January Transfer window 2011.

The end of the January transfer window saw 225 million pounds spent by Premier League teams. This figure dwarfed the figure of only 30 million in the same period a year ago. Amongst the highlights of the transfer window was the chaotic final day of the window which saw 3 of the biggest deals completed and 2 transfer records smashed before the 11pm deadline. Liverpool's Fernando Torres moved to Chelsea for a british record £50m, which in turn caused more transfer business, as Liverpool, replaces Torres with Newcastle's Andy Carroll for £35m; which is a transfer fee record for a british player. Liverpool also completed the signing of Luis Suarez from Ajax for £22.8m as a result of the sale of Torres. Other deals which were completed earlier on in the windows were from Man City for Edin Dzeko for £27m, whilst Aston Villa spent £24m on Darren Bent.


Why are clubs spending so much on players half way through the season? I believe that clubs are panic buying, many of the teams who have spent big are teams who have not had the best first half of the season.

Aston Villa, who were lingering just above the relegation zone knew that they needed a striker who would be able to get them goals. Darren Bent fit that profile, with just as many goals as Rooney and Drogba in the Premer League overall. With many questioning whether Bent is worth the 24m that Aston Villa have paid. But Houllier and many Villa fans will argue that if Bent is able to score the goals which keep Villa away from the relegation zone then he would be worth every single penny of the 24m.

Chelsea, while not being anywhere near the bottom of the table, had a great first 3 months but suddenly crumbled and seemingly their chances of retaining the Premier League title disappeared with a poor run of games. The signing of Torres can be seen to be refreshing a seemingly aging team with many stars departing in the summer and leaving the club with a weaker squad. But is Torres really a player that Chelsea need now? With the attacking talents of Drogba, Anelka, Malouda and Kalou, bolstering their attack did not seem to be a priority. Is Torres a "Shevchenko-esque" signing, a signing which has been dealt with by the owner Roman Abramovich, without the approval of the manager or is he someone which will improve the Chelsea team and push them onto to an unlikely title? The signing of David Luiz was a better signing for Chelsea, he is able to provide some backup for the Chelsea centre back position which has been at times, stripped to its bare.

Liverpool's signing of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez, has come from the sale of Torres to Chelsea. Andy Carroll, who is still only 22 years old, comes to Liverpool with the price tag of £35m and the most expensive British player title. Is Carroll another example of panic buying from clubs? Carroll has had a great first half of the season, with 11 goals. But is he really worth the £35m that Liverpool have paid for him? With only half a seasons experience in the Premier League, he is seen as a player for the long term. Whereas, Suarez has scored plenty of goals in the Dutch League and was one of the players of the World Cup. He is by far the better signing for Liverpool and believe that he will have a big impact on the Premier League when he finds his feet.

With much to play for in the second half of the season, we will have to see whether these signings will be worth the huge amounts of money paid for them and if it will change their respective clubs fortunes.