The Premier League has seen a dramatic increase in the amount spent in the winter window over the last few years.
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The January transfer window is fast approaching and there will be an expected flurry of activity from some of the Premier League’s big boys to try and catch up with runaway league leaders Chelsea.
There’s been a steady increase in the amount spent over the past few seasons with clubs willing to splash out a bit more cash to try and get that little bit higher up the table.
CaughtOffside takes a look at some of the biggest winter transfers of the last decade in anticipation of what we could see come January 1st.
2003: Jonathan Woodgate – Leeds United to Newcastle United (£9 million)
Despite being a boyhood Middlesborough fan, Woodgate joined local rivals Newcastle under football legend Sir Bobby Robson after Leeds went into financial meltdown and flogged all their stars.
His presence should have morphed Newcastle into European giants but, alas, much like the story of Woodgate’s career he was plagued by injuries and made just 28 appearances in 18 months on Tyneside.
2004: Louis Saha – Fulham to Manchester United (£12.8m)
Signed with the idea of being a long term replacement for Andy Cole who joined Blackburn Rovers, Saha even got Cole’s iconic number nine shirt.
The Frenchman spent four and a half years with the Red Devils before moving to Everton. Despite limited appearances and never being a firm starter, Saha accumulated 42 goals in 124 appearances.
2005: Jean-Alain Boumsong – Rangers to Newcastle United (£8m)
It might have been best to just set alight the £8m shelled out by Newcastle boss Graeme Souness for Boumsong as the defender became synonymous with disaster during his time at Newcastle.
Yet despite some comical performances in black and white, the Frenchman still had enough reputation from his earlier career to sign for Juventus.
2006: Theo Walcott – Southampton to Arsenal (£9.1m)
Highly rated throughout his youth career, Walcott was snapped up at the tender age of 16 by Arsenal and immediately labelled the next Thierry Henry.
Despite having no international experience or playing any first team football for Arsenal, Walcott was incredibly selected for England’s final 23 man squad for the 2006 World Cup by Sven-Goran Eriksson. He didn’t play a minute of football in the tournament.
2007: Ashley Young – Watford to Aston Villa (£9.65m)
Young turned down a move to West Ham United to play for Martin O’Neil at Villa after being an integral part of the Watford side that gained promotion to the Premier League in 2006.
Now plying his trade at Manchester United, Young has had a hit and miss career so far for the Red Devils but looks to be regaining confidence and form under new boss Louis van Gaal.
2008: Nicolas Anelka – Bolton Wanderers to Chelsea (£15m)
Despite being known now more for his ill-advised ‘La Quenelle’ gesture, back in the day Anelka was a half decent striker too.
Was signed for the Blues by interim boss Avram Grant when Chelsea were going through a shortage of forwards due to injury and the African Cup of Nations.
Managed to become the Premier League’s top scorer in his first full season in West London with 19 goals.
2009: Jermain Defoe – Portsmouth to Tottenham Hotspur (£15m)
Defoe followed Harry Redknapp from Portsmouth when the manager got the top job at Spurs, re-joinging the North London side less than a year after leaving them.
2010: Adam Johnson – Middlesbrough to Manchester City (£7m)
Plucked from relative obscurity by Roberto Mancini in the surprise move of the January window in 2010. Johnson scored some spectacular goals at City but never established himself as a starring name and left in 2012 to find more regular football.
Looking back now, the deal may have been more about complying with Premier League homegrown quotas than actually believing Johnson was the future of Manchester City.
2011: Fernando Torres – Liverpool to Chelsea (£50m)
Liverpool fans may still have a bitter taste in their mouths following the £50 million transfer of Torres to Chelsea. The move was on the cards for a long period of time but in hindsight the Reds probably got a brilliant deal.
Whilst Torres lost form and has now been shipped out to AC Milan, the Spaniard’s transfer fee enabled Liverpool to make smart purchases like that of Luis Suarez and redevelop to become Premier League contenders once again.
2012: Papiss Cissé – Freiburg to Newcastle United (£10m)
Cisse’s transfer from Germany came without much fanfare and celebration as the St James’ Park faithful were unsure just what kind of player they were getting.
However, the Senegalese international scored some spectacular goals in his first few months on Tyneside – marching Newcastle to some unexpected wins against Liverpool and Chelsea.
2013: Christopher Samba – Anzhi Makhachkala to QPR (£12.5m)
Reportedly on £100,000 a week, Samba’s stay with the Hoops was definitely a quick one with the Congo international leaving the West London side just seven months after his arrival.
Despite his purchase meant to sure up the QPR defence, his time at Loftus Road was hardly brilliant and he was immediately shipped to Anzhi once QPR were doomed to relegation once again.
2014: Juan Mata – Chelsea to Manchester United (£37.1m)
Sidelined at Chelsea with the return of Jose Mourinho, Mata was looking for the quickest exit possible after six months on the bench – this despite being the Blues’ player of the season in the two years prior.
His signing was particularly desperate on David Moyes and United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward’s part who were seem as attempting to show they could still purchase top talent despite poor results.
It hasn’t been a horror show for Mata in the North-West by any stretch of the imagination, but he’ll want to improve on an ordinary first 12 months at United to ensure his place in the squad following rumours of another January and Summer transfer window splurge by Louis van Gaal.