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The January transfer window has officially shut. It has been a relatively quiet window compared to previous years. Not every team in the Premier league has added to their squad, with many content with what they have. However, we have seen transfer records broken and huge loan deals go through right to the last second of the window. Here, we reflect back on the window and pick out the real winners and losers.
Winners
Chelsea
Chelsea were the most active team out of the top 6 with Maurizio Sarri determined to add to his squad in a bid to get Chelsea back in the Champions League. They started the window with the capture of Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund who has since been loaned back to the German club until the end of the season. Whether he is the replacement for Eden Hazard whose future is uncertain remains to be seen. With Morata and Giroud failing to score regularly at Stamford Bridge, they filled that gap with the loan signing of Gonzalo Higuain. Considering that it is tough to sign top players in January, the London club has done well to sign two players with a good European pedigree. There is also the little case of holding on to Callum Hudson-Odi who was linked with a move to Bayern Munich.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is another team who have had a good window. The signing of Dominic Solanke from Liverpool is seen as a gamble considering the lack of experience playing in the Premier League. However, it was not long ago that he won the prestigious golden ball award at the U20 World cup for England. Whilst £19m may seem a lot of money for the young forward, Solanke was highly rated by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp during his time at Merseyside. They also added Nathaniel Clyne from Liverpool who is a significant upgrade on Adam Smith at right back. Chris Mepham also joined the south coast club for £12m from Brentford.
Crystal Palace
Palace were one of the teams that were still doing business late on deadline day. The Eagles landed Michy Batshuayi from Chelsea on loan for the rest of the season. The fact that Christian Bentke has been out injured this season, Hodgson had to use Zaha and Townsend as makeshift's striker's in previous weeks. The signing of Batshuayi who was on loan at Spanish club Valencia for the first half of this season should aid Crystal Place's fight in the battle to avoid relegation. They also held on to star man Wilfred Zaha who sparked interest from German club Brossia Dortmund.
Losers:
Arsenal
Despite Arsenal adding Denis Suarez on loan from Barcelona on deadline day. How much of an impact would a player who has hardly played any football in the first half of the season help Arsenal? They already have players in the mould of a Suarez with the likes of Mesut Ozil and Henrick Mikitaryian. The London club desperately need defenders, with Bellerin and Holding out for the season and Sokratis out until early March. This effectively leaves Laurent Koscielny who himself just returned from a long-term injury and Shokrdan Mustafi as their only two fit centre-backs. If Arsenal do not make the Champions League next year Unai Emery and the Arsenal hierarchy may regret not signing a defender this window.
Tottenham Hotspur
Much like Arsenal, Tottenham are also currently facing a bit of an injury crisis but at the other end of the pitch with both Harry Kane and Dele Alli out until early March. However, they received a boost this week with the early return of Hung- Mein Son from the Asian Cup. This just leaves Spurs with Son and Fernando Llorente who has hardly featured this season as their only centre forward options. They have also sold Moussa Dembele to Chinese team Guangzhou R&F for £12M without replacing him. The London club tried to sing Youri Tielemans from Monaco during deadline day but the player ultimately moved to Leicester City. With the lack of cover in midfield and attack, Tottenham may have missed a trick in not signing players this window as they face a battle for a place in the top four and progression to the latter stages of the Champions Leagues
