F365's Transfer Review Part Two

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*It's only the major moves we're considering here...

NEWCASTLE UNITED
INS: Papiss Demba Cisse (£10million from Freiburg)
OUTS: Alan Smith (loan to MK Dons).
What was said? Alan Pardew: "I don't think we'll be bringing in a striker in this window after the collapse of the (Modibo) Maiga deal. We'll go with what we've got, and we'll have to do a lot of work between now and the summer to locate another striker."

Pardew, you old dog. You fooled us all. After the collapse of the Maiga deal it looked as though Newcastle would be having a quiet month - it was more a case of holding onto their best players than trying to strengthen the squad.

The signing of Cisse came as a surprise to everyone and could turn out to be the deal of the month. A tireless worker, brilliant finisher and pals with Demba Ba from Senegal duty, the Toon Army must be looking forward to seeing their new £10million man in action. And with Senegal already out of the Africa Cup of Nations, it will be sooner than expected.


NORWICH
INS: Jonny Howson (£2m from Leeds), Ryan Bennett (undisc from Peterborough).
OUTS:
What was said? Paul Lambert: "There are one or two areas I think you would look to strengthen, there is no doubt about that, but as I said sometimes it is a lot easier to say that than to go and get them in."

Norwich have impressed on their return to the Premier League and weren't linked with many players during the window. Howson and Bennett add squad depth, but the best news for Canaries fans was that the club rejected a bid from Rangers for Grant Holt.

The striker has struck up a decent partnership with Steve Morison and the pair are essential to the team's continued success. Survival looks likely and Lambert is probably saving his transfer pot for the summer, when better options become available.


QPR
INS: Federico Macheda (loan from Manchester United), Taye Taiwo (loan from AC Milan), Nedum Onuoha (£2.5m from Manchester City), Samba Diakite (loan from Nancy), Djibril Cisse (£4m from Lazio), Bobby Zamora (£5million from Fulham)
OUTS: Matthew Connolly (loan to Reading), Bradley Orr (undisc to Blackburn)
What was said? Neil Warnock: "We will be looking to improve the squad in January. I know what I need and I will go and get them."

The Rs were the biggest movers and shakers in January, sacking Warnock and sprucing up the managerial office with Mark Hughes. The Welshman quickly set about phoning all and sundry to bring in new faces and was rewarded with five late signings that possess enough quality to keep QPR up.

On paper, Cisse and Zamora look like a formidable partnership, while Onuoha and Taiwo are solid defensive reinforcements. Diakite adds steel to the midfield, and suddenly Hughes' squad looks a lot more balanced.

It goes to show what a little money can do when you're in a relegation battle and QPR's rivals for the drop must be looking-on enviously. After receiving the backing of Tony Fernandes, Mark Hughes must now surely lead the team to survival.


STOKE CITY
INS:
OUTS: Danny Pugh (undisclosed to Leeds), Tom Soares (loan to Hibs), Michael Tonge (loan to Barnsley), Ben Marshall (£1m to Leicester City), Danny Higginbotham (loan to Nottingham Forest).
What was said? Tony Pulis: "If you gave me £240million tomorrow I would go and get a team like Manchester City's. That is not going to happen. We have to build it gradually over a period of time and try to get better every year without being silly with finances because we cannot afford that."

I think the current accepted vernacular is "Meh".


SUNDERLAND
INS: Wayne Bridge (loan from Manchester City), Sotirios Kyrgiakos (loan from Wolfsburg)
OUTS:
What was said? Martin O'Neill: "I don't really know the strengths and weaknesses of my team yet. For the moment though I'm happy not to know for certain. I'm happy to give people opportunities."

After rumoured moves for Kevin Davies and Bobby Zamora fell flat, one imagines Sotirios Kyrgiakos is going to play up front.

Recruitment wasn't a pressing concern for Sunderland, though, as the team is in great form and are certain to avoid the relegation battle that was once looming. More attacking transfer options will be available in the summer, which gives the club plenty of time to assess its targets.


SWANSEA
INS: Rory Donnelly (undisclosed from Cliftonville), Gylfi Sigurdsson (loan from Hoffenheim), Josh McEachran (loan from Chelsea), Darnel Situ (£250,000 from Lens), Curtis Obeng (undisc from Wrexham).
OUTS:
What was said? Brendan Rodgers: "I am sure there will be movements in and out in January."

Swansea have impressed everyone with their stylish approach to Premier League survival and new acquisitions Sigurdsson and McEachran will fit in nicely, whilst plumping up the squad.

Brendan Rodgers will no doubt look to bring in more faces in the summer when the Swans prepare for their second season in the top-flight.


TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
INS: Yago Falque (undisclosed from Juventus), Louis Saha (nominal from Everton), Ryan Nelsen (free from Blackburn).
OUTS: Harry Kane (loan to Millwall), Andros Townsend (loan to Leeds United), Yago Falque (loan to Southampton), Tom Carroll (loan to Derby), John Bostock (loan to Sheffield Wednesday), Adam Smith (loan to Leeds United), Vedran Corluka (loan to Bayer Leverkusen), Sebastian Basong (loan to Wolves), Steven Pienaar (loan to Everton).
What was said? Harry Redknapp: "If we're going to make a signing, let's make one big signing. That would send out a message. But it's difficult finding that player who would make a difference."

Mental - that's the only word to describe Spurs' deadline-day activities. Harry's been a bit busy lately, so hasn't been his usual wheeler-dealin' self in this window and when a mic was put in front of him on Tuesday night all that pent-up transfer frustration exploded onto the camera.

Allowing two quality defenders, a useful striker and a key squad member to leave all seems rather bizarre when you look at the lack of 'ins'. Louis Saha might have avoided injury thus far this season, but he only has one Premier League goal; Ryan Nelsen hasn't played since August 20th because of a career-threatening knee injury. Can Harry just not resist being involved?

There was no "big-signing" to boost Spurs' first title challenge in years and it looks as though Levy and co are happy to settle for Champions League qualification.


WEST BROMWICH ALBION
INS: Scott Allan (undisclosed from Dundee United) Liam Ridgwell (£2.5m from Birmingham), Keith Andrews (undiscl. from Blackburn).
OUTS: Chris Wood (loan to Bristol City), Roman Bednar (free to Blackpool), Joe Mattock and Gonzalo Jara (loan to Brighton).
What was said? Roy Hodgson: "We need our strength in the first 18. I'm pretty sure the club will do its best to make certain that we will be able to get anything we need within the parameters that we work."

James Morrison has recently voiced his concerns over the club's lack of ambition, and it's unlikely the midfielder will have been satisfied with the deadline-day recruits. Ridgewell is a decent defender, but neither he or Andrews supply the 'Wow!' factor.

Fighting off Fulham's interest in Peter Odemwingie was key to West Brom's survival plans, but Roy Hodgson could still see his team slip into trouble in the coming months.


WIGAN ATHLETIC
INS: Jean Beausejour (undisc. from Birmingham).
OUTS:
What was said? Roberto Martinez: "We are trying to improve our squad. In every window we will do that. We are going to bring the right personalities and the right characters to the club."

Bringing in the "right characters" is all well and good, but it was quality that Wigan desperately needed to find. Jean Beausejour suffered relegation with Birmingham last season and at the moment he's nailed on for an unwanted double. The Latics struggle to attract the players they need - even Watford defender Adrian Mariappa rejected a move to the basement battlers - and a lack of activity could cost them dearly.


WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
INS: Eggert Jonsson (£200k from Hearts), Emmanuel Frimpong (loan from Arsenal), Sebastian Bassong (loan from Tottenham)
OUTS: Sam Vokes (loan to Brighton), Adlene Guedioura (loan to Nottingham Forest), Andy Keogh (undisc. to Millwall).
What was said? Mick McCarthy: "We only signed one player (Roger Johnson) in the summer. Jamie (O'Hara) had been here since Christmas. It would be nice to freshen it up and change things around, if you can."

Mick McCarthy paid attention to the rules of (relegation) fight club, and made sure his Wolves team is packing heat. The signing of Emmanuel Frimpong was an inspired no-lose move. The Arsenal midfielder is a real presence and his battling qualities have already lifted the Molineux mood. You have to doff your cap to Mick for bringing in Sebastian Bassong as well. A bench-warmer at Spurs, the centre-back will slot straight into the Wolves first-team and provides extra quality in that department.

Wolves have fared better than Blackburn, Bolton and Wigan in the January transfer window and are now equipped for the long slog ahead.

Matthew Stanger - he's on Twitter