The transfer window is now closed and most European football clubs are unable to do any further business until the summer. It was a busy final day of business with many surprise players joining surprise clubs meaning there were a number of winners and losers in terms of those good moves and some forced to stay put despite wanting to go. somewhere else. Enzo Fernandez, Jorginho, Get out, Marcel Sabitzer AND Milan Skriniar there were only a few who experienced opposite fortunes on January 31.
We look at some winners and losers:
Winner: Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea
The transfer saga of this January window ended with Argentina international getting the move that has been behind all month. The two clubs reached a last-minute possible deal and the 22-year-old ends what has been a lavish winter spending spree even by Chelsea’s new standards. Fernandez leaves a huge hole for the Portuguese giants but brings the biggest possible fee that can be reinvested in the future. Now for the South American to get down to business as Graham Potter tries to rebuild the Blues midfield with his latest signing.
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Failure: of Hakim Ziyech incomplete transfer to PSG
It seemed like Morocco international would be a winner but his move to the Parc Des Princes to join Paris Saint-Germain hit a snag after reports say a paperwork issue at Chelsea’s end resulted in paperwork not being handed in on time. The French Professional League has now confirmed that the transfer is not valid. Ziyech has become a bit more of a forgotten man with each new arrival like Mudryk and Joao Felix arrived at Stamford Bridge. A move would give him a new lease of life, but he will now have to stay in London until at least this summer. There is no doubt that the 2022 FIFA World Cup played a part in Ziyech earning this potential at the age of 29, but there was also that little bit of need from the French champions who were in dire need of an injection of creativity. It was an interesting opportunity in a position of need, not one that PSG’s young defender really needed…
Loser: Milan Skriniar will stay at Inter until the summer
This brings us to one of the biggest losers, who will now have to see out the season with Inter. Skriniar has agreed a summer move to PSG as a free agent, but both will have to do without until then, which isn’t necessarily good news for the remainder of this season. The Ligue 1 leaders were in dire need of new defensive blood given their current struggles and Skriniar has been desperate to leave as soon as possible but must now give his all in difficult circumstances for the Nerazzurri .
Winner: Marcel Sabitzer at Manchester United
Few predicted such a move but the untimely damage of Christian Eriksen presented an opportunity which united jumped on it to add a quality stop solution with Denmark the star is now out until the end of the season. A non-essential figure at Bayern Munich, Sabitzer’s future has been the subject of speculation more or less since he arrived from RB Leipzig and this transition is now an opportunity to remind people of its quality. Expect Erik ten Hag to make him look something like the talismanic figure he was for Leipzig.
Winner: Jorginho Arsenal
Towards the end of last week, Arsenal were expected to spend big to sign the Brighton man Moises Caicedo still Ecuador international finds himself stuck with the Seagulls just days later. After refusing to be drawn into a bidding war for Caicedo, the Gunners took the same pragmatic approach that allowed them Mykhailo Mudryk join Chelsea and go Leandro Trossard AND Jakub Kivior instead. Mike Arteta’s men now find themselves with three quality additions at a fraction of the prices discussed in relation to Mudryk and Caicedo. Jorginho could also end up a Premier League champion.
Loser: Isco and Union Berlin are falling apart
For a short while, it looked as though Union Berlin would pull off something of a coup with the Spaniard joining the likes of Josip JuranovićJerome Roussillon and Aissa Laidouni at Stadion An der Altern Forsterei. However, the medical proved problematic and the move quickly fell apart for the 30-year-old Real Madrid AND Sevilla man who remains without a club. The Germans will be fine and are well-equipped for their battle at the top of the Bundesliga, but there is no guarantee that Isco will find a new club anytime soon given that there are now huge questions over his fitness.
Loser: Moises Caicedo doesn’t get a big move from Brighton
The Ecuador international overplayed his hand and got burned as Arsenal pounced on Brighton’s asking price. Isolated from the senior squad as the transfer window ticked by, Caicedo now faces an uphill task to win back the trust of his manager, team-mates and Seagulls fans. Given the high price, potential future suitors will be wary of this episode before attempting to sign the 21-year-old this summer – assuming his form has recovered.
