[photo by Mark Freeman]

• by Braydon de Liberato, writing from Canada

Every year, teams are constantly looking to improve their squad. It can be done through scouting, but the quickest return on your investment is the transfer. Transfers are beautiful things, as they can quickly revive a team down on its luck, but can easily have their own consequences, like the Robinho-esque mega transfers that never pan out. We can’t tell at this point how each transfer will turn out, but we can see what each player brings to their new team. Here I am going to look at the big transfers from this year’s winter transfer window, and analyze what each player brings to their respective teams.

Antonio Cassano, AC Milan (undisclosed fee)

Antonio Cassano was transferred from Genoa-based Sampdoria to 17-time Serie A champions AC Milan for an undisclosed fee. He signed a three-and-a-half-year contract worth roughly €2.8 million a year. He was brought on to replace Ronaldinho, who was known to be disgruntled in Milan, and wanted a transfer back to his native Brazil. Cassano himself isn’t exactly low-maintenance, so don’t expect a very long tenure at the San Siro. At 29 years old, he isn’t going to get much better than he is. He doesn’t fit particularly well in any of the systems they’ve used, but can be used on the left in a 4-3-3 or in the hole in a 4-3-1-2.

Giampaolo Pazzini, Inter Milan (€12 million + Jonathan Biabiany)

Giampaolo Pazzini was also transferred from Sampdoria, however Pazzini joined AC Milan’s rival Internazionale. He joined the European champs for a fee of €12 million and French winger Jonathan Biabiany, signing a four-and-a-half-year contract that will keep him with the Nerrazzuri through 2015. He will join a very strong Inter strike team, featuring Diego Milito, Samuel Eto’o, and Goran Pandev, among others. He has the chance to become the best pure number 9 in Europe playing at Inter, playing well in a variety of formations. Pazzini has already proven to be a strong addition to Inter’s front line, scoring a brace and drawing a penalty in his first game, a 3-2 win over Palermo.

Edin Dzeko, Manchester City (€28 million)

Edin Dzeko was transferred from German squad VFL Wolfsburg to big-spending Manchester City for an approximate fee of €28 million. He signed a 4 year contract, which will expire in January of 2015. I find his signing an unusual one for the Citizens, with Carlos Tevez having recently signed a new contract and City having plenty of offensive depth, especially so considering their use of a one striker formation. Dzeko has so far had little impact on City’s form, good or bad, and is clearly still second fiddle to Carlos Tevez. I can’t see his stay in Manchester being beneficial to his career, but only time will tell.

Andy Carroll, Liverpool F.C. (€35 million)

Andy Carroll was transferred from Newcastle F.C. to Liverpool F.C. for €35 million. He is known as a classic number 9 with great aerial skill and finishing ability. He is likened to Alan Shearer for these qualities. I find this to be a risky move by Kenny Dalgish, as Carroll not only is unproven in the Premier League before this season, but also has had disciplinary problems throughout his short career. The transfer fee is surely inflated due to his great potential, but if his personal life gets in the way of it, his career will surely go down the drain. If it doesn’t, however, look for Carroll to be near the top of the scoring charts for years to come.

Luis Suarez, Liverpool F.C. (€26.5 million)

Luis Suarez was transferred from Dutch heavyweights Ajax Amsterdam to Liverpool F.C. for €26.5 million. Suarez is a goal scoring machine, scoring 111 goals in 159 competitive matches for Ajax. He is best known for his handball in Uruguay’s FIFA World Cup quarter final matchup against Ghana, which saved Uruguay the game, and earned them a semi-final berth. Suarez could be a risky move by Liverpool, because he may not be as effective in England as in other, weaker leagues. He does have some experience against stronger teams, having scored 16 goals in 32 games for Ajax in Champions League and Europa League/UEFA Cup play.

Fernando Torres, Chelsea F.C. (€50 million)

Fernando Torres was transferred from underachieving Liverpool F.C. to British champions Chelsea F.C. for a British record €50 million fee. He is a proven all-around striker, boasting the highest goals-per-game and goals-per-minute ratio of any player in the Premier League era. However, he doesn’t offer too much to Chelsea’s already potent attack, as top class players such as Didier Drogba, Nicholas Anelka, and Frank Lampard are all as effective as him. Torres does have something they don’t, however, in youth. The transfer for Torres surely means one of Anelka and Drogba (likely Anelka) will leave at the end of the season.

It can’t be guaranteed that signing these players will guarantee victory right off the bat (with Chelsea losing their first game with Torres), but transfers wouldn’t be made unless managers knew they would contribute to success. Scouting is the better thing to do, as is it no coincidence that teams such as Barcelona are perennial contenders in domestic and continental leagues with the majority of their squad being home grown. You could also go the way of Ajax, developing great players and selling them for a bundle. Either way, its obvious that scouting is the stronger choice.

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