From Aubameyang to Suarez and Vidic to Zaha, the Prem's ten best January transfers

Here, SunSport takes a look back at ten of the best deals clubs have been able find in the January sales.

Virgil van Dijk – Southampton to Liverpool, £75m, 2018

Having had to apologise to Saints over their pursuit of the Dutch defender in June 2017, seven months later Jurgen Klopp had his man.

Van Dijk may have been costly but he has transformed the Liverpool defence and, should the Premier League title end up at Anfield, his contribution will have been crucial.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Borussia Dortmund to Arsenal, £60m, 2018

When you've surpassed records set by Thierry Henry and Ian Wright, you must be doing something right.

Aubameyang eased into English football and this week became the fastest Arsenal player to net 25 goals, a year after arriving from Germany. It was money well spent.

Luis Suarez – Ajax to Liverpool, £22.7m, 2011

Had Liverpool picked up the Premier League title in 2014, it would have been largely down to the input of Suarez.

The Uruguayan scored 31 goals that season – 10 more than any other player in the Prem – and ended up moving to Barcelona for £65m just three years later.

Nemanja Vidic – Spartak Moscow to Man Utd, £7m, 2006

One of the bargains of the winter window, Vidic practically cost United pennies and left Old Trafford with five league titles and a Champions League winners' medal.

Sir Alex Ferguson had his defensive dream with the Serb alongside Rio Ferdinand, and Vidic was certainly a bargain in the January sales.

Wilfried Zaha – Man Utd to Crystal Palace, £6m, 2015

After flopping at Old Trafford, Zaha reignited his career at Selhurst Park and is now valued at ten times the £6m fee Palace paid four years ago.

Zaha, 26, is classed as a January signing but had, in fact, spent the first half of the season on loan from United. There was no way Palace were letting him go back.

Javier Mascherano – West Ham to Liverpool, £18m, 2007

Another loanee whose deal turned permanent in January, Mascherano played a vital role in leading Liverpool to a Champions League final.

The Argentinian midfielder's impressive three years at Anfield earned him a move to Barcelona, where he spent eight years and won five La Liga titles.

Nemanja Matic – Benfica to Chelsea, £21m, 2014

It was a second coming for the Serbian midfielder, but the Blues will be happy to have swallowed their pride.

Matic was the key component to Chelsea's two Premier League titles in 2016 and 2017, being the protective screen to the defence under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

Mikel Arteta – Real Sociedad to Everton, £2m, 2005

Another bargain in the January sales, Mikel Arteta spent six years at Goodison Park and cost the Toffees just £2million.

A stalwart in midfield for then boss David Moyes, Arteta ended up earning a move to Arsenal where he won two FA Cups and a Community Shield.

Patrice Evra – Monaco to Man Utd, £5m, 2006

Five Premier League titles tell you all you need to know about the French full-back.

The charismatic Evra spent eight years at Old Trafford after signing from Monaco in the January of 2006.

Gary Cahill – Bolton to Chelsea, £7m, 2012

Although his involvement at Stamford Bridge has been limited in recent months, Cahill could be one of the best bargains Blues have pulled off.

In the seven years since he joined Chelsea from Bolton, the England centre-back has won the lot – two Prem titles, the Champions League, FA Cups, League Cup and the Europa League.

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