With the January transfer window in full swing, the clubs are busy patching up their squad and picking from the market to add the finishing touches to the team they feel will be good enough to do the job for the club. Different clubs have different objectives and operate on different levels depending on finances and the purpose of the transfers.
Let us take a look at three transfers which could prove to be intelligent pieces of business for the respective clubs.
MORGAN SCHNEIDERLIN (MANCHESTER UNITED TO EVERTON)
Irrespective of the transfer fee, this transfer has the potential to have a say in many an important match in this season and many coming seasons. Ronald Koeman had made this a priority signing and after Schneiderlin had been deemed surplus to requirements at Manchester United, he was bent on a reunion with his midfield enforcer from Southampton.
The two had a wonderful partnership back at St. Mary’s and there is every chance that will be renewed once again. Koeman is overseeing a minor overhaul at Goodison Park and he has chosen midfield as the reason to make the maximum changes. And it is quite clear that the manager sees the duo of Gueye and Schneiderlin as the long-term solution to their midfield.
JOSE FONTE (SOUTHAMPTON TO WEST HAM UNITED)
The former Southampton club captain was a club legend in his own rights and was a vital passenger and contributor to their meteoric rise. His calm and composed demeanour in defence was crucial in establishing the Saints as a defensively resolute outfit and their flashy attacking play was mostly based on the Launchpad the likes of Fonte and later van Dijk provided. This was indeed a crucial transfer by Bilic.
West Ham United were struggling defensively and other than Reid did not have a proper senior option at the back. And the partnership of Fonte and Reid is likely to have a say on their season and Bilic will hope they shore up things at the back.
SAIDO BERAHINO (WEST BROM TO STOKE CITY)
A long drawn saga finally came to an end when a bitter Saido Berahino packed his bags and made the switch to the Potters. The talented forward was subject to failed bids by Tottenham some time ago and since then, things simply weren’t amicable at West Brom. Berahino will add more freshness to the Palace attack and will provide a good plan A, which ironically was missing at Stoke who have had to rely on the tall and lanky Peter Crouch to get the job done!
