The January transfer window has come to a close and we are left evaluating every single club’s dealings over the past month. Almost every club has been busy picking up and trading players in order to prepare themselves for the final stretch of the season. In the Premier League, the first club that comes to mind is – Liverpool.
The Reds are growing more and more desperate to find a replacement for Philippe Coutinho and so far their search has been to no avail. With the window now shut off, they will have to target the summer transfer window. The Brazilian departed on a £142m transfer to Barcelona earlier this month and this has left a meteoric gap in the Liverpool squad ranks. Jurgen Klopp or the Anfield bosses could not persuade their number 10 to stay and this has placed the former Borussia Dortmund in a tight spot.
They bowed out of the FA Cup with a 2-3 loss to West Brom following the 1-0 loss to Swansea City. In no sense are Liverpool cruising and judging by their recent form – they are in danger of finishing outside the top four. They have bolstered the defence through the signing of Virgil van Dijk for £75m and still need to reinvest the Coutinho transfer fee for a marquee player.
The club has been linked with multiple players to replace the Brazilian including Leicester City’s, Riyad Mahrez and AS Monaco’s Thomas Lemar. Borussia Dortmund’s Christian Pulisic was also linked but none of the deals ever materialised.
Newcastle United
Magpies owner, Mike Ashley is yet to put his money where his mouth is. He has previously stated that proper funds would have been provided to the former Chelsea manager, but none has shown up till now.
The entire Amanda Staveley and PCP Group takeover saga ended earlier this month when Ashley rejected their bid.
Benitez has requested for funds time and time again and yet the owner has failed to meet his demands. They have signed just two players – Kennedy and Islam Slimani on a loan deal. This might not be enough to see comfortably through the relegation battle which is closing in fast.
Swansea City
The Swans are a rejuvenated side under newly appointed Carlos Carvalhal and the Welsh side are looking to build on their run of form but have not made much of a difference in the transfer window. They have signed Leicester City stalwart, Andy King on loan and West Ham forward, Andre Ayew. With just 5 starts in the league this season, King does not look like the player that he used to be. Clearly, he still has heaps of football left in him but has struggled to show it in recent times.
The club is still struggling to replace Gylfi Sigurdsson in the creative role and Andy King does not fit the exact bill.
