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The transfer window is one of the most important periods for football clubs all over the world. It is during this time that they sign players to improve their respective teams.
As for the fans, the immense satisfaction of following various transfer sagas and seeing new players join their favourite clubs is best left undescribed. It's a feeling that should rather be experienced than discussed, isn't it?
TheJanuary transfer window isn't as exciting as the one in summer, probably because it doesn't witness many high-profile signings, although this season is has been an exception in that regard.
Also, most of the high-profile clubs prefer working improving their squads in the summer before the season starts, rather than signing players hastily in the winter.
It might not boast a plethora of marquee signings, but the January window has seen some really shrewd pieces of business. Players who signed for a minimal fee in the past have gone on to become legends at their respective clubs.
That being said, here are the five best January signings ever made in the game's illustrious history.
#5 Nemanja Matic (Benfica to Chelsea for £22.5m in 2011)
Nemanja Matic shouldn't have been sold by Chelsea in the first place. The midfielder was sold to Benfica in 2011 for £4.5m, before he was brought back to the Blues under Jose Mourinho for £21 million in 2014.
From 2014 until 2017, Matic became an important cog in the wheel of Chelsea's well-oiled juggernaut, winning two Premier League trophies and the EFL Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge.
His ability to read the game and break up play was used to devastating effect under Antonio Conte in the past season, as the Serbian formed a formidable partnership with Frenchman N'Golo Kante in the middle.
Needless to say, their performances in the 3-4-3 formation were invaluable and arguably one of the highlights of their title-winning 2016-17 campaign. However, Chelsea surprised everyone by repeating their mistake from the past, shipping him off to rivals Manchester United and replacing him with Tiemoue Bakayoko.
At Old Trafford, Mourinho has shrewdly partnered Paul Pogba and Matic in the middle, allowing the former to flourish in a more attacking role. Selling him definitely doesn't make the list of the best decisions Chelsea have ever made, but bringing him back in 2014 was great move by the defending champions.
#4 Nemanja Vidic (Spartak Moscow to Manchester United for £7m in 2006)
Nemanja Vidic signed for Manchester United in a £9.5m deal in January 2006. While the Serbian went to United eventually, he was also heavily linked with a move to Fiorentina at the time.
However, the Italian outfit had already reached the limit for the number of non-EU players in their squad, a drawback United instantly pounced upon to snatch Vidic from their clutches.
Everybody knows what happened from that point onwards. Nemanja Vidic formed a formidable alliance with Rio Ferdinand at the back, going down in history as one of the best defensive partnerships of all time.
His imposing presence coupled with his chivalrous tackles in various 50-50 situations earned him a reputation as one of the bravest defenders in the Premier League. In a career that spanned eight years, Nemanja Vidic was one of Manchester United's leaders and won nine major trophies before departing to Inter Milan.
For all that he has achieved, Nemanja Vidic is rightly classified as modern-day legend at Manchester United and one of the best January transfers ever made.
#3 Patrice Evra (AS Monaco to Manchester United for £7.2m in 2006)
Another shrewd piece of business by Sir Alex Ferguson. Just a few days after Manchester United unearthed a gem in Nemanja Vidic, they roped in a young Patrice Evra who had impressed at Monaco.
Signed for a fee of £7.2 million, the Frenchman was expected to prove himself as a worthy successor to an injury-stricken Gabriel Heinze. It didn't take much time for Evra to make the left-back role his own, establishing himself as a crucial part of a sturdy United defense alongside Neville, Vidic and Ferdinand.
As the old guard said goodbye throughout the years, Evra became a United captain and led the team by example. Despite having a comparatively short stature, Evra became one of the best left-backs in the game during his time with the Red Devils, thanks to his pace, positioning and aerial ability.
Like Vidic, Evra stayed at Old Trafford for eight years, bagging nine major trophies in the time before being shipped off to Juventus in the summer of 2014. Looking back, snatching Patrice Evra from the jaws of Inter Milan who had nearly signed him in 2006, may be one of the best pieces of transfer business Sir Alex Ferguson ever made.
#2 Marcelo (Fluminense to Real Madrid for £5.85m in 2007)
A sum of £5.85 million was enough for Spanish giants Real Madrid to land Marcelo on New Year's Day in 2007. Signing a raw 18-year-old isn't charateristic for the Galacticos, but the Brazilian's transfer was probably one of the best decisions they have ever made.
On his arrival, Marcelo had an uphill task to carry out; he was seen as the natural heir to the monumental Roberto Carlos at the Bernabeu. However, with an impressive start to his Real Madrid career, the left-back became a regular in the starting XI under managers like Bernd Schuster and Fabio Capello.
Often praised for his versatility and pace on the left side, he was also deployed as a winger under Manuel Pellegrini. Nonetheless, after Jose Mourinho's appointment as coach, he returned to his former left-back role, where his immense work-rate and defensive abilities were used to a devastating effect.
Marcelo has amassed a total of 18 titles in an 11-year stint with Los Blancos and he is currently regarded as one of the best left-backs in the world of football.
#1 Luis Suarez (Ajax to Liverpool for £23.9m in 2011)
111 goals in 154 appearances - if that isn't enough to attract the big clubs, then what is? A 24-year-old Luis Suarez posted that incredible goalscoring record for Ajax before making his move into the Premier League to join Liverpool.
Liverpool left it late to sign the Uruguayan for roughly £23m in 2011, only securing the striker's services on deadline day. Suarez always showed the potential to become great at Ajax and joining Liverpool transformed him into one of the best marksmen in recent times.
Throughout his career, he has been lauded for his great finishing skills, his unpredictability and a fantastic work rate.
His qualities ensured him the Premier League Player of the Season award in the 2013-14 campaign. During that season, he also scored 31 goals in 33 games, which won him the Golden Boot, too. On the club level, he only won the League Cup with Liverpool, his solitary trophy in a four-year spell with the club.
Suarez joined Barcelona in 2014 for a fee of £73.5m and has gone down as one of the most successful strikers of the current era as well as probably the best winter signing of all time.
