Balotelli and Morata take places in top rated January signing XI
While the January transfer window gone by was a relatively low key one this year, particularly as far as the Premier League was concerned, there were some significant signings made.
We’ve taken a look at the top performing winter signings so far across Europe’s top leagues, compiling an XI in a 3-4-3 formation of those to have started at least four times for their new clubs.
GK: Emiliano Viviano (SPAL 2013) - 6.62 rating
He doesn’t have a great deal of competition when it comes to goalkeepers making January moves to have become first choice since arriving, but VIviano’s experience of Serie A has been a real boost to the newcomers survival hopes. The relegation battlers have picked up 14 points in the 33-year-old’s 11 appearances compared to 18 from 20 without him and the Sporting loanee has produced an impressive 3.5 saves per 90.
DC: Almamy Toure (Eintracht Frankfurt) - 7.73 rating
The first of two defenders in this XI to have recently been nominated for the Bundesliga ‘Rookie of the Month’ award, Toure has taken his chance to impress of late. Having struggled for fitness upon his arrival from Monaco the 22-year-old has started the Bundesliga’s form side’s last four matches - keeping three clean sheets and winning all four - averaging an excellent 3.5 tackles per 90.
DC: Merih Demiral (Sassuolo) - 7.09 rating
Signed from Super Lig outfit Alanyaspor on loan with a view to a permanent move, Sassuolo fans will have been impressed by what they have seen from Demiral. A full Turkish international at just 21, the youngster already has two goals to his name, both coming in a 4-0 win over Chievo, whilst averaging 2 tackles per 90, winning 75.9 per cent of his aerial duels and completing 87.6 per cent of his passes.
DC: Ozan Kabak (Stuttgart) - 6.97 rating
Another young Turkish centre-back, signed for a considerable fee from Galatasaray back in January, Kabak - like Toure - is up for the Bundesliga’s ‘Rookie of the Month’ award. The 19-year-old scored his third goal in just ten games for the club with a crucial leveller against fellow strugglers Nuernberg and has averaged 2.5 tackles and 3.5 aerial duels won per 90.
MR: Gelson Martins (Monaco) - 7.12 rating
Monaco have certainly profited from a number of significant signings in January to steer themselves clear of an unexpected relegation battle and Martins has made as big an impact as any. The Portuguese winger couldn’t get a look in at Atletico but has three goals and an assist to his name in Ligue 1, tasting defeat just once in nine appearances.
MC: Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig) - 7.37 rating
While 20-year-old Adams had been a first team regular in MLS with New York Red Bulls for some time few could have predicted the immediacy of the impression he has made in the Bundesliga. His energy in midfield has been a great asset to Champions League hopefuls Leipzig, with 3.4 tackles and 1.9 successful dribbles per 90, as well as two assists. The team’s record in his seven starts reads six wins, no defeats and a +16 goal difference.
MC: Youri Tielemans (Leicester) - 7.12 rating
While they weren’t able to agree a permanent move for the Belgium international in January, Leicester are desperate to do so in the summer but it’s fair to say his price tag will have risen following a fine start to life in England. The 21-year-old has two goals and three assists to his name in in his last six of eight appearances in total, creating 12 chances from open play and averaging 2.9 shots per 90.
ML: Vincenzo Grifo (Freiburg) - 7.13 rating
It’s safe to say Grifo enjoys life in the German Black Forest having returned to form since returning to Freiburg. The 26-year-old has three goals and three assists to his name since a January move from Hoffenheim having scored just one Bundesliga goal across unfruitful spells for both Gladbach and Hoffenheim.
FW: Mario Balotelli (Marseille) - 7.19 rating
Having agreed to terminate his contract with Nice, failing to score in ten appearances under Patrick Vieira from 33 shots, Balotelli has been revitalised at Marseille. The Italian has seven league goals to his name already despite starting just eight of ten appearances for the club, with a conversion rate of 21.9 per cent up from nought.
FW: Alvaro Morata (Atletico) - 7.21 rating
Another move that has breathed new life into a striker’s career, Madrid is once again proving a good fit for Morata, though this time with Atletico. Only on loan from Chelsea as things stand, the 26-year-old’s form has earned him a recall for Spain and seen him score four goals in eight starts, as well as registering an assist. His work rate from the front has been outstanding too, averaging 2.1 tackles per 90.
FW: Krzysztof Piatek (AC Milan) - 7.16 rating
If anyone doubted whether Piatek could transfer his excellent early season form to Milan following a big money move from Genoa the Pole has certainly crushed any such opinion. His strike rate for the rossoneri, scoring eight goals in 842 minutes of league action, is actually better than it was for his former club and has taken his tally for his debut season in Italy overall to 21. A conversion rate of 32 per cent since his January move is the best of all Serie A players to score more than five times in 2019.
