Transfer Deadline Day: The Biggest Deals

With the EPL transfer window having closed yesterday, CaptainGambling has taken a look at the most eye-opening deals to make it over the line.

It’s been a busy time for sports news over here in Australia, with the test cricket trip to South Africa being called off and all of the palava surrounding the Australian Open, that you could be forgiven for forgetting that the transfer window over in England closed yesterday. There was a surprising amount of movement considering the state of the Covid-19 pandemic in England and the rest of Europe, so we’ve taken a look at the top stories from the day below.

Liverpool Reinforce Defence at the 11th hour

Just a few short weeks ago, Jurgen Klopp had put to rest any hopes that Red fans might have had about getting in reinforcements to plug the defensive gaps. However, the recent injury to Joel Matip seems to have convinced the men upstairs, as Liverpool sealed a loan move for Schalke’s Ozan Kabak until the end of the season as well as a permanent £2m (3.5AUD) for Preston’s Ben Davies.

Minamino Heads to the Saints

It was one in, one out for Liverpool, as the loan move for Kabak was balanced out with Japanese winger Minamino heading down to Southampton until the end of the season. Minamino hasn’t exactly struggled since joining the Reds, but haas yet to fully settle into life at Liverpool, neither as a regular starter or squad player. The loan move to Southampton could be exactly what his development needs.

King Crowned at Everton

It was a quiet transfer window, unsurprisingly, and the other ‘big’ deadline day story also took place on Merseyside - this time in the blue half. There had been much deliberation over where Bournemouth’s Joshua King would end up, with Fulham and Everton - with the Toffees ultimately winning the race for his signature. The 29 year old Norwegian has signed a six month contract with the option to extend or become a free agent at the end of the season.

Other notable moves

Elsewhere, Manchester United loaned out forgotten man Maruc Rojo to Boca Juniors in Argentina and completed the biggest money transfer with the signing of Amad Diallo from Atalanta in Italy. They also loaned out Jesse Lingard to West Ham, who also completed the signing of Brentford’s Said Benrahma on a permanent deal.

Lowest Transfer Spend Since 2012

The biggest transfers rarely take place during the January window during normal time, so we weren’t expecting big things during a pandemic that has shrunk club funds and restricted players’ travel options. The net spend was just £70m (125.8m AUD), which is the lowest since 2012 and pale’s in comparison to last year’s £230m (400m AUD). Unsurprisingly, the handful of high profile transfer that took place were mostly loan moves.