Unlike most serene, almost boring, winter transfer windows when clubs are busier grandstanding for their summer acquisitions than getting anything done, the past 31 days have seen an incredible number of high profile transfers. In most cases the media is left to search for bits and pieces of information regarding one, and on rare occasions two, mid-tier transfers. In another year perhaps Olivier Giroud's move from Arsenal to Chelsea or Ross Barkley's transfer to Stamford Bridge may have been the main attraction, but those faded into the background with the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Alexis Sanchez switching allegiance in the increasingly volatile market.
PHILIPPE COUTINHO
After a five-year stint at Liverpool and a drawn-out chase from Barcelona the previous summer, Coutinho completed a 120-million-euro move to the Nou Camp in the winter window's blockbuster deal. Although he did not win any trophies at club level, the 25-year-old won the Liverpool Player of the Year award twice and will likely pick up a La Liga winner's medal in May, if not earlier.
ALEXIS SANCHEZ
Unarguably the steal of the season, Chilean superstar Alexis Sanchez drew the ire of two clubs as he came to Manchester United. The 29-year-old looked like he would move to Manchester City for free in the upcoming summer, but Arsene Wenger's desire to get something in return for his best player saw him accept a swap deal which saw Old Trafford misfit Henrik Mkhitaryan go the other way.
VIRGIL VAN DIJK
Despite being reported for tapping-up the player and issuing an apology in its aftermath in the summer, Liverpool were not deterred in their chase of Van Djik. And, faced with a stubborn Southampton board and the current state of the market, the Reds coughed up a world-record 85 million euros. They will be hoping the centre-back can shore up their frail defence as they make a push for a top-four Premier League finish.
AYMERIC LAPORTE
Manchester City continued their defensive overhaul by signing the 23-year-old for the second-most expensive fee ever paid for a defender after triggering his 65-million-euro release clause. The Citizens have spent half-a-billion under Pep Guardiola, most of that on their backline, and perhaps the Frenchman, who already has six years of top-flight experience under his belt, will be the final acquisition for an already exceptional Manchester City side.
PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG
Arsene Wenger finally gave the world a look into his mythical war chest as he splurged 65-million-euros to bring Bundesliga's top goal-scorer of the previous season to the Emirates. The 28-year-old comes not only with a reputation of being one of the world's finest goal-scorers, but also as a bit of a troublemaker, something Wenger will have to remedy. But if he does, the Gabonese can be the key to something bigger than the FA Cup.
