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In: Juan Mata (Valencia, £23.5m), Romelu Lukaku (Anderlecht, £18m), Oriol Romeu (Barcelona, £4.7m, to £8.7m), Thibaut Courtois (Racing Genk, £7.9m), Lucas Piazon (Sao Paulo, £6.6m), Ulises Davila (Guadalajara, £1.8m)
Out: Yury Zhirkov (Anzhi Makhachkala, £13.2m), Michael Mancienne (Hamburg, £3m), Gokhan Tore (Hamburg, £1m), Jack Cork (Southampton: Hampton, £750,000), Nemanja Magic (Benfica, Undisclosed)
This was all about the capture of Mata who had a good first year and the league and has become arguably the best player in the league this year. Lukaku was outstanding on loan at West Brom and looks ready to explode next year with the supply they have. Courtois has been outstanding on loan at Atletico and looks a worthy successor to Cech. However, they slumped to 7th in the league in 2011/12 and despite success in Europe the lack of players for the here and now caused problems.
What we thought then: A necessary infusion of youth but what about this year?
What we think now: Champions League win glossed over some cracks but they have some mighty good prospects ready for the coming years.
Grade: B+. Would have been an A with another ready-made player but this team could be scary and very young in a couple of years.
EVERTON
In: Royston Drenthe (Real Madrid, undisclosed).
Out: Mikel Arteta (Arsenal, £10m), Jermaine Beckford (Leicester, £4m), James Vaughan (Norwich, £2.5m)
Pretty much a disaster for Everton with Moyes constricted by a lack of money and Arsenal’s last minute move for Arteta meant he couldn’t replace him before the season. Drenthe has either excellent or injured then got sent home early.
What we thought then: Everton’s tiny squad could be spread too thin.
What we think now: It proved to be as Everton made a very slow start. A marvelous January covered for this when they got Pienaar and Jelavic.
Grade D-. Not much Moyes could do with no money but the £10 million from Arteta came in handy in January.
FULHAM
In: Bryan Ruiz (FC Twente, £10m), Pajtim Kasami (Palermo, £3.5m), John Arne Riise (Roma, £2.5m)
Out: Kagisho Dikgacoi (Crystal Palace, £600,000), Zoltan Gera (WBA)
Good ambition from Fulham spending £17 million that didn’t come from player sales. Ruiz and Riise have shown good things but not consistently.
What we thought then: Plucky little Fulham spend some money. Good for them.
What we think now: An OK haul, but not enough for the size of the spend.
Grade: C. Great ambition but not enough from what they spent.
LIVERPOOL
In: Stewart Downing (Aston Villa, £20m), Jordan Henderson (Sunderland, £16m), Charlie Adam (Blackpool, £9m), Sebastian Coates (Nacional, £7m), José Enrique (Newcastle, £6m), Craig Bellamy (Man C).
Out: Raul Meireles (Chelsea, £12m), David N’Gog (Bolton, £4m), Paul Konchesky (Leicester, £1.5m), Thomas Ince
It goes to show how bad Liverpool have been in the market lately that this was considered to be a monster haul at the time. Although the Downing and Henderson price tags are hilarious there is actually some good work here. Getting rid of Jovanovic, Kyrgiakos, Poulsen and Konchesky as well as the loan departure of Cole shed a boatload from the wage bill. They also managed to get £4 million more from Chelsea for Meireles than they managed to get 12 months later. So that is all good, verging on exceptional. But..
But, this will be remembered for who they brought in rather than shed themselves of. Adam was gifted away last summer having done nothing, as was Bellamy. Downing was only involved in 2 goals in the entirety of the 2011/12 season and Henderson looked all at sea. Both had glimpses last season but nowhere near enough for what was paid for them. Enrique has been decent enough and solid value. Tom Ince is about to get Blackpool £8m, maybe even from Liverpool.
What we thought then: Well done Kenny! Purged the garbage and brought top quality young Premier league players.
What we think now: They paid for £20 million for Downing!
Grade C. In reality, this was not the disaster it is portrayed to be. They really did do well somehow persuading teams to take on their trash with the attached huge wages. Mind you, £36 million on Downing and Henderson…
