Premier League clubs spent but made a profit. They speculated to accumulate, but not those with most to gain. The top six made a solitary first-team buy, and Gabriel Jesus’s move to Manchester City was arranged last summer. Those further down the division were busier, reshaping their squads. Saturday could bring a host of debuts. This is what some of the late signings may mean. To move on to the next club, click the arrows in the bottom right corner of the picture, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.
BURNLEY
A club that learned the lessons from history. Two years ago, Burnley failed to bring in a senior central midfielder in January and promptly saw Dean Marney ruled out for the season. The luckless Marney has suffered the same fate but Burnley acted. Joey Barton marked his second debut with a winner against Southampton. The £5 million (Dh22.9m) buy Ashley Westwood is another option, a passer and an anchorman who could be a like-for-like replacement. The club’s record buy Robbie Brady is a more obvious match-winner. While the Republic of Ireland international can play left-back and would be a more attacking alternative to Stephen Ward, he is likelier to line up on the left wing. Sean Dyche has tried six players there without settling on a regular.
CRYSTAL PALACE
The biggest spenders in the window, meaning Sam Allardyce has no excuse if Palace go down. He paid £26m for left-backs alone, pitting newcomers Patrick van Aanholt and Jeff Schlupp in competition unless the former Leicester man plays as a winger in a 4-3-3. Mamadou Sakho, borrowed from Liverpool, seems likely to take over from Damien Delaney as the left-sided centre-back. The Serbian Luka Milivojevic seems set to slot in as a defensive midfielder. Allardyce had to use the more creative Yohan Cabaye and Jason Puncheon in deeper roles of late.
HULL CITY
No one borrowed more than Hull, who took five players on loan in January. Of the later additions, Andrea Ranocchio debuted as a substitute at Manchester United. He gives manager Marco Silva the chance to play three centre-backs, a system he likes, even without the hamstrung Curtis Davies. Yet the Portuguese also plays 4-2-3-1, suggesting Poland international Kamil Grosicki could be used as a winger in that shape and as a replacement for the sold Robert Snodgrass. Alfred N’Diaye might be a physical, forceful defensive midfielder, perhaps to complement the less powerful Tom Huddlestone and Sam Clucas in a trio. Silva now has options, both in terms of shape and personnel, whereas it looked as though sales and injuries had left him with a threadbare squad.
SOUTHAMPTON
While Shane Long has scored three goals in his last five games, Manolo Gabbiadini should prove an overdue upgrade. The Italy striker, a £14m buy from Napoli, was the costliest arrival on the last day of the window. As the injured Charlie Austin is the only Southampton player with more than three league goals, a striker was required. His arrival spells bad news for Long, who may revert to being an energetic replacement, and Jay Rodriguez, who had a run in the side in Austin’s absence, but now looks a squad player again.
SUNDERLAND
The great Everton reunion accelerated with the double deal to bring in Bryan Oviedo and Darron Gibson. The Costa Rican should be a cheaper, slower and less prolific, but otherwise like-for-like replacement, for the sold Van Aanholt, another left-back who is better going forward and who should suit Moyes’ new wing-back formation. Javier Manquillo, picked out of position on the left, is likeliest to drop out. Gibson joins a phalanx of injury-prone central midfielders. As the more energetic Didier Ndong is an automatic choice, his task is to take a place alongside him. Another old Evertonian, Jack Rodwell, and another set-piece specialist, Seb Larsson, stand in his way.
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