Transfer deadline day: Who should your club have signed - Morgan Schneiderlin, Emmanuel Adebayor, Rickie Lambert and Paul Pogba

The biggest deals that could have happened in the January transfer window

Who should your club have signed? (Getty Images)

Transfer deadline day came and went with a whimper for all bar Chelsea, who thankfully swooped for Fiorentina's Juan Cuadrado to save us from complete and utter boredom.

But it could have been so much better. Had each club moved for a player that would have strengthened their side for the rest of the season, the 2015 January transfer window would have been one of the most exciting in recent memory.

So perhaps in a 'dream transfer window' situation, here's the players that your club should have gone all out to sign over the last 33 days.

Arsenal – Morgan Schneiderlin

By all accounts, Arsenal had a very successful January once they got over the 2-0 defeat to Southampton. Five wins on the spin, the additions of Krystian Bielik and Gabriel Paulista and the return of Mesut Özil, Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott have turned the side around, but they could still have done with signing a talented defensive midfielder. Schneiderlin is flourishing in front of the back four at St Mary’s, and he could well be heading to the Emirates in the summer.

Aston Villa – Rickie Lambert

They failed with a late bid for the Liverpool striker which will have hurt Villa fans seeking a desperate upturn in their current form. 10 hours without a goal has put Paul Lambert under pressure, and a move for his namesake should have been high up on the priority list at Villa Park. Lambert can cut it in the Premier League – he showed that at Southampton – and a strong run of games would likely have produced the goals Villa desperately need.

Rickie Lambert rejected a move to Aston Villa

Burnley – Troy Deeney

It seems certain that Danny Ings will be on his way out of the club in the summer even if he keeps them in the Premier League, with Liverpool ready to lodge a £5m bid in the next few weeks. So who could the Clarets bring in to replace Ings? A move for Watford ace Deeney would have given him half a season to settle at the club before taking the lead role next season. A proven goalscorer in the Championship with 11 goals in 24 games this season, he would certainly improve Burnley’s attack and deserves a chance to test himself in the top flight.

Chelsea – Paul Pogba

It would be an ambitious move but with Chelsea’s absolute genius in the transfer market of late, they certainly have the funds to do so. The sales of David Luiz, Juan Mata and Kevin De Bruyne plus the recent sales of Andre Schurrle and Ryan Bertrand has generated nearly £16m profit from transfer alone. Combined with their spending power and annual income, the Blues can more than afford Pogba and would strengthen their midfield no end, with doubts over Jon Obi Mikel’s ability to play alongside Nemanja Matic.

Paul Pogba's future is up in the end

Crystal Palace – Neil Taylor

Palace did secure the signing of Senegal defender Pape Souare from Lille, but failed in a bid to sign Neil Taylor beforehand after Swansea rejected an approach. Taylor has proved himself in the Premier League, and he only lost his place at the Liberty Stadium due to the emergence of Ben Davies. The move for Souare can be regarded as a risk given he hasn’t experienced the Premier League before, but Taylor would have been a much safer option for Alan Pardew.

Everton – Adnan Januzaj

Januzaj’s talents are unquestioned and he simply isn’t getting enough football to aid his development at Manchester United since Louis van Gaal came into the club. A move to Everton would have been beneficial for everyone, given the Toffees have been struggling of late and have doubts over the future of Kevin Mirallas following his dismal decision to take a penalty instead of Leighton Baines and subsequently miss the target. Roberto Martinez did sign Aaron Lennon on deadline day, but you have to believe that Januzaj is the stronger option out of the pair.

Louis van Gaal blocked Adnan Januzaj's move

Hull – Odion Ighalo

Hull have serious problems in attack, be it a lack of goals or injuries. They managed to utilise the transfer window extension to land Senegal striker Dame N’Doye, but Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo is currently enjoying a strong run in the Watford side and a move for the 25-year-old wouldn’t have cost that much despite the late bids that reportedly came in from the Tigers and rivals West Brom.

Leicester – Chuba Akpom

Akpom will sign a contract extension with Arsenal later this week to remain in the Premier League, and a loan move to a club in the top flight would have been the next step for the emerging Englishman. With Sunderland monitoring his availability during the transfer window, Leicester could have stolen a march on those sides around them by launching a move for Akpom, who has shown signs that he is ready for regular Premier League action in his recent appearances for Arsenal.

Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom

Liverpool – Stevan Jovetic

Brendan Rodgers made it clear he was happy with his squad, but a surprise bid for Manchester City’s Stevan Jovetic would have strengthened their lacklustre attack. With Wilfried Bony’s arrival at the Etihad and the return to fitness of Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko, Jovetic may soon find himself down the pecking order once again, and Liverpool would have been an interesting option had the Reds come in for the Montenegrin.

Manchester City – Sergio Ramos

There are doubts in Spain that Ramos will sign a new contract with Real Madrid having reportedly rejected their latest offer, with his current deal set to expire in 2017. Ramos has spoken about his interest in playing in the Premier League one day, and if City need to strengthen anywhere it’s there defence. Matija Nastasic left to join Schalke and there remain questions over the suitability of Eliaquim Mangala, Martin Demichelis and Dedryck Boyata. A move for Ramos would have done their title challenge a world of good.

Manchester United – Mats Hummels

United were linked with a big-name move all month but in the end they signed just one player in the form of loan signing Andy Kellett. Their defence still needs major reconstruction and the rumours linking them with a move for Hummels refuse to go away. Landing the German before yesterday’s deadline would have been a huge boost for not only their top-four chances, but any remaining title aspirations.

United remain interested in Mats Hummels

Newcastle – Aleksandar Mitrovic

Mitrovic is one of the brightest young talents in Belgium and the Anderlecht striker was a reported target for Newcastle throughout the window. John Carver could do with another striker, given Papiss Cisse’s inconsistency and the current need to play Ayoze Perez out of position. In the end, the Magpies failed make any signings in January, and that could see their season end with a whimper.

Queens Park Rangers – Jermain Defoe

By all accounts, the January transfer window was a disaster for QPR. The addition of Mauro Zarate on loan has already been labelled a failure, the club’s secondary target in Matt Jarvis couldn’t join because of a Premier League ruling and they failed in their pursuit of Emmanuel Adebayor. Meanwhile, one of Harry Redknapp’s favoured striker’s has already notched his first goal for Sunderland and would have given QPR’s attack a much needed boost.

Southampton – Tonny Vilhena

On the face of things, Southampton are in good shape. Eljero Elia already has a brace since making his loan switch from Werder Bremen and the club completed the temporary signing of Filip Djuricic and made Ryan Bertrand’s move from Chelsea permanent. The south coast club were linked with a £5m move for Feyenoord’s Vilhena, and at one point the deal looked nailed on, but the midfielder failed to secure a move at the last minute.

Stoke – Emmanuel Adebayor

Oh Adebayor. First it was his reluctance to join QPR, then it was Spurs’ desire not to sell to West Ham, and in the end he stayed at Spurs where he’s likely to spend more time wondering what has happened to his career than on the pitch in a Tottenham shirt. But with Stoke losing Bojan Krkic for at least three months, they need reinforcements and Adebayor would have been an option for Mark Hughes – providing he remained interested enough to sign an actual contract with the Potters.

QPR missed out on Adebayor

Sunderland – Fabio Borini

Many forget that Borini actually did a job for the Black Cats last season, and given a regular run of games he could yet prove to be a Premier League hit. But simply put, that’s not going to come at Liverpool, and while he should be credited for remaining determined to fight for his place, he should have pushed for at least a loan move given the return of Daniel Sturridge and other options that Brendan Rodgers has.

Swansea – Alexandru Maxim

Swansea should have considered signing more firepower after the exit of Wilfried Bony given that there is no guarantee that Bafetimbi Gomis will be a success when tasked with leading the line. The Swans were linked with a move for Romanian attacking midfielder Maxim right up until the transfer window deadline, but now Garry Monk will have to wait and see whether he missed an opportunity to strengthen with £20m sitting in the bank.

Tottenham – Saido Berahino

Spurs need a striker to help out Harry Kane, and Berahino appeared to be the most likely option until a move fizzled out. Adebayor and Roberto Soldado are currently offering nothing at White Hart Lane, and Berahino clearly has the desire to step up a level. The move is likely to be resurrected in the future, and with Kane signing a new long-term contract, the future home of England’s attack may soon be regular fixtures at Spurs.

Saido Berahino could leave West Brom in the summer

West Brom – Neil Taylor

Much like Palace, West Brom were in need of a left-back to sure up their defence. Tony Pulis was reported to be interested in a last-ditch move for Taylor, but any move for the Welshman ultimately failed. The Baggies did pull off the additions of midfielders Callum McManaman and Darren Fletcher, but it will be up to Pulis to inspire the defence to keep them in the top flight.

West Ham – Younes Kaboul

Hammers co-chairman David Gold performed one of the transfer deadline day no-no’s when he told fans not to go to sleep only to fail in his pursuit of eight transfer targets. The club were in for Spurs captain Kaboul, but appeared to be more determined to bring in a striker with a move for Adebayor failing at the death. Adding strength in depth in defence would have been a better option though, providing the situation surrounding Diafra Sakho doesn’t result in a ban and the injury to Andy Carroll isn’t a long-term one.