Well, yesterday was a tad more dramatic than usual wasn’t it! From Liverpool splashing the cash early to Manchester United seemingly forgetting how to complete transfers to Sky Sports News losing all knowledge of the whereabouts of Romelu Lukaku, the second of September 2013 was one of the most exciting days in transfer history.
Let’s take a quick look then over who did the best business yesterday before taking a look later on at who fell by the wayside:-
Liverpool:-
In:- Victor Moses (Loan from Chelsea), Mamadou Sakho (£18m from PSG), Tiago Ilori (£7m from Sporting Lisbon)
Out:- Daniel Pacheco (Undisclosed fee to Alcaron), Fabio Borini (Loan to Sunderland)
Summary:-
They didn’t get the marquee signing that fans from some circles had been crying out for over the final days leading up to the deadline (although I think signing Sakho from PSG is a move that shouldn’t be underestimated, he’s phenomenal) but it sure as anything was some mighty fine business done by Liverpool on deadline day! Getting all your business done before lunch time is one thing (unless you believe rumours that a bid for Juan Mata was tabled), but to get such great talent for your money is another thing entirely. Everyone knows of Victor Moses’ abilities and I believe a loan move from Chelsea is the perfect move for all parties; Moses gets some playing time which will surely help his development which is good for him, Chelsea, Liverpool and maybe even the national team, and Rodgers will have some interesting selection dilemmas out wide now as the competition for places will surely up everyone’s game in the squad will it not? Ilori is very much one for the future as he’s only 20 years old and has plenty of time to grow but it’s the signing of Sakho I think Liverpool fans should be most happy with. Whilst not the most technically gifted defender ever, he is an absolute beast of a man and will certainly add some presence to the Liverpool rear-guard and at the age of 23, of course there is still time, especially under Brendan Rodgers, to develop that technical side of his game which could turn him into one of the most dynamic defensive forces in the league. The sale of Dani Pacheco will have done no more for Liverpool fans than leave them wondering ‘what if?’ as the Spaniard was touted as a real prospect when coming through the ranks at Liverpool but ultimately that potential never really materialised and Liverpool have parted ways with the young Spaniard however, all in all, you have to say it’s been a very good few days for Liverpool capped off by some fantastic business on deadline day!
Everton:-
In:-Romelu Lukaku (On loan from Chelsea), Gareth Barry (On loan from Manchester City), James McCarthy (£13m from Wigan Athletic)
Out:- Marouane Fellaini (£27.5m move to Manchester United), Victor Anichebe (Undisclosed fee to West Brom) Francisco Junior (Loan to Vitesse Arnhem)
Summary:-
Despite the sale of a man who was a lynchpin of Everton’s success over the last few years, Everton came out of deadline day with a much more rounded team than they had when they started it. The midfield acquisitions of Gareth Barry and James McCarthy as replacements to Marouane Fellaini changed, on paper at least, the dynamic of the Everton side as a whole as their whole midfield is now no longer anchored by a towering presence and is instead going to be a more complete footballing unit, probably more receptive to the possession game that Roberto Martinez has instilled at his previous clubs. Despite Barry’s age and McCarthy’s relative inexperience I really do think the Everton midfield is much more dangerous now as they have a number of combinations that they can use at the heart of that midfield and it makes them much more dangerous prospects to play against, certainly more like a side that can take their first win of the season rather than grinding out draws! No-one else is going to be more capable of helping them win games either than Romelu Lukaku is; the Belgian forward completing a last minute loan switch to the Toffees and boy are they getting a player. 17 goals in 20 starts for West Brom last season is the kind of stat that’ll have Evertonians gushing and, with all due respect, think of the difference of class in player he’s going to have supplying him opportunities at Everton as opposed to West Brom; if he gets off on the right foot, Lukaku could be on his way to a golden boot winning campaign. The loss of Marouane Fellaini almost doesn’t seem that bad a thing now for Everton fans especially after the money they got for him as well as the replacements, and the same goes for Anichebe, unless anyone out there wants to argue that they’d rather him over Lukaku? The whole of Merseyside will be happy football fans after the business conducted yesterday!
West Bromwich Albion:-
In:- Victor Anichebe (Undisclosed fee from Everton), Stephane Sessegnon (Undisclosed fee from Sunderland) Morgan Amalfitano (Loan from Marseille), Lee Camp (Free Transfer from Norwich),
Out:- Peter Odemwingie (£2.5m to Cardiff City)
Summary:-
After an abysmal start to the season, West Brom just needed some fresh talent in the side, especially in the forward areas and Steve Clarke went ahead and got it with some very good bargains being added to the frontline. A last-ditch swoop for Romelu Lukaku was also on the cards but that never materialised however West Brom fans will surely be happy to see Odemwingie off the books!
Honourable Mention:-
Arsenal at the very least deserve a mention as they of course completed the signing of Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid for £42m but there’s a reason I don’t find them as one of the biggest winners and that is I don’t think they’ve solved their biggest problems with this move. Yes, Ozil is phenomenal. Bar Iniesta, I think he’s the best playmaker in the world right now but that’s not what Arsenal needed in this window. He’s surely going to be phenomenal and help them win countless games but there’ll still be those games where Gunners fans are wishing Arsene had signed a centre back, or a defensive midfielder, not so much a playmaker which is a position they already have an abundance of players to choose from! Don’t get me wrong, this is phenomenal business by Arsenal and it’s nice to see them finally getting the massive name that they wanted, I’m just not 100% it’s entirely what they needed!
Check in with us again later in the evening as we review the losers on deadline day!