The January transfer market was slow at the beginning and frenetic at the end as always. A constant of January windows that this year has added some surprises: among the three best teams in this window, in my opinion, Liverpool must certainly be inserted.
The skill with which the management bought Luis Diaz while Tottenham were seriously approaching Porto was excellent, a winger who in the coming years could be a star thanks to Jurgen Klopp.
The club also has an agreement in place for Fabio Carvalho of Fulham and so begins to prepare a future made of young players and fresh air, which was certainly needed at Anfield.
Juventus are certainly among the best: an extraordinary job to buy Dusan Vlahovic, the wait during the refusals of the Serbian attacker to the English clubs and then they prepared the official offer of €75 million plus € 5 million bonus at the right time to convince Fiorentina to sell Dusan immediately and not lose him as a free agent next year.
It does not end there, because Juventus also bought Denis Zakaria who was on the list of many top clubs until the offer arrived 48 hours after the end of the transfer market: € 5 million plus add ons, a contract until 2026 and a excellent midfielder, aggressive, physique that was missing as characteristics for Massimiliano Allegri's team.
Furthermore, Aaron Ramsey left for Rangers after many difficult years while Juventus have also bought Federico Gatti for the future: this year he was the best defender of Serie B, the Italian second division.
He will stay at Frosinone until July and then he will arrive at Juve, another very interesting deal that shows long-term vision.
Special mention also for Aston Villa: a real pleasure to see the board of this club working in full harmony with Steven Gerrard, increasingly convincing in conversations with the players and also in the role of manager.
Gerrard strongly wanted Philippe Coutinho on loan with an option to buy clause from Barcelona, a brilliant idea that has already given its first results on the pitch with the Brazilian who's understood to be enthusiastic about the atmosphere at the Villa.
The deal for Lucas Digne is also very interesting, a reliable left back with international experience that Gerrard strongly wanted; Chambers will bring experience while the renewal of Emiliano Martinez's contract is insurance for the future.
Retaining Douglas Luiz was also important for Aston Villa as Arsenal and Tottenham had his name on the list.
The Arsenal window is more disappointing: attempts have been made for some forwards, from Vlahovic himself to Jonathan David and Alexander Isak who remain on the list for the summer.
The deal for Arthur Melo on loan from Juventus also collapsed as the Italian club requested an 18-month loan, while Arsenal only wanted a deal for 6 months.
But the choice of the club revealed a strategy that is now clear, which is to get rid of many important salaries to prepare for investments in the summer.
And we can say with certainty that a European-level center-striker will arrive for Arsenal who will rebuild their project with a striker who will be able to give new guarantees to Mikel Arteta.
AC Milan also did not have an exciting January transfer market because there were no major signings, apart from the talented Marko Lazetic, a 2004-born striker who arrived from the Red Star.
But the attempts for Sven Botman and Renato Sanches, both Lille stars, will not remain in vain: the club's planning is to try again in the summer to buy both Sven Botman and Renato Sanches, considered perfect for the Rossoneri project
It will not be easy negotiations but AC Milan are optimistic, relations with Lille are excellent.
This winter transfer window has shown some stars of the present and the future, that's why in my transfer ranking in first place there's Luis Diaz.
The Colombian winger is the perfect player for Klopp, in his 4-3- 3 will become extraordinary and congratulations to Liverpool for the speed with which they have closed this deal.
In second place there's Dusan Vlahovic, a goal machine that at Juventus finds the best step ever for his future; for the club it's a statement, the desire to return to winning immediately without waiting many years.
In third place a mention for Bruno Guimaraes: Newcastle made a masterpiece by purchasing one of the best midfielders in Europe for € 50 million add ons included, already on the list of many top clubs for the summer but then convinced by the Magpies project.
An excellent purchase, a signal also for the future. In fourth place of my favorite transfers is Donny van de Beek because Everton made a fantastic signing: a great professional, a world-class midfielder who will finally be able to play as a starter with Frank Lampard who strongly wanted him at the club.
Finally, in fifth place, a deal completed in Italy: Robin Gosens is an excellent deal for Inter, the left back of the Germany national team has personality and quality. A perfect player for present and future, a purchase not to be underestimated.
