January transfer window: Grading big signings in men’s soccer

Premier League clubs spent a record £3 billion ($4 billion) in a summer transfer window that smashed the previous record of £2.36 billion ($3.2 billion) from two summers ago.So will January follow the same pattern? Here are grades for all the major confirmed transfers in the men’s game, with each listed by date and then by highest fee.All fees are reported unless confirmed with an asterisk.Barcelona: B- Girona: AGirona have endured goalkeeping turmoil this season. Paulo Gazzaniga’s form has been up and down and Dominik Livaković, a summer arrival on loan, has reportedly refused to play for the club and wants to leave. If Ter Stegen is even 50% of his previous, pre-injury level, this is a phenomenal short-term Band-Aid.With center backs Rúben Dias and Josko Gvardiol injured and a gap to Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table opening up, City decided to swoop for Guéhi. A transfer fee of £20 million (plus bonuses) is obscenely cheap for a player of his established quality, but the reported wages of £300,000 per week mean the overall financial package is hardly a bargain.For Palace, this is devastating. Their captain has departed for a fee well below market value (because his contract was set to expire this summer), after they rejected £35 million for him back in August. Guéhi departing now seriously harms the Eagles’ chances of winning the UEFA Conference League this season.