The winter transfer window has slammed shut for Premier League clubs, and it's time to hand out the report cards. Premier League sides spent just under £400 million this January, with more than £70 million of that coming on deadline day alone.
It wasn't the busiest window we've seen, but 14 of the league's 20 clubs made at least one permanent signing. Let's break down how each team did.
The Big Spenders and Smart Movers
Manchester City come out as clear winners here. They've added proven Premier League quality in Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi without breaking the bank. Their net spend sits under £60 million after selling Oscar Bobb, which is remarkable business. For punters backing City to claw back into the title race, these additions certainly improve their odds.
Crystal Palace had a mixed bag. Losing Marc Guehi to City hurts, and manager Oliver Glasner has confirmed he's leaving in summer. But they did land Jorgen Strand Larsen as a record signing on deadline day. With Jean-Philippe Mateta facing an extended injury layoff, Strand Larsen and loan arrival Evann Guessand will need to deliver goals fast.
Liverpool kept things quiet with just one summer signing confirmed - French defender Jeremy Jacquet won't arrive until July. The focus was on loan moves, with Lewis Koumas already scoring for Hull on his debut.
Arsenal basically stood pat. They shipped Oleksandr Zinchenko to Ajax and loaned Ethan Nwaneri to Marseille, but that's it. Mikel Arteta is backing his current squad to win the title, which makes sense given they're sitting at the summit.
Manchester United? Zero signings under Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who clearly isn't keen on January spending. Michael Carrick has started well as manager, but the squad still lacks balance. That could be a problem when Casemiro leaves in summer.
The Survival Scrappers
West Ham brought in £47 million worth of strikers - Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe - though neither has scored in the league yet. They've managed back-to-back wins for just the second time all season, which is crucial for their survival hopes.
Nottingham Forest added Lorenzo Lucca for goals and Stefan Ortega in goal. Their most important January business was actually beating West Ham, but these signings should help them stay safe.
Wolves are basically relegated already, but they're planning smart. They banked £48 million for Jorgen Strand Larsen (who scored just one league goal all season) and brought in Championship-proven Adam Armstrong. That looks like planning for next season's promotion push.
Burnley remain winless since October despite recent draws with Liverpool, United and Spurs. A loan move for James Ward-Prowse headlines a quiet window that suggests they know the gap is too big to close.
For anyone betting on the relegation battle, keep an eye on West Ham and Forest - their January moves could be the difference between staying up and going down.
