5 EPL January Transfers You Need To Know (And 3 To Watch On Deadline Day) - Forbes

Miguel Almiron is set to join Newcastle United from Atlanta United. (ASSOCIATED PRESS Photo/John Bazemore).

The English Premier League has reached the often-chaotic deadline day of the January transfer window.

Here are five signings you need to know about and three that could still happen in the final 24 hours.

Gonzalo Higuaín – Juventus to Chelsea (loan)

Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuaín is arguably the biggest name to arrive in the Premier League so far during the January transfer window. Higuaín has joined Maurizio Sarri’s men on an initial loan deal with his reported salary of $352,000 a week catapulting him into the league’s top five highest earners.

Higuaín’s form has slumped this season after scoring 40 goals in the past two seasons for Juventus. As Chelsea bid to qualify for the Champions League, they need the striker to be more effective than he was in his first appearance – a 4-0 humbling at Bournemouth. Chelsea have been the league’s biggest spenders this window but the majority of the outlay went on American Christian Pulisic, who will arrive at the club in the summer.

Dominic Solanke – Liverpool to Bournemouth ($25M)

After Chelsea, Bournemouth, one of the league’s smallest clubs, are the second biggest spenders so far. They have brought in three players, for a total cost of $41.1 million. English striker Dominic Solanke is the most eye-catching signing. The 21-year-old striker started his career at Chelsea, before joining Liverpool in 2017.

Solanke was competing for a spot in one of Europe’s best forward lines at Liverpool and found chances to impress hard to come by. The fee Bournemouth have paid looks reasonable for a promising striker and coach Eddie Howe has proven he is a master of nurturing young talent.

Ryan Babel – Besiktas to Fulham ($2.3M)

Relegation-threatened Fulham took the market by surprise in signing former Liverpool winger Ryan Babel. Babel, 32, helped Besiktas win the Turkish title and Fulham boss Claudio Ranieri took the chance to sign him on a short-term deal until the end of the season.

His pace and trickery is not quite what it was in his prime, but Babel can still be a tricky threat for opposing defences. Recognizable by his bright red hair, Babel clearly feels he can still offer something in the Premier League and Fulham will be hoping it is enough to keep them in it.

Denis Suárez – Barcelona to Arsenal (loan)

Arsenal have been in the market for new midfielders this window (more below) and had secured at least one at the time of writing. Denis Suárez has arrived on loan with an option to buy in the summer. The technically-gifted player can play on the wing or more centrally in the midfield. It is another option for coach Unai Emery, who worked with Suárez at Sevilla.

At age 17, Suárez was on the books of Premier League rivals Manchester City but barely played before returning to his native Spain. Unable to break into the Barcelona side, Suárez will see this as an invaluable second chance to make his mark in England.

Brahim Díaz – Manchester City to Real Madrid ($20M)

Champions Manchester City have largely kept their wallet in their pocket this window, with their highest-profile transfer a sale. Díaz, a 19-year-old Spanish attacking midfielder, joined Real Madrid for an initial $20 million fee. Having been restricted to substitute and cup appearances at City, Díaz wanted the chance to prove himself on the pitch.

City spotted his talent early and he moved to Manchester in 2015, aged just 16. Despite being unable to break into City’s first team, coach Pep Guardiola was reportedly “desperate” to keep the youngster. A move to Real, and the promise of game time, was an offer Díaz couldn’t refuse but one that might come back to bite City.

Three to watch on deadline day

Miguel Almiron – Atlanta United to Newcastle United

Providing he passes a medical, Paraguayan striker Almiron was set to join Newcastle for a club record fee reported to be $27.5M. Newcastle are the league’s third-lowest scorers and are banking on Almiron showing the form that saw him score 21 times in 62 matches for Atlanta.

Ivan Perisic – Inter Milan to Arsenal 

The Croatian winger, one of the stars of last summer’s World Cup, handed in a transfer request to Inter Milan with Arsenal keen to sign him on loan. Though Perisic’s form has dipped since the World Cup, Inter are only keen to let him go if there is an option at the end of the loan to sell at the right price. Arsenal are also apparently keen on Christopher Nkunku, a 21-year-old midfielder who plays for Paris Saint-Germain.

Callum Hudson-Odoi - Chelsea to Bayern Munich

German giants Bayern Munich have made it clear they want Chelsea’s exciting 18-year-old winger. Hudson-Odoi, having failed to regularly feature for the Blues this season, is keen to continue his development in Bavaria and handed in a transfer request. However, despite Bayern’s offer rising to $52.4 million, Chelsea want to hold on to the youngster, at least until summer.

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January 31, 2019 at 05:00PM