Top 10 January transfers by Premier League clubs

#7 Nemanja Matic (Benfica to Chelsea - £21 million - January 2014)

Matic is the perfect Mourinho player and followed him to United

Chelsea had to face the mockery of football fans after having to buy back the services of the player they had sold off in 2011 for a mere 4 million pounds, by paying an additional 17 million pounds to that fee only 30 months later.

But it was Chelsea who had the last laugh as Matic proved instrumental in helping the club win the Premier League title in his first full season with the club in 2015 and adding another in 2017. He is the perfect Mourinho player, adept at breaking play in the heart of the midfield, and while he rarely ventures high up the pitch, he has the flare for the spectacular with a deadly long-range shot with his left foot.

His strike in the FA Cup against Tottenham during the 16/17 season is one of the best goals scored from outside the penalty area.

With his sale in 2017, Chelsea managed to recover nearly twice the amount they paid for him in 2014 through his transfer to Manchester United.

While on the face of it the deal seems to be great monetarily, only time will tell if they will get to relive the misery of having let him go too soon, for a second time; which will be especially true if he goes on to help Manchester United get back to their glory days.

Best season for Chelsea - 2014/15 (Least goals (32) conceded in the Premier League)

Matic sticks to his role of playing the midfield enforcer and that provides for very little in term of statistical boost, but his ability to break up play and win back possession is world-class, and he used all his skills to help Chelsea keep the tightest defence in the league and win the Premier League title. He was also a part of the PL Team of the year that also featured 5 other Chelsea players.