With just over 24 hours before the end of the January transfer window, it is a perfect time to review the recruitment policies of the Premier League’s top sides.
After a busy summer in the transfer market, a handful of deals in January have seen most teams looking to strengthen as the business end of the campaign approaches.
Here are the top five Premier League signings of the season 2012-13 so far:
Robin van Persie
The Dutch maestro ruffled feathers at the Emirates by stating his intent to leave Arsenal in the summer, with a host of Europe’s top clubs fighting it out for the striker’s signature.
Manchester United beat cross-town rivals Manchester City to van Persie’s hand, and the hitman has proved worth every penny of the reported £22.5 million fee. 18 goals in the Premier League, including a match-winning strike against City at the Etihad stadium, have powered the Red Devils to the top of the table.
Eden Hazard
Another player in demand in the summer, the flying Belgian who switched from Lille to Chelsea.
Along with Oscar and Juan Mata, the attacking trident have at times played some scintillating football, with Hazard thrilling the Stamford Bridge faithful, especially at the start of the season with a raft of assists.
Despite the now-infamous kicking of a Swansea ballboy, the Blues have a mercurial talent to build a team to fight for honours around.
Santi Cazorla
With Malaga in financial trouble, Spanish international Santi Cazorla had to be offloaded by Los Boquerones in an attempt to balance the books. Despite Arsenal struggling to keep up with the Premier League pacesetters in 2012-13, the talented playmaker has looked like a quality signing.
A deft turn of pace, confidence on the ball and an eye for a defence-splitting pass mean that Cazorla will be an integral part of the Gunners’ attempts to finish in the top four.
Michu
Swansea manager Brian Laudrup must be heralded for his move to bring former charge Michu with him to the Liberty Stadium in the summer, who has been a key player in the Welsh side’s continued success in the top flight.
Deadly in the air, the Spaniard’s movement off the ball and eye for the back of the net has made him an instant favourite amongst Swans fans. A £2 million transfer fee was a snip for a player of the attacker’s quality; no wonder Swansea were quick to offer Michu an improved, four-year deal recently.
Mousa Dembele
Once Tottenham missed out on Champions League football for 2012-13, the club’s fans were resigned to losing star playmaker Luka Modric. After a protracted transfer saga, the Croat moved to Real Madrid with Mousa Dembele brought in from Fulham as his replacement.
The Belgian midfielder may lack the finesse and passing range of Modric, but his energy, box to box play and ability to win the ball back have lessened the impact of the outgoing man’s departure. With Lewis Holtby joining the White Hart Lane outfit in January also, Spurs look to have excellent options in the centre of the park.
Soccerlens are currently running a competition to win a Robin van Persie Manchester United shirt. Simply answer a couple of questions about the Red Devils here to stand a chance of winning the replica jersey.
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