It only feels like weeks ago we were counting down the hours on deadline day but clubs across the globe are ready to start spending again
It only feels like weeks ago we were counting down the hours on deadline day but clubs across the globe are ready to start spending again.
While some bosses may be reluctant to splash the cash in January, others know the necessity of adding to their squads for the remainder of the season.
But before all that, how about a look back at the biggest summer buys - and how they have fared to date?
Here are the 20 most expensive additions to the Premier League.
20) Xherdan Shaqiri
Inter to Stoke, £11.9m
Action Images via Reuters / Carl Recine
Xherdan Shaqiri, formerly of Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, has combined with the likes of Bojan Krkic and Ibrhahim Affelay to create a seriously watchable forward line.
Stoke are playing some silky football at the moment and the classy Swiss star has been central to that.
What’s more, you suspect there’s still room for improvement.
Verdict: HIT
How would YOU grade Xherdan Shaqiri?
19) Salomon Rondon
Zenit St Petersburg to West Brom, £11.9m
Christopher Lee/Getty
The Venezuelan looked set to strike a partnership with Saido Berahino after arriving at the Hawthorns but he has found himself leading the line for most of the season.
He's only managed three league goals - two of which were winners - but that's not enough from your leading marksman.
A shift in formation would probably help but we know it's unlikely to happen with Tony Pulis.
Verdict: MISS
How would YOU grade Salomon Rondon?
18) Florian Thauvin
Marseille to Newcastle, £12m
Stu Forster/Getty
Florain Thauvin joined Newcastle in a multi-million pound deal in August, but has fallen woefully short of expectations.
The 22-year-old Frenchman made his Premier League debut in their goalless draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford but has failed to cement a place in the first team.
An urgent improvement is needed.
Verdict: MISS
How would YOU grade Florian Thauvin?
17) Clinton Njie
Lyon to Tottenham, £12m
However, injuries have proved a real problem as he bids to cement a place in Mauricio Pochettino's starting line-up.
There have been impressive cameos, including a fine substitute showing against Man City, but he will be after more.
Verdict: MISS
How would YOU grade Clinton Njie?
Stu Forster
The 24-year-old England international has made a seamless transition to life on Merseyside and promises to be a long-term fixture at right back.
Clyne has welcomed the positive approach of new boss Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
And he’ll be looking to impress for the remainder of the season with the Euros on the horizon.
Verdict: HIT
How would YOU grade Nathaniel Clyne?
15) Matteo Darmian
Reuters
He's not universally popular at Old Trafford but Darmian was brought in to address Man United's lack of proper full-backs and he has done that.
He's had a few off games, like the defeat at the Emirates, but on the whole has provided something this side has been missing since Gary Neville left.
Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Antonio Valencia, Rafael and Ashley Young have all played at right-back sincce Neville, but none have looked as assured as Darmian.
He's still adjusting to the Premier League - that's to be expected - but he's only 26 and has his best years ahead of him.
At just £12.7m, this was a shrewd piece of business.
Verdict: HIT
How would YOU grade Matteo Darmian?
14) Aleksandar Mitrovic
Anderlecht to Newcastle, £13m
Stu Forster
After five games with the club he'd picked up two bookings and a red card but no goals.
Newcastle had to wait two months for the £14.5m signing to score, and even that strike came in a 6-1 defeat.
Mitrovic has improved since, as has his temperament, but he still looks as likely to get sent off as he does to score.
His performances show a spark missing from much of Newcastle's team, but Steve McClaren hasn't yet been able to harness that.
Verdict: MISS
How would YOU grade Aleksandar Mitrovic?
13) Georginio Wijnaldum
Richard Sellers/PA Wire
Moving from Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven to Premier League bottom feeders Newcastle must have been a shock. But if it was Wijnaldum didn't show it.
A goal on his debut has been followed up by six more and two assists. Not bad for midfielder in one of the league's worst sides.
The Dutchman has been the best thing about this husk of a Newcastle team in the first half of the season.
He's one of the few players to have brought any joy to the fans and looks like he should be playing at a better club.
If Newcastle don't improve, he might soon be.
Verdict: HIT
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12) Bastian Schweinsteiger
Matthew Peters
Perhaps Manchester United fans should have been more suspicious about Bayern Munich's apparent willingness to let Schweinsteiger to leave.
After all, he was one of their most experienced and iconic players. Someone who came through the ranks and was present for all of their most important moments. And he only cost £14.5million?
He wasn't signed as a goal threat, or for his attacking talent - his days as a winger have been over for a long time - but he's not offered much else either.
The World Cup winner is still good on the ball but physically he's a passenger and when fielded alongside Michael Carrick (remember the game at the Emirates?) United have looked incredibly vulnerable.
Schweinsteiger is a luxury player in a team that can't afford luxuries.
Verdict: MISS
How would YOU grade Bastian Schweinsteiger?
11) Pedro
Barcelona to Chelsea, £21.1m
Reuters
But that was pretty much as good as got for Pedro.
With Chelsea in free fall and manager Jose Mourinho appearing to be in the midst of an existential crisis, Pedro was always going to struggle to adapt to life England - a feat that would have been difficult enough with Chelsea playing well.
But because of his unusual circumstances - and the fact that £21m is comparatively cheap for a player of Pedro's pedigree - it would be harsh to say that he has failed since his move.
In reality, he's been limited by his situation.
Verdict: Jury's out
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10) Abdul Baba Rahman
Augsburg to Chelsea, £21.7m
Mike Hewitt
Chelsea's defence has been awful this season. Truly awful. With Branislav Ivanovic in such woeful form the obvious choice seemed to be to move Cesar Azpilicueta over to right-back and let Rahman play on the left.
So why didn't Mourinho want to do that? And why, when he eventually did start dropping Ivanovic, did young Brazilian midfielder Kenedy get in ahead of him?
When you pay such a high price for a defender, you expect the manager to be able to trust him.
That Mourinho didn't trust him tells you all you need to know about Rahman.
Verdict: MISS
How would YOU grade Abdul Baba Rahman?
9) Heung-min Son
Bayer Leverkusen to Tottenham, £22m
Richard Heathcote
The South Korean netted two goals in his second game for the club, helping them to a 3-1 win over Qarabag in the Europa League, and then netted the winner against Crystal Palace.
But his season has since been disrupted by injuries and he is having to make do with cameos off the bench for now.
Verdict: Not much to go on
How would YOU grade Heung-min Son?
8) Morgan Schneiderlin
Southampton to Manchester United, £24m
Reuters
Morgan Schneiderlin has quickly become a favourite among Manchester Untied fans, who value his calmness and discipline.
However, manager Louis van Gaal appears to be less convinced, having omitted the Frenchman from his team on a surprising number of occasions.
Still, he probably ranks as one of few United successes this season.
Verdict: HIT
How would YOU grade Morgan Schneiderlin?
7) Memphis Depay
PSV to Manchester United, £25m
Getty
Memphis was expected to be a big hit in English football, with his silky dribbling skills and fearsome shot from long range.
But besides the occasional flash of quality, the young Dutchman has fallen spectacularly short of expectations.
And his struggles to adapt have only served to exacerbate Manchester United’s ongoing problems.
Verdict: MISS
How would YOU grade Memphis Depay?
6) Roberto Firmino
Hoffenheim to Liverpool, £29m
Action Images via Reuters / Carl Recine
The 24-year-old forward is clearly a talented player and has shown some of his quality, most notably during the Reds’ emphatic win over Manchester City at the Etihad.
In between times, however, the Brazilian just hasn’t done the business.
He and manager Jurgen Klopp will be desperate to see a sizeable improvement over the coming months.
Verdict: MISS
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5) Nicolas Otamendi
Valencia to Manchester City, £32m
AFP/Getty
Otamendi probably not out of the very top drawer, but he's a very talented defender, solid in the tackle and more than capable of holding his own in the air. He was excellent at Valencia last term and looks a great partner for Vincent Kompany.
The problem is that he has barely played with the Belgian, and has instead been forced to organise things with lesser partners.
Not the easiest of starts, but he looks a solid bet.
Verdict: HIT
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4) Christian Benteke
Aston Villa to Liverpool, £32.5m
Getty
The burly Belgian had been a major success at previous club Aston Villa and he was set to provide the Reds with a focal point for their other creative attackers. Or so it appeared.
But it just hasn’t worked out for him, not least because Rodgers was sacked and has been replaced by a manager who doesn’t seem to fancy him.
Match-winning goals against Leicester and Sunderland may have gone some way to silencing his doubters, but there’s a growing perception Benteke’s future might unfold away from Anfield.
Verdict: MISS
How would YOU grade Christian Benteke?
3) Anthony Martial
Monaco to Manchester United, £36m
Reuters / Carl Recine
Their obvious need for reinforcements – plus Ed Woodward's misguided public boasting – probably forced the price for Martial rather higher than it should have been, bringing some scepticism given his lack of experience at the highest level.
But the Frenchman has been a rare bright point in United's season to date, impressing with his sharp finishing and lightning pace. Only Louis van Gaal's prosaic tactics have prevented him making an even bigger impact.
Verdict: HIT
How would YOU grade Anthony Martial?
2) Raheem Sterling
Liverpool to Manchester City, £49m
And while he’s failed to scale the peaks of two seasons ago, the 21-year-old forward has still produced some brilliant performances, including a Premier League hat-trick against Bournemouth and a brace in City’s final game in the Champions League group stages against Borussia Monchengladbach.
It’s worth noting too, that Sterling’s eye-watering transfer fee was largely based on his potential, rather than what he’s already achieved in his career.
Now, the onus is on Sterling to make the transition to the next level and play a crucial role in City’s trophy hunt.
Verdict: HIT
How would YOU grade Raheem Sterling?
1) Kevin De Bruyne
Wolfsburg to Manchester City, £54m
PA
Like, a serious, serious wad of notes. Mafia stuff, really. But goodness, doesn't De Bruyne look worth every penny of that colossal fee?
The Belgian has (re)taken to the Premier League like a duck to water, racking up assists and goals aplenty and instantly becoming one of Manchester City's key players.
Two footed, brave and persistent, he is a constant menace to opposition defenders – and, at just 24, he should be one of the league's star players for years to come.
Verdict: HIT
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