was one of the arrivals. Now 30, he will be hoping he can be a success in the Premier League with experience under his belt. Hodgson also brings in Finland legend and playmaker Jari Litmanen (free), as well as Leon Andreasen (£2.4m), Brede Hangeland (£3.7m), Toni Kallio (free) and United States international Eddie Johnson (£1m) who joins fellow countrymen Bocanegra, Dempsey, McBride and Keller in London. Paul Stalteri also joined on loan from Tottenham.

Hodgson will be hoping the new signings can rejuvenate the team and with the return of Jimmy Bullard from injury there will be hope Fulham can climb out of the relegation zone.

Derby

Paul Jewell’s chances of keeping Derby in the Premier League look about as likely as Britney Spears and Amy Winehouse becoming judges on the next series of X-Factor.

The former Wigan boss took over at the Rams with the club in disarray following a torrid start to the season under the management of Billy Davies. His appointment has hardly made a difference to his team’s luck as they remain bottom with only one league win from 25 matches, and nine points at time of writing.

Derby’s transfers during the winter window show that their players have been lacking in Premier League experience and grit this season. Main additions to the squad include Robbie Savage (£2m), Roy Carroll (free), Laurent Robert (Undis), Alan Stubbs (free) and Danny Mills (loan).

Argentine striker Emanuel Villa (Undis) arrives on a three-year contract from Mexican side UAG Tecos and recently stated he can be as much of an influence to Derby as Carlos Tevez was to West Ham last season, a bold claim though a goal at Birmingham helped back his claim. Derby will almost certainly go down but should they slip into the Championship they will most certainly be favorites to come straight back up.

Best of the rest…

Birmingham City splashed out on Scottish striker James McFadden. The £5m signing was finding a starting place hard to come by at Everton so will be once again be teaming up with former Scotland boss Alex McLeish and trying to score those goals to take them up the table away from the relegation zone. David Murphy (£2m) also joins from Hibernian with their local rivals Aston Villa signing speedy winger Wayne Routledge from Spurs’ reserves for £2m.

Matt Taylor ends his time with Portsmouth with a move to Lancashire. Bolton manager Gary Megson rates the left-sided winger and felt justified in spending £5m with a battle against the drop looming. Gary Cahill joins for £5m from Aston Villa and Gretar Steinsson signs on the dotted line for £4m from AZ Alkmaar.

Chelsea add to their strength in depth with the biggest signing of the transfer window, spending £15m for Frenchman Nicolas Anelka. He has come straight out of the blocks with two goals for his new club already. He is joined by Lokomotiv Moscow central defender Branislav Ivanovic (£9m) who is highly rated by Avram Grant but will need to regain match fitness; his Russian club were in pre-season.

David Moyes’ Everton captured two players on loan. Valencia’s Portuguese youngster Manuel Fernandes returns to Goodison and will be joined by Antony Gardner from Spurs. Wigan signed Jamaican international Marlon King (Undis, approx £5m) from Watford despite Fulham pulling out of a deal to sign him due to a failed medical. King cited underhand tactics by Fulham to try to lower Watford’s asking fee. Former Tottenham left-back Erik Edman (Undis) also signs for the Latics.

Reading capture Jimmy Kebe (Undis) from French side RC Lens while Kevin Keegan’s only activity in the market was to offload David Rozenhal on loan from Newcastle United to Lazio. The Czech defender was unimpressive in his first months in the Premier League. And finally, Middlesbrough captured exciting Brazilian Alfonso Alves. Gareth Southgate has been on the striker’s trail since the summer and will be pleased he has joined the ranks at the Riverside. He is still awaiting his work permit to clear as well as an investigation from Fifa after an official complaint was made by AZ Alkmaar who claim they have a pre-contract agreement with Alves.

Manchester City signed Felipe Caicedo from Basle but will have to wait, at time of writing, for confirmation on Benjani’s proposed move from Portsmouth. It is not clear whether or not paperwork from City arrived at the FA headquarters by the midnight deadline so Sven Goran Erikson will have to hold his breath until then.

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