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RM: Ferran Torres - €55 million
Barcelona were in need of a good transfer window and they seem to have had a pretty good one. Ferran Torres from Manchester City was their first signing and also their most expensive of the window.
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Although he's just 21, the winger brings with himself a rich experience of playing in the Premier League and Champions League. Also, let's not forget he's been coached by one of the best in the business, Pep Guardiola.
Barcelona's attacking numbers have been underwhelming this season. Memphis Depay has tried his best to perform as a No. 9 but he hasn't flourished. On the other hand, Luuk de Jong doesn't seem like he can consistently score goals. Meanwhile Sergio Aguero had to retire from football due to a cardiac arrhythmia.
Torres will take some of the burden off fellow strikers in the team with his knack for scoring goals. The former Manchester City player is very versatile and could be utilized in any position in the front-three.
With his ability to link play with others and his directness in terms of goal-creating chances, Xavi has a real asset on his hands. The Spanish international has great pace and boasts impressive dribbling skills. Hence he will be equally effective while running behind the opposition backline and taking defenders one on one.
Torres scored his first goal for the Catalans against Athletic Club, a brilliant right-footed curler which reminded many fans of prime David Villa.
CM: Rodrigo Bentancur - €19 million
Tottenham Hotspur have had an eventful January window with Antonio Conte at the helm. The Italian made it very clear that he would need to bring in players that fit his style to maximize their chances of finishing in the top-four. A midfielder was at the top of his requirements. Having offloaded some from his current squad, he signed Rodrigo Bentancur from Juventus.
The Uruguayan left Juventus after making 180 appearances for them. Over the course of four and a half years, he won seven trophies with them, including three Serie A titles. He will bring in a winning mentality in the side that the squad has been missing.
Bentancur is very good with the ball at his feet and values it. His decision making while distributing the ball is on-point and he is not someone who loses it cheaply. The midfielder's passing accuracy, coupled with his vision to create chances, will be of great use to Conte moving forward. He has signed a long-term contract which expires in 2026.
CM: Bruno Guimaraes - €42.10 million
This one must have really hurt the Arsenal faithful. The Gunners wanted to strengthen in midfield and one man they were heavily interested in was Olympique Lyon midfielder Bruno Guimaraes. To their despair, they would not have a chance to revisit the prospect of signing him in the summer. This is because Newcastle United swooped in and signed him for their club record fee.
The Brazilian has all the credentials to help the Magpies in their battle for survival in the Premier League. He is a combative box-to-box midfielder who has had a great season in Ligue 1 so far. Guimaraes has won the fourth-most number of duels in the French top-flight and is joint-first for successful tackles with his 44.
In addition to being great at his defensive duties, he also loves to venture forward. The 24-year-old can find defense splitting passes and tops the rankings for passes completed in the opposition half. He sits joint-top with Dimitri Payet for passes completed in the final-third in the French league this season.
Eddie Howe's side have lacked a cutting edge when trying to attack and have also lacked a solid figure who can shield their defense. Guimaraes is a well-balanced box-to-box midfielder who will help the Magpies in both those departments.
LM: Luis Diaz - €45 million
As if Liverpool's attacking front-three weren't generating enough envy in clubs around Europe, they have now added Luis Diaz among their ranks. The highly-rated FC Porto winger has regularly garnered praise in the last three years in Portugal for his consistent performances.
Jurgen Klopp's formidable trident of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane will enter their 30s soon. The manager has been thinking about long-term options and the Colombian winger is definitely a great replacement for Mane. Dias is also known for his work-rate and willingness to help in defense, an admirable quality which could help him displace Mane in the near future.
The FC Porto attacker is having his most prolific season in Primeira Liga and has scored 14 times in 18 games. He has also provided five assists and is looking to end the season with a personal best milestone. The Colombian is known for his pace and directness in the attacking third and is at his dangerous best when cutting inside on his right-foot.
