5 winter transfers that could change the fortunes of their new team

The winter transfer window is done and dusted. It's been a week since then. Teams have bolstered their squad, some failed, some had no budget to even put their foot in the intricacies of transfer business. Relegation fighting teams tried to influx in some different characters in their team to stay in the top division.

The top teams drafted in players to become the champions of their leagues or qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Different teams have different agendas but most tried to cover their grey areas with the riches they have at their disposal. Many teams have even shopped for the future, sending the players on loan back to their former club or signed an agreement where a player could stay for the rest of the season.

Let's look at the 5 transfers who could impact their current team most this season.

#5 Michy Batshuayi

Michy Batshuayi's revival continues with his 3rd club on loan in 1 year. Michy's enormous season with Marseille where he scored 17 goals in the league, attracted interests from many clubs; Juventus, Chelsea, West Ham, Crystal Palace to name a few, according to The Guardian. Chelsea won the race to sign him but the club who wanted to sign him so eagerly in 2016 finally got his services in 2019. According to The Guardian, Crystal Palace bid €38m in 2016 for his services. The bid was accepted by Marseille eventually to see him join Chelsea for €40m.

Michy's career has gone downhill since he joined Chelsea. He wasn't in the primary plan of Antonio Conte. He came on as a sub in the opening two games of the 2016 and was instrumental in their comeback. It didn't leave any mark in Conte's mind. He was always used as a substitute. Diego Costa's departure in 2017 raised a glimpse of hope for the Belgian. He was terrific in the pre-season but couldn't perform when the actual competition began which prompted Conte to go shopping for another striker. He was a part of the famous transfer saga involving Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal and Chelsea. He joined Dortmund in the winter transfer window and gave performances of high quality scoring 9 goals in 14 matches in all competitions.

Dortmund had an interest to sign Michy on a permanent basis but Chelsea's £53m asking price was too much for the German club, reported the Bild. Since then Michy's career has gone from hot to cold. Valencia loan was marred by injuries and he scored just 1 goal in 15 games in La Liga. Valencia loan was cut short by Chelsea and he joined Crystal Palace in this winter transfer window. He already has a Fantasy Premier League assist to his name coming on as a sub against Fulham.

Crystal Palace's Forwards:

Jordan Ayew: Games-19, Goal(s)-1

Christian Benteke- Games-6, Goal(s)-0

Crystal Palace's woes in the front has them looking them for a new striker and who better than their primary target in 2016. This move wouldn't have come at a better time for Batshuayi. Will Michy revive his career and save Crystal Palace from relegation? It's for the time to tell.

#4 Gonzalo Higuain

Higuain has cut short his loan at AC Milan and received a lot of criticism due to that. Even Italy's interior minister, who is a Milan fan, called him a mercenary. "I'm glad that Higuain has gone and I hope we'll never see him again in Milan because he really behaved in an unworthy manner. I don't like mercenaries in politics or football," Matteo Salvini told the Italian radio on 28 January. Higuain scored 5 goals in 16 matches for Milan but wasn't as prolific as he was in his Napoli or Juventus days.

Higuain's arrival in Chelsea had all sort of reactions. Some expected a lot from the talismanic striker, some questioned his fitness, some thought he would do no better than Morata but the Sarri-Higuain duo gave everyone a ray of hope. Higuain scored 71 times in 104 games in Serie A for Sarri and was immense in those 3 years at Naples. Morata didn't perform poorly but Chelsea fans were done with Morata's easy to fall attitude and his physicality didn't help him either. Giroud linked up well with Hazard but he was just once in the score sheet. It elicited Sarri to go back to Higuain whom he regards as his son.

Higuain has already scored more than Giroud in PL in this season, just playing two games. Apart from scoring, Higuain's link up play has been tremendous. Linking up well with Hazard and Kante. Kante and Higuain duo produced two goals against Huddersfield. Did Higuain unlock Kante 2.0? Will Higuain help Chelsea to be in top 4 to qualify for Champions League? Time will tell.

#3 Miguel Almiron

Rafa Benitez is known for his scouting system. He has the ability to nurture lesser-known players to a mature skilled player. He has the ability to give confidence to the youngsters and thus making a compact team with a very small budget. Miguel Almiron seems to be his new find. Though Almiron wasn't an unknown commodity because of his heroics in the Major League Soccer(MLS) in the U.S. with Atalanta United, it requires courage and a huge leap of faith to invest £20 on an MLS player.

The fast-paced left-footed player is good with the ball. He dazzles with his dribbling skills, can provide accurate through balls, give pitch-perfect crosses and is a complete attacking midfielder. He even is a good free-kick taker and thus can share Matt Ritchie's workload. He was one of the reasons Atalanta United won its first MLS Cup. His football became so popular that his jersey has been the fifth highest seller in MLS last year ahead of the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, David Villa, Sebastian Giovinco and Clint Dempsey, according to ESPN. In the two years he played for Atalanta United he scored 22 goals and provided 19 assists.

2018: Games - 37; Goals - 13; Assists - 11

2017: Games - 31; Goals - 9; Assists - 8

Newcastle front-line has been chipping in with goals frequently but they are not getting proper services from the midfield. With the addition of Miguel Almiron, Rondon and Co. would be hoping to get more services from the midfield rather than fighting all on their own in the opponent half.

#2 Cesc Fabregas

The veteran midfielder is no new to the football world. His journey is a dream for all the players, playing for the likes of Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea. He has all the feathers in his cap except the UEFA champions league but now faces a completely different challenge. From fighting for the championship to fighting relegation battle, it has been a complete turnaround for Cesc.

Monaco from being a champion to fighting relegation in two years has been a hard fact to digest. All the sensations and upcoming talents from the championship season has gone on to find better pastures. Monaco did all right in replacing them with slightly lesser talented players but the lack of coordination of this newly looked team is haunting them. With midfielders lacking creativity and defense making frequent errors, Monaco isn't able to cross the line in a winning note.

Monaco midfielders poor showing and unable to attack or help in the defence has caused them fighting in the fierce relegation battle. Cesc's creativity in the middle of the park would definitely help in Monaco's relegation fight and make 'El Tigre' a happy soul.

#1 Krzysztof Piatek

The 6ft. Polish striker has wreaked havoc in Italy this season scoring 19 goals in 21 appearances across all tournaments for Genoa. He has outstanding first touch, can find small spaces, can head the ball well, can be a poacher, can shoot from long distance, basically, he is a complete striker.

Milan did a brilliant job in acquiring him in the winter transfer window rather than waiting for the summer window where all the big clubs could have come hunting for the talismanic striker.

Milan's search for a no. 9 has been futile since Inzaghi retired. Piatek may be the answer to all the owes that Milan had. He scored two beautiful goals against Napoli in Coppa Italia and also opened his account for Milan in Serie A. Milan's qualification in Champions League is extremely important for the club and for the competition itself.

Edited by Ben Roberts