January is widely viewed as the least forgiving time to shop in the transfer market. Clubs are reluctant to part with their best players halfway through a campaign, which usually leaves buyers short on options and value. There are exceptions, of course. Financial pressures can force sales, and occasionally a club has little choice but to move on a player who is unsettled and pushing for a step up.
More often than not, though, winter deals come at a premium. Last year offered a clear reminder of that reality when Manchester City spent close to £180 million on six January signings, none of whom delivered immediate or undeniable success.
That has never stopped clubs from spending in January, especially when momentum needs protecting or a faltering season demands intervention. With that in mind, GOAL once again assessed the biggest winter transfers from the viewpoint of the selling club, the buying club and the player involved.
January 29: Jorgen Strand Larsen (Wolves to Crystal Palace, £50m)
Wolves: Excellent business
Strand Larsen was outstanding during his first season at Molineux, to the point where Newcastle were willing to bid £55 million in the summer. Wolves resisted, having already sanctioned the sale of Matheus Cunha to Manchester United. In hindsight, that decision backfired. The striker struggled badly this season, managing just one Premier League goal in 19 appearances.
Given that downturn, securing £50 million now is remarkable. His current form suggests his market value was far lower, so Wolves deserve credit for striking such a deal. Provided the funds are reinvested wisely, this sale is unlikely to be mourned by supporters who had grown increasingly frustrated with his displays.
Grade: A-
Crystal Palace: High risk, high cost
Palace needed attacking reinforcement, particularly with Jean-Philippe Mateta keen on an exit before the deadline. Strand Larsen has proven he can score in the Premier League, even if that evidence largely comes from the 2024-25 season. The concern is the price. £50 million is a huge outlay for a striker who may yet prove to be a short-term success rather than a long-term solution.
His six goals across all competitions this season offer limited reassurance, especially when half of them came against League Two opposition in Shrewsbury Town. At 25, there is still scope for improvement, and Oliver Glasner could help unlock that potential. However, with the manager expected to depart at the end of the campaign, Palace are gambling heavily in an attempt to stabilise a season that threatens to unravel.
Grade: C
Strand Larsen: Fresh start needed
After a superb debut year at Wolves, Strand Larsen found himself the target of growing criticism during a disastrous first half of the season. Many felt his form dipped after the club blocked a move to Newcastle in the summer. While there is no suggestion he deliberately eased off, disappointment can often affect performance.
This move offers him the reset he needs. Palace create more chances than Wolves and provide a platform for the Norwegian to rediscover confidence and goals. While Selhurst Park is not the step up he may once have imagined, it is still a positive move that could put him back on track ahead of Norway’s World Cup push.
Grade: B+