- Power ranking the best Premier League transfers as the January window slams shut
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexis Sanchez are up there alongside Chelsea and Liverpool deals
- Which Premier League club did the best business this winter?
- READ MORE: How Arsenal could line-up following £60m Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan January spending
The transfer window has slammed shut until the summer, with this January surely one of the most memorable in history with so many big name Premier League transfers going through.
It’s not often you see big names like Alexis Sanchez on the move in the middle of the season, least of all between two major rivals such as Arsenal and Manchester United.
Elsewhere, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City all did some fine business, so here’s our ranking of the top ten Premier League transfers from January 2018.
From worst to best, here’s how we rated the top ten major Premier League transfers of the window just gone:
10) Ross Barkley (Everton to Chelsea)
A fine player on his day, but Ross Barkley has had his issues with both fitness and form for Everton and looks a risky signing for Chelsea.
While the England international joins on the cheap, it’s still questionable if he’s really the kind of midfielder they needed after the loss of Nemanja Matic in the summer.
Barkley may well prove people wrong, but he doesn’t look like becoming an instant regular, so may have limited opportunities to show what he can do in a generally flawed and struggling Blues outfit this season.
9) Lucas Moura (PSG to Tottenham)
Despite once being one of the bright hopes of Brazilian football, Lucas Moura only impressed in fits and bursts for Paris Saint-Germain.
BBC Sport report Tottenham landed the 25-year-old for just £23million, which, in this market, says a lot about how far his stock has fallen.
While Mauricio Pochettino has a fine record of improving players, this doesn’t initially look like a great deal by Spurs given his recent form in Ligue 1.
8) Virgil van Dijk (Southampton to Liverpool)
A few eyebrows were raised when Liverpool paid Southampton £75million for Virgil van Dijk (fee per BBC Sport), and it is already looking like a questionable decision.
While the Dutchman may well prove to be a decent centre-back and surely an upgrade on the likes of Dejan Lovren, that ridiculous fee moves him down in our rankings.
Van Dijk impressed at Southampton but playing for a big club like Liverpool is bound to be a new test for him and he’s not made the best of starts at Anfield.
7) Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao to Manchester City)
Another club-record purchase for a defender, this time by Manchester City, also looks a little ill-thought out.
BBC Sport claim City paid £57million for Aymeric Laporte, who is uncapped for France and who hasn’t always looked like a top-level player during his time with Athletic Bilbao.
Still, Laporte has long been tipped for a big future and perhaps a move to City will be enough to truly help him realise his potential.
6) Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool to West Brom)
Despite barely playing for what feels like a couple of years now, Daniel Sturridge on loan could end up being a fine piece of business by West Brom.
The Liverpool striker showed himself to be one of the finest in the Premier League at his peak for the Reds, but has since struggled with injuries and doesn’t look an obvious fit in Jurgen Klopp’s system.
Still, with West Brom battling relegation, they could be massively boosted in their fight for survival if Sturridge can get anywhere near his best form.
5) Theo Walcott (Arsenal to Everton)
He’s made a bright start at Everton, and Theo Walcott could really benefit from this move away from Arsenal.
Things had gone stale for the England winger at the Emirates Stadium, but he now looks fresh and ready to go after spending the first half of this season on the bench.
Walcott scored twice for Everton on just his second appearance last night in a 2-1 win over Leicester City.
4) Olivier Giroud (Arsenal to Chelsea)
A reliable backup capable of the spectacular, it’s hard to fathom why Arsenal would allow Olivier Giroud to join a rival such as Chelsea, but then that’s Arsenal isn’t it?
The France international looks absolutely ideal for what Antonio Conte’s side lack up front after the departure of Diego Costa, with Giroud bringing physicality, experience and quality.
Arsenal will feel justified in replacing him with a superior striker in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but Giroud will surely only strengthen Chelsea after his deadline day move to Stamford Bridge.
3) Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United to Arsenal)
Not at his best for Manchester United, but Henrikh Mkhitaryan could really enjoy his football again playing under Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.
The Armenia international was one of Europe’s best playmakers during his time at Borussia Dortmund, and never seemed an ideal Jose Mourinho player.
With old team-mate Aubameyang joining him at the Emirates Stadium, Mkhitaryan could finally have the system and players around him to get him playing at his best again – and he didn’t cost the Gunners a penny.
2) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund to Arsenal)
A close second on our list, Aubameyang looks an elite striker and an absolutely ideal signing for Arsenal given their needs in attack this January.
There aren’t many players Arsenal could have afforded who’d be realistic replacements for Alexis Sanchez, but the prolific and pacey Gabon international seems to tick all the boxes.
BBC Sport list the 28-year-old’s fee at £56million, which, in this crazily inflated market, also looks an absolute bargain for a player who scored 141 goals in 213 games for Borussia Dortmund.
1) Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal to Manchester United)
One of the best players in the Premier League and one of the top attacking players on the planet, Manchester United fans will still be pinching themselves at landing Alexis Sanchez.
Undoubtedly one of the biggest Premier League transfers of recent history, Sanchez should be a superb addition at United after standing out as one of few world class players at Arsenal.
The Chile international hasn’t got off to the best of starts at Old Trafford but it seems only a matter of time before he’s setting the Premier League alight again.