Chelsea's five best and worst January transfers including forgotten wonderkid
No one can predict what will happen at Chelsea this month but they are unlikely to be as busy as last January.
Eight players arrived at Stamford Bridge this time last year and none have been consistently impressive. Yet a hectic winter window is nothing new at Chelsea.
Here are five of the best and five - from many - of the worst pieces of business completed in the blue patch of West London down through the years.
The best
Branislav Ivanovic - Did not arrive to much fanfare in a £10m deal from Lokomotiv Moscow but he spent a decade at Bridge, playing 377 games and winning three Premier Leagues, three FA Cups, one League Cup, a Champions League and Europa League. The full back was never anything but dependable.
Gary Cahill - One of the great servants across seven and a half seasons, he only cost £7m in 2012. Ended up winning eight trophies, making 290 appearances and scoring 25 goals from centre back. A bargain even accounting for market inflation.
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Nemanja Matic - Perhaps he should not have left first time around but the Serb’s £21m re-signing in 2014 still proved value for money considering he was sold for not far off double that to Manchester United three and a bit years on having become a two-time Premier League champion and FA Cup winner.
Olivier Giroud - A player who was held in higher regard after leaving. Frank Lampard wanted to ease him out but France’s record goalscorer but he is still going strong now with Milan aged 37. Won the FA Cup, Champions League and Europa League during three and a bit seasons.
David Luiz - His first spell was clouded by an unconvincing second term at the club and subsequent shambles at Arsenal, but the Brazil centre half was vital to Chelsea’s first Champions League win in 2012 and he was excellent before joining PSG in a record fee for a defender in 2014.
The worst
Joao Felix struggled to make a notable impact on loan at Chelsea last year. (PA)Alexandre Pato - Forgotten wonderkid came on loan from Corinthians for the second half of 2015-16 but was never fit and made just two appearances - albeit scoring on debut away to Aston Villa..
Juan Cuadrado - Signed off the back of an impressive 2014 World Cup with Colombia in a deal that cost £23m plus Mohammed Salah heading to Fiorentina on loan. Cuadrado made 15 appearances, contributed zero goals and assists, and was loaned out to Juventus for two seasons before joining the Old Lady permanently.
Gonzalo Higuain - An impressive bagsman at Real Madrid, Napoli and Juventus, the 2019 signing of the Argentina striker on loan never really worked out. Found the net five times in all competitions across half a campaign.
Joao Felix - One of the eight to arrive last season, for a hefty loan fee. He had a decent start in match away to Fulham only to get sent off and summed up the entire squad’s malaise before departing without too many fond farewells.
Fernando Torres - The Spain striker became the sixth most expensive player in history when completing a £50m move from Liverpool but it turned out he was already past his peak. Offered one memorable moment - that goal away to Barcelona in the Champions League - and won both major European trophies in three seasons. Yet he failed to reach double figures in the league once and because of the fee was considered a disappointment.
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