Deadline day deals you might have missed
Nothing quite like a last-minute transfer deal, is there?
As per usual, January’s transfer deadline day excited, disappointed and outright confused fans up and down the country. The last-gasp moves for Odion Ighalo and Jarrod Bowen were well documented as the sagas unfolded, but there was plenty more action around Europe that was somewhat overlooked by the frantic media coverage.
Here’s a look at eight deadline day deals that you may have missed.
1. Francisco Trincao
From: SC Braga
To: FC Barcelona
Fee: 31 million Euros
? Francisco Trincão
Agreement with @SCBragaOficial for Trincão transfer; he'll join FC Barcelona on 1 July 2020.— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 31, 2020
The Portuguese forward made his name at the U19 European Championships, where he managed more goals (five) and more assists (three) than anyone else and helped his country win the tournament.
Capable of playing on either flank, Trincao is just 20 years of age and will leave SC Braga for the Spanish champions at the end of the season. His release clause is set at an astonishing 500 million Euros, which provides an indication as to just how highly the Catalan giants rate him.
2. Emre Can
From: Juventus
To: Borussia Dortmund
Fee: Loan
Welcome to Dortmund, Mr. Can ? pic.twitter.com/rJ8UryvDcR
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) January 31, 2020
After leaving Liverpool, the German has struggled for consistent game time in Turin. He may have won the league with Juventus, but playing time is clearly more important to him and is something he is likely to get more of back home.
Dortmund are still fighting on all fronts this season, and Can could prove crucial in any bid they make for silverware.
Can Dortmund end Bayern’s Bundesliga dominance? Five things to know…
- Despite dropping 18 points all season, Bayern Munich, Can’s former club, currently top Bundesliga by a single point ahead of RB Leipzig (2nd, on 41 points) and Borussia Dortmund (3rd, on 39).
- The last team to finish above Bayern in the German top flight was Dortmund, under Jurgen Klopp in 2012.
- This means the Bavarian club are currently on an uninterrupted seven-season title-winning streak.
- Bayern may have removed Niko Kovac as head coach earlier in the season, replaced by assistant Hans-Dieter Flick, but they remain 4/9 favourites for the title.
- They are followed by RB Leipzig (3/1) and Dortmund (4/1).
* Odds by William Hill, Squawka’s partner for the January transfer window. 18+ only and BeGambleAware.
3. Nicolas Gaitan
From: Chicago Fire
To: LOSC Lille
Fee: Free
? LOSC are delighted to announce the arrival of 31-year-old Argentina international, Nicolás Gaitán. pic.twitter.com/PJugOt3hZP
— LOSC Lille EN (@LOSC_EN) January 31, 2020
Remember him?
Once one of the most sought after players in Europe (and another who was endlessly linked to the Premier League), Gaitan has returned after spells in China and the USA. The winger tore it up for Benfica before somewhat struggling at Atletico, but Lille have snapped him up in the hope that he will rediscover some of that sparkling form that he once had.
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4. Maya Yoshida
From: Southampton
To: Sampdoria
Fee: Loan
? Japanese defender #Yoshida joins from @SouthamptonFC ➡️ https://t.co/wwCMIw2U9A pic.twitter.com/QCofoaRY3A
— Sampdoria English (@sampdoria_en) January 31, 2020
In what is one of the more surprising deals that took place yesterday, the Saints’ veteran defender swapped the south coast for the Italian coast as he joined Sampdoria until the end of the season.
The Japanese centre-back has been a stalwart for Southampton but has featured just 11 times in all competitions this season as he has fallen out of favour with Ralph Hassenhuttl. Given that he’s 31 years old, Yoshida will know how important it is that he keeps playing at this crucial time in his career.
6. Yannick Carrasco
From: Dalian Yifang
To: Atletico Madrid
Fee: Loan
[?] Agreement with Dalian Professional FC over the loan of @CarrascoY21.
?? Welcome back! ?⚪
? https://t.co/0qFG4KrxnL#WelcomeCarrasco #AúpaAtleti pic.twitter.com/0DoAfqbTiQ— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) January 31, 2020
Another former Atletico Madrid winger was on the move yesterday, but this one returned to the Spanish capital. Two years after leaving for the riches of China, Carrasco is reunited with Diego Simeone and the club for which he scored in the Champions League final back in 2016.
It appeared for a while that the Belgian could make a shock move to Crystal Palace as they were reportedly interested, but Carrasco opted for Atletico instead.
7. Steven Nzonzi
From: AS Roma
To: Stade Rennais
Fee: Loan
✍ Le #StadeRennais F.C. est fier de vous annoncer la venue jusqu’à la fin de la saison de Steven #Nzonzi, vainqueur de la Coupe du Monde en 2018. (avec une option d'un an supplémentaire)
➡ https://t.co/LsSR2Sj1Gf
—#AllezRennes#ToutDonner ??⚫ pic.twitter.com/skR4weYZvK— Stade Rennais F.C. (@staderennais) January 31, 2020
After very impressive spells at Stoke and Sevilla, Nzonzi has struggled to hold down a regular place in a starting XI. Roma loaned him out to Galatasaray at the start of the season but the midfielder was suspended in December for ‘disciplinary reasons’.
His loan was cut short and he has swiftly returned to his native France, where he will look to settle back into some regular football.
8. Angelino
From: Manchester City
To: RB Leipzig
Fee: Loan
Angelino only rejoined Manchester City in the summer but is on the move again, despite playing perhaps a little more than many expected.
Fortunately for him, he’s on his way to one of the most exciting teams in the world right now in RB Leipzig. Having Pep Guardiola and Julian Nagelsmann as your managers for the season isn’t bad going. He joins on an initial loan, but the German league leaders will have an option to buy in the summer.
