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The regular football season runs its mid-season transfer window from January 1st to January 31st. Many teams use this opportunity to analyze the players they have and those they need. During this period, the clubs look to bolster their squads for the rest of the season.
This month, a good number of important transfers have been conducted by top clubs. Fiorentina allowed Dusan Vlahovic to leave for Juventus in a €70 million deal. Barcelona signed Ferran Torres for €55 million from Manchester City and Porto's Luis Diaz moved to Liverpool for €40 million.
There were some interesting loan moves that caught the eye this month as well. Without further ado, here is a list of our top five loan moves this month so far:
#5 Dejan Kulusevski (Juventus to Tottenham Hotspur)
Dejan Kulusevski is regarded, alongside Alexander Isak, as one of the most exciting talents out of Sweden in recent years. He has moved on from Italy after six years in the country. Kulusevski joined Atalanta as an U-17 player in 2016 and rose through the ranks at the club before eventually earning a move to Juventus in 2020.
Kulusevski has found it hard to get regular minutes at Allianz Stadium this season. The 21-year-old made 27 appearances for Juventus in all competitions in the first half of the season, with two goals and three assists to show for it. His total minutes on the pitch this season stands at 972 in all competitions.
With Tottenham Hotspur looking to bolster their squad, they have turned to the young Swede and were able to secure a 18-month loan move for him. Spurs paid €5 million in loan fees. They have an obligation to buy him for €40 million if they secure a Champions League spot or some number of appearances.
#4 Adama Traore (Wolverhampton Wanderers to Barcelona)
Spanish winger Adama Traore finds himself in familiar surroundings after a long time. The winger moved from Barcelona's youth team to the Premier League as a teenager in 2015. He turned out for Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Traore has long been linked with a move away from the Molineux Stadium due to the quality of performances he often displayed. He was known to be a brilliant dribbler but failed to product any goal contribution at the end of it. The 26-year-old scored one goal in 23 appearances for Wolves this season before moving back to his boyhood club.
Traore was linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur at the start of the transfer window, but has now moved to Barcelona on a six-month loan deal. The winger can move permanently to the Spanish giants for €30 million at the end of his loan spell.
#3 Donny van de Beek (Manchester United to Everton)
One player who would be very pleased with this transfer window is Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek. The 24-year-old secured a six-month switch from Manchester United to Everton after a horrible spell at Old Trafford.
Van de Beek moved from Ajax to Manchester United in 2020 for a fee of around €40 million, but has been used sparingly. He has made just 50 appearances for the club so far in all competitions.
His lack of playing time has seen him lose his place in the Netherlands national team with the 2022 FIFA World Cup just around the corner. The attacking midfielder has only played 380 minutes this season for Manchester United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick. He has made 14 appearances in all competitions and scored one goal for the Red Devils this season.
Van de Beek moved to Everton despite interest from Crystal Palace and Valencia as he looks to get a run of games under his belt. A good series of performances will likely see the Dutchman return to the reckoning for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
#2 Amad Diallo (Manchester United to Rangers)
Rangers' Romanian winger Ianis Hagi picked up a season-ending knee injury against Stirling Albion this season. Hence, manager Giovanni Van Bronckhorst moved for Manchester United youngster Amad Diallo as cover. The Ivorian teenager is one of Europe's brightest talents in his age group.
Diallo joined Manchester United from Atalanta for €21 million aged 18 and made an impact at the club last season. The 19-year-old was due to go on loan at the start of the season. But an injury derailed his plans and he was forced to remain at Old Trafford.
He has made just one appearance this season in a Champions League draw against Young Boys.
Diallo joined Scottish champions Rangers for the rest of the season and scored within five minutes of his debut in a 3-3 draw against Ross County. The highly-rated winger will look to impress in Scotland in a bid to return to Old Trafford as a better player.
#1 Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona to Aston Villa)
Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho secured a loan move from Barcelona to Aston Villa in the Premier League after a tough spell in Spain. The 29-year-old moved to Spain from Liverpool in 2018 for €135 million, but struggled to deliver consistently.
Coutinho made 18 appearances for Barcelona this season, scoring thrice. He has made 106 appearances overall for Blaugrana, scoring 25 goals and assisting 14.
The Brazilian then embraced a move back to England where he reunited with former teammate Steven Gerrard, who is now Villa manager. Coutinho hit the ground running with a goal and an assist off the bench on his debut for the club. This helped the Villans make a comeback against Manchester United, drawing 2-2 after conceding two early goals.
Coutinho's ability and talent are evident for everyone to see, but the midfielder needs to prove he can still compete at the highest level. Aston Villa have the option of making his loan deal permanent at the end of the season for €33 million.
