Hot or Not: Predicting which January Transfers Flop
As I am writing this the transfer window has been closed for almost 48 hours now, but that doesn’t mean I have fully recovered from it. There were plenty of storylines to follow this January, with a good amount of them getting satisfying endings (no one wanted to see Vlahovic at Arsenal, sorry) (Editors Note: Yes, we all did). But there were a couple of headscratchers that just scream flop. So, I’m going to roll through a couple of the big signings from this window and tell you who will be hot and who will flop.
· Dusan Vlahovic: Fiorentina to Juventus
What happens when you take a league’s leading goal scorer and put him on a better team in the same league? I would bet the results are good. He’s only recently turned 22, gets to stay in the same league in which he has flourished in, and he gets presumably better service, scratch that, he definitely gets better service.
Joeys Flop-o-meter: 2/10
· Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Digne: Barcelona and Everton to Aston Villa
Coutinho and Digne celebrating a goal. Source: The Guardian
Wow, I seriously did not expect either of these transfers, and both are quite the coup. Stevie G has tremendous pull, I can practically guarantee that neither of these deals happen if Dean Smith is still the manager. If Coutinho can find a little consistency he will be a great signing. Digne, I think there are less concerns about. Digne is a very good left back and in my opinion, one of the best left backs in the league; Everton are really dumb. This is just a clinic in how to spend money from a big transfer. Spurs, you should look at this next time you sell Gareth Bale.
Joeys Flop-o-meter: 5/10 & 3/10
· Anthony Martial: Manchester United to Sevilla
Sevilla have found themselves in a title race with perennial title contender Real Madrid, and I am not ashamed to say that I just bet on them to win the league at +900. They saw a hole in their team and addressed it, this a quality signing and should result in goals for Sevilla. Also, sidenote, but they signed Jesus Corona too and I think that’s great business. Anyway, Martial is much more direct than any of their other forwards and if he can find some consistency, this team has a legitimate chance to pull off a big title upset. That being said we haven’t seen him at his best for quite a long time now…
Joeys Flop-o-meter: 5/10
· Chris wood: Burnley to Newcastle
This is a rather confusing move to me, and not a move of ambition like some of their other signings were this window. Yes, Chris Wood is a proven goal scorer in the Prem, but he doesn’t exactly scream excitement, and quite frankly, there were better options available. I see the logic in stealing your relegation rival’s striker, but I think that backfired with Burnley then going to sign someone better…
Joeys Flop-o-meter: 7/10
· Wout Weghorst: Wolfsburg to Burnley
Wout Weghorst being introduced as a Burnley player. Source: LancsLive
Burnley just sold their big man up front to Newcastle, odd decision, unless you have someone lined up that is cheaper, bigger, and better. Enter Wout Weghorst, he is literally a mountain of a man and scores much more than Chris Wood. The last time Weghorst failed to hit double digits in a season was his first season in a first division, 14/15. In fact, the only player with more Bundesliga goals than him over the last 4 seasons is Robert Lewandowski. He will score, and he may just score enough for them to survive. If he doesn’t, well then, he’ll just tear it up in the Championship next year. Also, go watch his intro video if you haven’t already, it is easily the best I’ve ever seen.
Joeys Flop-o-meter: 4/10
· Donny van de Beek: Manchester United to Everton
Ok, so who remembers the last Dutch CM that Everton signed? Spoil Alert, it was Davy Klaassen, who was signed from Ajax and went on to be awful. Obviously, this is not the exact same situation, DVB has at least some experience in England, but he hasn’t done much in those games he has played in. He has not shown anything that would warrant him staying at Manchester United, so going to struggling Everton makes sense. With Lampard coming in as the new manager he doesn’t have any major disadvantage trying to break into the squad because Lampard hasn’t coached any of these players before. But I guess I’m just not a believer in Donny. I think we will see Donny follow Davy back to Ajax before we know it.
Joeys Flop-o-meter: 7/10
· Adama Traore: Wolves to Barcelona
Lol. Yes, Barca needed someone, and they actually signed 3 forwards this window. And yes, they are getting one of the best dribblers in the world, but is that what Barca need right now? We all have seen how great of a signing Depay has been… someone who can dribble but can’t shoot. Adama will have his moments, but Barca are too big of a team for where he should be playing.
Joeys Flop-o-meter: 8/10
