Premier League clubs invested a record £815m during the January transfer window to strengthen their squads for battles at both ends of the table.
Here we take a look at some of the winners and losers when the deadline passed.
Winners
Chelsea
The Blues were the biggest spenders of the January window, as Todd Boehly’s consortium laid out in excess of some £300m.
A British-record £106.8m deal for Enzo Fernandez from Benfica was finally confirmed by the west London club on Wednesday morning to further bolster the options for head coach Graham Potter.
However, with the likes of Mykhailo Mudryk, who arrived for £88.5m from Shakhtar Donetsk amid interest from rivals Arsenal, and Joao Felix to fit into the side along with the likes of winger Noni Madueke and centre-back Benoit Badiashile – not to mention the potential of youngsters Andrey Santos, Malo Gusto and David Datro Fofana – then Potter certainly has his work cut out to keep everyone onside and mould them all into a winning team.
Arsenal
Arsenal may have missed out on Mudryk as well as Moises Caicedo, with Brighton standing firm to keep hold of their wantaway Ecuador midfielder, but it was nevertheless a very positive January window at the Emirates Stadium.
In a largely unexpected deadline day move, the Gunners switched attentions to land Italian defensive midfielder Jorginho from Chelsea, which supplemented the other arrivals of Leandro Trossard, who was allowed to leave by Brighton, and Poland centre-back Jakub Kiwior.
Whether or not sporting director Edu has given Mikel Arteta enough for his side to last the distance in the Premier League title race remains to be seen, but the couple of shrewd additions mean they certainly should give title rivals Manchester City a run for their money through to May.
Wolves
New Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui was determined to freshen up the squad during January to kick-start their survival battle.
Looking to get an edge on some of their relegation rivals, Craig Dawson from West Ham adds some experience to the backline while it is hoped forwards Pablo Sarabia and Matheus Cunha can provide a cutting edge in the final third.
Brazilian Joao Gomes also came on board ahead of the deadline to add some flare to the midfield as the influence of former Spain and Real Madrid boss Lopetegui on the side continues to show positive progress.
Losers
Everton
With Everton sacking manager Frank Lampard and turning to Sean Dyche, it was perhaps unlikely to expect major transfer moves during January – well, incomings anyway, as Anthony Gordon was sold to Newcastle for £45m.
Nevertheless, despite the timing of the change in the dugout, beleaguered Toffees fans would have hoped for at least one new face to bring into the ranks for the relegation dogfight.
Dyche has been here before though and Everton will be counting on the former Burnley boss to make a swift impact with the players he has got and on a squad which was much in need of a lift well before the transfer window opened.
Liverpool
Over at Anfield, it has hardly been a hive of transfer activity either.
Liverpool did get some business done early, with Dutch forward Cody Gakpo coming in from PSV Eindhoven when he had been expected to head to rivals Manchester United.
It was, though, not just in attack where Jurgen Klopp’s squad could have done with an extra impetus.
Central midfield was one area which some felt should have been strengthened, and England international Jude Bellingham was said to be the primary target.
Despite a lack of more fresh faces, fully expect Klopp to battle on, looking to both recapture the team’s form as well as silence the critics.
West Ham
Like Everton, the Irons are embroiled in a fight for survival, sitting just a point clear of the relegation zone heading into the next round of Premier League fixtures.
A January move for veteran forward Danny Ings for £12m from Aston Villa looked a positive step, only for him to get injured when making his debut.
Hammers boss David Moyes has seen his plans derailed somewhat by such injury problems all season – but that will count for little if the team fail to move up the table and the pressure mounts for a change in the dugout.
