Manchester City spent big in the January transfer window.placeholder image
Manchester City spent big in the January transfer window. | Getty Images
The January transfer window was a good one for several Premier League clubs - but Manchester City were the clear winners.
With the January transfer window closed and transfer business over with until the summer, it’s time to have a look at who the winners and losers of this season’s winter window have been.
Some Premier League clubs have spent big in the hope of offering the extra boost needed to change their season, while others have done nothing at all and watched on, and some have even sold their biggest assets to rivals. With a hefty £390m spent on new signings by English top flight clubs this month, there has been no shortage of drama – while some of the usual suspects such as Chelsea and Manchester United have stayed eerily quiet.
The business of a few clubs has stood out when the winners of the window are concerned. An honourable mention goes to Fulham for their capture of Oscar Bobb for £27m while fending off interest in Harry Wilson, while Wolves admirably managed to draw a £48m fee for out-of-form Jørgen Strand Larsen and brought in Angel Gomes and Adam Armstrong in some smart pieces of forward planning. The winners of the January window, though, are undoubtedly Manchester City.
Manchester City’s smart early business sees them win the January transfer window
One of the things which is most admirable about Manchester City’s winter window is that they acted quickly to get their business done early and avoid a late scramble. Not only that, but they secured the signings of two of the most in-demand players in the country with next to no fuss at all.
Antoine Semenyo arrived from Bournemouth for £64m after a deal was reportedly close to being wrapped up before the window had even opened. Soon after, an injury crisis at centre-back meant Pep Guardiola’s side stepped up their interest in Marc Guéhi – and a deal was quickly reached with the England international, to the surprise of those who thought he was destined to move to Liverpool in the summer.
Both players are ready-made to shine in the Premier League and have instantly stepped into Guardiola’s starting XI, with limited risk attached to the two signings despite the significant outlay on transfer fees and wages. Semenyo, for his part, has already scored four goals in five matches for his new club. If City are to oust Arsenal to win the Premier League title come the end of the season, it may be this window which saw them get the upper hand.
Three smart exits secured in positive window for City in all aspects
What cannot be forgotten is that City made money in this window, too. The sale of Bobb to Fulham for £27m was a smart deal for all parties – from the Sky Blues’ perspective, a considerable fee for an academy graduate who will no doubt shine for the Cottagers but had not quite shown enough to make it at the Etihad.
A transfer fee was even received from Nottingham Forest for third-choice goalkeeper Stefan Ortega – a relatively insignificant one at £500k, but a profit nevertheless on a player they signed for free in 2022. They also found a suitor for forgotten man Kalvin Phillips, who moved to Sheffield United on loan with the aim of getting his career back on track in time for a permanent departure in the summer.
A net spend of £56.5m overall, then, which appears very smart business from where we are sat at present. Whether City have truly won the January window will ultimately be judged by the major honours they win by the end of the season, but it cannot be denied that they have given themselves the best possible chance. With a six-point deficit to make up on Arsenal and three cup competitions yet to fight for, the role which Semenyo and Guéhi play in the remainder of the season will be intriguing to see.
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