EPL: The top deals of the 2012 January transfer window

Some clubs think that January is just not the best time to get a player in… but for some, it is possibly the best way to enforce a tepid season of expectations. Manchester United or Arsenal may not aim for a crucial signing but it usually depends on the standing of each team in the league at the dawn of the new year. Listed below are probably the top ten deals of this year’s winter market. Gary Cahill (Bolton Wanderers to Chelsea): Andre Villas-Boas’ defence crumbled all too often for his to wait till next summer. The talented Portuguese manager has had a rocky start to his first season in the English Premier League, and a cut-price signing of Bolton’s centre-back Gary Cahill will go a long way in establishing a stable spine for the rest of the season. [caption id=“attachment_199358” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Everton’s new signing Darron Gibson struck the winner against Manchester City. AP”]  [/caption] Darron Gibson (Manchester United to Everton): It just had to happen. The player was supposed to move to Sunderland earlier in summer but the move did not work out for both parties. Everton had also lodged an interest and they came sniffing back in January. The move was sealed amid much approval and the goal against Manchester City, helping his ex-club go level on top for the time being should be proof enough of this being a smart buy. Louis Saha (Everton to Tottenham Hotspur): The French hitman has been clinical when at his best. Problem is, he is usually never on the pitch to be at his best. The service at Spurs is much better than Everton and they need a clinical striker while playing with two on top. With Emannuel Adebayor’s deal also being a temporary one, Saha’s loan deal has an option of making it permanent… and may well become one if he stays fit till June. Nikica Gelavic (Rangers to Everton): Everton sold Diniyar Bilyaletdinov earlier in the market and that paved the way for David Moyes to enter the race for the highly rated Gelavic. The Bosnian Croat has already scored 36 goals in 55 appearances for the Scottish outfit and Everton have previously been unlucky with strikers. This deal could be a springboard for the rest of the season. Bobby Zamora (Fulham to QPR): Bobby has been the focal point of every attack Fulham have made whenever he has played. The Englishman’s form earned him an international call-up and his hold up play has allowed midfielder Clint Dempsey to flourish. It was no surprise when his ex-Manager Mark Hughes swooped for the player and made it a point he got his man at all costs. Not to mention the addition of Djibril Cisse in the line-up from Lazio. Papiss Cisse (Freiburg to Newcastle United): It has to be said, Alan Pardew has done exceptional business since selling Andy Carroll. First Demba Ba for free in the summer, and now Papiss Cisse. The boy is a ‘proper striker’ according to Ba and comes with a guarantee of goals. Kevin de Bruyne (Genk to Chelsea): He doesn’t move until the summer, but this is one top signing and probably heralds the end of Frank Lampard’s career as Chelsea’s attacking midfield linchpin. Maybe a bit too early to say that, but AVB is bringing in a new breed of talent and it surely threatens Chelsea’s old guard. Nedum Onuoha and Taye Taiwo (To QPR from Manchester City and AC Milan respectively): Shrewd. That is the best word to describe the signing of these two players. Mark Hughes has his head in the right place and even though they are temporary moves, all QPR care about is survival in the league and Taye Taiwo burning the left side of the park will surely help. Onuoha is a promising defender and will add to QPR’s options on the bench. Wayne Bridge (Manchester City to Sunderland): The player is itching to play and Sunderland need a left-back. Perfect match. Sebastien Bassong (Tottenham to Wolves): Much needed defensive option for Mick McCarthy. It is a loan move but may pave the way for Blackburn’s Ryan Nelsen to move on a free transfer to Spurs.