Man City winning transfer window with two huge signings, Manchester United miss a trick and no wonder Tottenham Hotspur fans are fuming

The winter transfer window has come and gone for another year.

For some, it represented a month of strengthening ahead of a title challenge, a push for European football or to simply preserve their Premier League status.

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But for others, they may look back on the window with a tinge of regret or a sense of frustration at being unable to do the deals they wanted.

talkSPORT’s chief football correspondent Alex Crook takes a look at which Premier League clubs were the big winners and losers of the January window.

We begin with the winners of the money-spinning month that was.

Crystal Palace

January has been a rather chaotic month for Crystal Palace.

They lost their club captain in Marc Guehi, manager Oliver Glasner confirmed he would leave at the end of the season and Jean-Philippe Mateta made no secret he wanted out, although a move never quite materialised.

Despite the grey skies that loomed above Selhurst Park in January, Palace made some impressive moves in the window and broke their transfer window not once, but twice, as they snapped up Brennan Johnson and then Jorgen Strand Larsen on deadline day.

A significant revamp of their attack has Crook believing the Eagles will have ‘more than enough’ firepower to stay up.

“They got a decent fee for captain Marc Guehi rather than lose him on a free,” Crook said.

“Palace then signed three Premier League proven players in Brennan Johnson and Jorgen Stand Larsen.

“They should have more than enough to stay up.”

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Bournemouth

The Cherries’ season could very easily have gone off the rails given the departure of star forward Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City.

However, the Cherries believe the arrival of Rayan is going to help fill the void left behind by Semenyo.

Rayan showed glimpses of why Bournemouth slapped a nine-figure release clause on his head during their 2-0 win over Wolves on January 31 as he provided the assist for Alex Scott’s goal that sealed a vital three points.

“The Cherries got a club record fee for Antoine Semenyo,” Crook said.

“They then reinvested it in sought-after Brazilian teenager Rayan, who is seen as such a talent he has a €100million release clause in his contract.

“Bournemouth also signed some much-needed competition for Djordje Petrovic and kept want-away defender Marcos Senesi.”

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Manchester City

Pep Guardiola has never endured back-to-back seasons without the Premier League title since he arrived at City and he wants to keep that statistic intact.

Although City signed only two players in January, the captures of Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi prove Guardiola’s side mean business.

Semenyo has already enjoyed a blistering start to life at City with four goals and an assist from his first five games, while Guehi already looks at home in City’s back line.

Time will tell on whether the duo’s arrival can land Guardiola his seventh Premier League title, but they will certainly be a force going forward.

“Pep Guardiola’s side snapped up two of the best players in the league this season in Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi,” Crook said.

“Semenyo has hit the ground running and Guehi has instantly improved their defence.

“They also offloaded Kalvin Phillips on loan to Sheffield United and sold Oscar Bobb for £27m.”

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So, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and City were the three big winners of the January transfer window.

But who were the losers?

Manchester United

Given Michael Carrick is only in charge on a caretaker basis until the end of the season, it is understandable Manchester United opted not to bust open the piggy bank in January.

But, as Crook outlines, the Red Devils have won all three of their matches under Carrick’s stewardship since he replaced Ruben Amorim.

Although United only have the Premier League and FA Cup to worry about, meaning it is a rather light fixture list compared to some of their English rivals, Crook felt there wouldn’t have been any major harm in adding some extra legs to the squad.

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“It was not expected to be a busy window at Old Trafford and the abrupt departure of manager Michael Carrick almost gave the board the perfect excuse not to invest,” Crook said.

“But I do feel they have missed a trick by not backing Michael Carrick after the brilliant start to his tenure.

“United still look light in midfield, especially when the hapless Manuel Ugarte is called upon and they are only a Bruno Fernandes or Bryan Mbeumo injury away from having a real issue.

“It would be a shame for Carrick if they missed out on a Champions League place due to lack of squad depth.”

Tottenham Hotspur

If Spurs fans were promised the world by owners ENIC following the exit of Daniel Levy, then the January window delivered them an atlas.

Conor Gallagher was the only significant arrival, and even then, the Englishman’s arrival was because of a long-term injury to fellow central midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur.

Given Spurs’ lack of depth up top, Crook fears about the team’s lack of quality should star striker Dominic Solanke succumb to injury once more.

“What happened to the brave new dawn of the post-Daniel Levy era?” Crook asked.

“Owners ENIC hinted at a change in transfer policy when Levy left days after the summer window closed, but ultimately Conor Gallagher is the only senior addition in a window that left long-suffering Spurs fans frustrated.

“If Dominic Solanke’s injury issues return to haunt him, I worry about their lack of firepower. Likewise, they needed another top quality central defender.”

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Newcastle United

Death, taxes and Newcastle being hampered by PSR restrictions.

It was a familiar tale in January, as the Magpies, despite competing in the Champions League, ended the window without a single arrival.

Granted, Yoane Wissa’s return to fitness may have felt like a January signing given he joined last summer but had to wait several months before making his debut in the famous black and white stripes.

But aside from Wissa, there was precious little to crow about for Toon supporters.

A growing injury list has not helped matters for Newcastle either.

“Eddie Howe has every right to feel aggrieved after PSR restrictions once again proved a road block for the Magpies,” Crook said.

“Still, it would have been hard to foresee at the start of the window that Newcastle would fail to sign a single player.

“The Magpies are within touching distance of the European places and into the knockouts of the Champions League.

“But with some of their summer signings struggling for form, woeful away form and a long injury list, it is hard to see a prosperous second half of the season at St James’ Park.”