The January transfer window is upon us and it's time for clubs to splash the cash!
Over the next month, the Premier League will be full of managers wheeling and dealing in a bid to stave off relegation, push for a European place or bolster title hopes.
Whether it’s grabbing a bargain or pure panic-buying, clubs are ready to spend, spend, spend or call in loan signings to strengthen their chances of success in the New Year.
But will new arrivals boost a club’s fortunes or is it just a waste of time and money?
We’ve compiled some of the biggest and most successful New Year deals since the January transfer window was first brought in during the 2001/2002 season.
Our list below focuses on the stars who have revitalised a club's ailing fortunes or added an extra dimension to their game.
Let us know what you think of our choices by leaving your feedback below.
10. Patrice Evra
AS Monaco to Manchester United, £5.5million, January 2006
The French international was signed by Alex Ferguson in a bid to shore up United’s backline following an injury to Gabriel Heinze. Although he struggled to reproduce the form he showed at Monaco in his first few games for the Red Devils, Evra soon established himself as the club’s first choice left-back and his form forced Heinze to move to Real Madrid.
9. David Bentley
Arsenal to Blackburn Rovers, undisclosed, January 2006
Bentley’s rise to become an England international was so rapid it’s easy to forget how his career once looked so lost. The midfielder failed to live up to the hype at Arsenal but his permanent arrival at Ewood Park in 2006 helped Blackburn finish just four points off the Champions League places — and his former club.
8. Robbie Fowler
Manchester City to Liverpool, free, January 2006
Fowler’s return to Liverpool was labelled by the tabloid press as the stuff of fairytales — and the striker admitted his return to Anfield made him feel like “a kid waking up on Christmas morning every day”. His goal against West Brom saw him overtake Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool’s all-time top scorer and he finished the 2005/2006 season with four goals in six games.
7. Emmanuel Adebayor
AS Monaco to Arsenal, £7m, January 2006
Arsene Wenger splashed the cash for the lanky Togo striker who Gunners fans have dubbed 'the new Kanu'. Adebayor exploded onto the Premier League scene by scoring just 21 minutes into his debut against Birmingham City in a match Arsenal won 2-0. He ended up bagging in four goals in 10 games that season but was cup tied for the Champions League final against Barcelona.
6. Robbie Savage
Birmingham City to Blackburn Rovers, £3m, January 2005
Following weeks of acrimony, Savage finally joined Blackburn from Birmingham in a £3m move. He was a huge hit in his first five months with the club and became a cult figure within weeks of making his debut. His no-nonsense, tough-tackling approach was an immediate hit with the Rovers fans.
5. Dean Ashton
Norwich to West Ham, £7m, January 2006
Riding high after securing promotion back to the top flight, West Ham smashed their club record to pay £7m for Ashton in 2006. The striker, who signed for struggling Norwich in the previous winter window, fired in the goals as the Hammers came within seconds of beating Liverpool in the FA Cup final.
4. Matthew Upson
Arsenal to Birmingham City, £1m, January 2003
Birmingham were gearing up for a relegation scrap as they headed into 2003. But boss Steve Bruce spent wisely in the transfer window, particularly with his £1m purchase of Upson from Arsenal. The centre-back coped admirably as the Blues went on to win seven of their final 11 league games.
3. Javier Mascherano
West Ham to Liverpool, undisclosed, January 2007
Liverpool initially signed the combative Argentine international on loan from West Ham in January 2007, with the deal being made permanent a month later. He slotted seamlessly into Rafa benitez's midfield from the moment he made his debut in a 4-0 win against Sheffield United. Boss Rafa Benitez calls him a 'monster of a player' but the Anfield crowd know him simply as 'The Chief'.
2. Kieran Richardson
Man Utd to West Bromwich Albion, loan, January 2005
Richardson was still a rookie at Old Trafford when Manchester United hero Bryan Robson tempted him to West Brom on loan to help pull off an unlikely relegation escape in 2005. The midfielder scored in the dramatic victory over Portsmouth that sealed their final day reprieve.
1. Nemanja Vidic
Spartak Moscow to Manchester United, £7m, January 2006
Alex Ferguson splashed out over £7m on the Serbian centre-half when he signed him from Spartak Moscow in 2006. His imposing stature has helped him form an impressive partnership with Rio Ferdinand and Vidic is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the Premier League.
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