Grading Chelsea's transfer dealings in the January window

Our writers have their say on how Chelsea fared in the January transfer window.

Martin Laurence: Up until the final knockings of the window it was something of a nightmare month for Chelsea but the pick up of Olivier Giroud could be a shrewd one. Elsewhere Ross Barkley came relatively cheap and Emerson is strong cover at left wing-back where the Blues were lacking should Marcos Alonso succumb to injury.

Overall grade: B-

Antonio Conte made three signings in January but it's unlikely Ross Barkley or Emerson Palmieri will make any impact this season after missing the first six months of the campaign through injury. They are certainly signings for the future, but it remains to be seen whether Conte is part of that vision. His bizarre search for a target man saw Chelsea linked with Ashley Barnes and Peter Crouch, but ended with the arrival of Olivier Giroud on deadline day having missed out on priority target Edin Dzeko. He should certainly improve their options in attack despite the loan departure of Michy Batshuayi.

Overall grade: C+

Ben McAleer: Antonio Conte was keen on landing another central midfielder and a left wing-back to provide competition for Marcos Alonso last summer and boosted the squad with Ross Barkley and Emerson from Everton and Roma, respectively. What's more, Olivier Giroud is perhaps the best Plan B striker in the market, having netted more goals as a substitute (17) than any other Premier League player since the start of 2012/13.

Overall grade: B+

Best signing: Olivier Giroud - Of players to score ten or more Premier League goals since the start of last season, Giroud boasts the best conversion rate (28.1%).