So, who were the Premier League winners and losers in the January transfer window?
Who nailed it, who missed out, who have given themselves the best chance of Premier League 2025 highlights in the final three months of the campaign, and who are those who have been weakened considerably in the Premier League 2025 betting.
For this SBOTOP observer, the answer is clear.
Winner – Aston Villa
If you are a Villa fan, you should be smiling all the way as the astute work of Unai Emery continues apace.
They have recruited smartly and, in the current market, fairly cheaply, with two acquisitions seemingly oven ready for the second half of the campaign.
Donyell Malen, Marco Asensio, Andrés García and Chelsea centre-back Axel Disasi were smart moves to add depth to a squad that has naturally struggled with the hectic schedule brought by playing in the expanded Champions League. The accountant will be extremely happy, too, after Jaden Philogene, Diego Carlos and Jhon Durán were sold for a combined total of almost £100 million.
In Asensio, Villa have recruited, on loan, a proven midfielder with experience. Their only downside is they may still be low in numbers defensively with Tyrone Mings a long-term loss to injury, and Matty Cash and Pau Torres still some weeks away from returning.
Of course, Marcus Rashford was the headline-grabbing signing for Emery and it will be down to the Spaniard to get the forward back to his best after a Manchester United malaise.
In Rashford, the Villains have a talent who can hit the ground running and form a potentially prolific partnership with one-time England comrade Ollie Watkins.
Whatever has gone on behind the scenes at Old Trafford, unless there is a deeper struggle relating to mental health, it is difficult to envisage Rashford having a poor attitude in training as has been suggested.
Sure, he can have off days. Sure, like all players, he can make mistakes, think a trip to a nightclub hours after a heavy derby defeat last season.
Yet ever since Louis van Gaal handed him his debut eight years ago this month, various managers have had no issue with his attitude whatsoever.
That makes the decision for United to let go off a player who offers something none of their remaining attackers possess, potentially shortsighted – unless, of course, it’s very personal between him and the manager. Or has the financial management of the Glazer family reached a level where the club has to ease its financial burdens for the remainder of the season?
Put it this way, I expect Emery, a very detailed and tactical coach, to bring the best out of such an underperforming talent.
But isn’t that what Ruben Amorim, as a manager, is supposed to be – a detailed and tactical coach?
Which leads me onto:
Jury out – Manchester United
What people praise the club’s new manager for – a toughness and steely-eyed determination to instil a style of play within his preferred system – is what I translate as a stubbornness which is unlikely to succeed long-term and is causing a talented squad to lose confidence in front of my very eyes with each passing week (certainly at home).
By imposing a new system at the club mid-season is a massive risk and the upshot is that Amorim has now lost more league games at Old Trafford than Jose Mourinho (four) did in two-and-a-half years as United manager, and as many as van Gaal (five) in his two seasons.
Depending on which side of the fence you sit, United have had a dismal and demoralising transfer window or a sensible one.
The fact they have weakened their attacking options by a third by allowing Rashford and Antony to leave on loan (to Real Betis) means few options off the bench.
To others, the Amorim rebuild begins here and they have acted most sensibly with the signing of three talented young defenders – Patrick Dorgu, a left-sided defender/wing-back; Ayden Heaven, an 18 year-old centre back prospect; and, on a pre-contract, Diego León, 17, boding well for the future.
Golden nuggets – West Ham United
For me, there is one player who could be one of the best in the top flight over the next decade. In fact, I think his talent is not widely appreciated – yet.
Graham Potter knows something about him from his spell at Brighton and the fact the south coast club have allowed Evan Ferguson to join West Ham on loan is a massive gain for the east enders.
Potter gave Ferguson his debut and will hope to kickstart the youngster’s career after a difficult 18 months. It will not be easy but West Ham have a player with high potential. A shortage of bodies in midfield has also been solved by bringing James Ward-Prowse back from his loan at Nottingham Forest.
One eye on next season – Manchester City
Manager Pep Guardiola consistently mentions how he and the club are reluctant to do business in the winter window so signing five players – including forward Omar Marmoush, Nico González (midfielder) and Abdukodir Khusanov (defenders) – is indicative of Manchester City’s disappointing campaign. The reigning champions could not have anticipated injuries to world player of the year Rodri and key defenders this season but their sudden fall from grace has still shocked many. This big outlay will require them to be back at the sharp-end by the time 2025/26 begins.
Risky business – Everton
Last month I safely said that the Toffees – regardless of whether they had kept onto Sean Dyche or replaced him – should survive again this season.
Three wins on the bounce under his successor David Moyes has added weight to that claim.
Yet the Scot has had bad luck in recent weeks with Orel Mangala ruled out for the remainder of the campaign with a knee injury (attacking midfielder Carlos Alcaraz has been brought in on loan from Flamengo with an option to buy) and forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin ruled out.
With PSR constraints and a lack of proven and available options willing to join a relegation fight, Moyes has been thwarted in his attempt to strengthen in attack and now has to rely on just one fit striker, Beto, until at least March.
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