As far as comedies go, I don’t expect too many readers to be aware of a William Shakespeare classic. Yet if you are, you will know exactly what I’m driving at.
For deadline day marking the end of the January transfer window (even though it’s February 2) was pretty quiet. In fact, it was “Much Ado About Nothing.” You could argue the vast majority of big Premier League moves had already taken place, predominantly at Manchester City.
Their double signings, as far as this SBOTOP observer is concerned, are two of the best manager Pep Guardiola has made over the last four years, and one of them is already delivering immediate Premier League 2026 highlights – Antoine Semenyo has scored in four of his first five appearances for the club since departing Bournemouth.
Yet we were still left wondering if there would be any deadline moved to match the recruitment of the Ghanian or that of Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi – transfers to stir up the Premier League 2026 betting odds for the second half of the campaign? Well, it would appear not.
Sure, Liverpool wanted to arrive at the party with another big money move of their own, but it emerged that Rennes would not allow defender Jeremy Jacquet to leave this month, and the Merseysiders will not welcome the young defender from Ligue 1 until the summer after agreeing on a reported £60 million fee.
The main talking point of deadline day actually seemed to centre on two strikers.
FA Cup and Community Shield winner Jean-Phillipe Mateta was supposedly keen on leaving Crystal Palace (who have had a super first half of the season, only to see their squad now decimated) so he could move to Italian title chasers AC Milan, while the Eagles were looking at replacing him with Jorgen Strand Larsen from basement battlers Wolves.
That is until the former deal collapsed as a knee problem was deemed so severe that the Frenchman will have to undergo surgery and remain out of action for at least three months.
A sad end (for now at least) for both player and club after the striker failed to pass medical tests with the Rossoneri, where he had the talent to be an instant hit as they try and stay on the coattails of rivals Inter in the race for Sere A. Palace still needed to act, of course – they didn’t have a frontman in their ranks during Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest.
They swooped for Strand Larsen and will be hoping the Norway forward can replicate the form that saw him net 14 times in 35 outings for the Midlands club last term before making a loan move from Celta Vigo permanent.
Presumably, that transfer is also confirmation from those within the Molyneux club that, deep down, relegation is inevitable as the Black Country faithful, who deserve better, see another talent sold without being replaced adequately.
If that was the most dramatic transfer of deadline day, the shock involved a once £45 million midfielder departing the top flight for the Championship.
Sheffield United deserve all the credit for launching an audacious loan move for Kalvin Phillips, with the former England international dropping down a division.
It’s hard to believe this is the same player who earned himself a big-money move to Manchester City and starred for his country when they reached the final of the delayed Euro 2020 on home soil.
Phillips has played just seven minutes for City so far this season – a late substitute appearance against Huddersfield in the League Cup in September.
The actual signings that caught my eye (if they are confirmed over the next few hours) were fairly low-key.
Firstly, an acquisition which could be a big boost in West Ham’s bid to beat the drop.
The arrival of Chelsea defender Axel Disasi for the remainder of the season could be a real fillip for the Hammers. The 27-year-old has not played for Chelsea for over a year after failing to secure a summer move and being deemed surplus to requirements.
Yet if they can produce his best form, the ‘east enders’ may have a firmer foundation upon which to build as they look to claw back a six-point deficit from safety.
And, although too late for this term, Wolves’ capture of one-time Manchester United youngster Angel Gomes, on loan from Marseille, will be an interesting one to watch.
Sunderland also has a new name to be intrigued about in the shape of frontman Nilson Angulo. They’ve parted with £15 million of their hard earned money to Anderlecht, and potentially £2.5m more in add-ons in a move which will allow Simon Adingra to join Monaco on loan with a view to a permanent transfer.
And that was January deadline day 2026.
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