January transfer window: Premier League biggest early deals

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Regarding the Premier League, January is invariably one of the most headline-grabbing months of the year, as the 20 clubs battle for new signings headed into the second half of the season. If 2023 follows the pattern of previous years, the bulk of the transfers may come late in the window. Nevertheless, several clubs have already been active in the market, with the following five transfers being the biggest to have taken place thus far.
    

Cody Gakpo: PSV to Liverpool (£35m-£45m)

Already the subject of frenzied transfer speculation prior to the World Cup, 23-year-old Cody Gakpo did little to deter potential suitors out in Qatar. One of his nation’s standout performers on their run to the Quarter Finals, Gakpo was particularly influential in the Group Stages when scoring against Ecuador, Senegal and Qatar.

That international prowess only served to reinforce what PSV supporters have known for some time. Namely that Gakpo is a young player firmly on the rise. Initially linked with Manchester United, the Eindhoven native instead heads to the fellow North West club of Liverpool, where his talent and versatility look set to be major weapons as the Reds look to make up for a slow start to the season. 

Benoit Badiashile: Monaco to Chelsea (£35m)

Thus far, no club has been as active in the January window as Chelsea. Currently languishing in tenth in the Premier League, Graham Potter needs fresh talent to spark a little life into the squad. Luckily for Blues fans, owner Todd Boehly seems more than willing to splash the cash.

Only 21 years of age, the signing of Badiashile continues the club’s recent policy of recruiting the finest young talent. As a left-footed centre-back, he also fills a slot which has reportedly topped Chelsea’s list of priorities for some time. With over 100 appearances for Monaco and two caps for the national side, this strong, composed defender, with an eye for a pass, would look to have everything it takes to succeed in the Premier League.

Andrey Santos: Vasco de Gama to Chelsea (£18m)

Adding further to Chelsea’s youth project is the acquisition of Vasco de Gama’s 18-year-old central midfield prodigy, Andrey Santos. Making his debut for his hometown club at just 16 years of age in 2021, Santos then became the youngest goal-scorer in Vasco’s history when netting against Náutico in June of 22.

A true box-to-box midfielder, Santos is adept at the defensive side of the game, and extremely effective when advancing the ball up the field following a turnover. Whether he is yet ready to start in the Premier League remains to be seen, but Chelsea fans will likely be delighted to see the club beat out the likes of Manchester City, Barcelona and Newcastle United to capture one of South America’s most promising young talents.

David Datro Fofana: Molde to Chelsea (£8m-£10m)

Still not done, Chelsea completed a hattrick of early window signings with the acquisition of 20-year-old forward David Datro Fofana, who swaps the blue of Norwegian club, Molde, for that of the Stamford Bridge club. 

From an attacking perspective, this is comfortably the club’s most exciting signing of 2023. Quick, skilful, and direct, Fofana is the type of player of whom you should expect the unexpected, and the scorer of a number of wonderful individual goals. Still a little rough around the edges, but he has the right coach to help him develop and comes with tremendous potential upside.

Mislav Orsic: Dinamo Zagreb - Southampton (£8m)

Sitting bottom of the Premier League table, Southampton have looked handicapped in terms of inexperience and the lack of goals in the side. Nathan Jones will be hoping that his first signing for the club will go some way towards alleviating both of those issues.

At 30 years of age, Orsic is no spring chicken but arrives in the form of his life following an impressive World Cup campaign with Croatia. Whilst not the out-and-out striker that Saints fans crave, Orsic has an impressive strike rate from out on the left-hand side or in an attacking midfield role. Scoring 57 times in 132 appearances for hometown club Dinamo Zagreb, if the well-travelled Orsic can hit the ground running on the South Coast, he may provide just the impetus that the club needs.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel