Demba the better signing Ba none?

Hannah Duncan reflects on the two 'big' January transfers so far and wonders who represents the better value for money and whether they'll bring success or problems to their new clubs...

 

Despite us fans normally having to suffer a somewhat coy opening to a transfer window, the exchanges have already been coming thick and fast this month.

 

And kicking off the month's moves were Liverpool and Chelsea, who wasted no time in bolstering their respective front lines with the signings of Daniel Sturridge and Demba Ba.

 

Neither acquisition came as much of a shock, with both clubs desperately short of forward options, but whether they will represent value for money remains to be seen.

 

Sturridge has been stirring up the already frosty relations between his old and new employers, by saying Liverpool are 'the biggest club' he's played for, but if that's true and whether that says more about him or the Merseysiders is another point of contention, with the Reds slight outsiders at 2.5 for a Top Six Finish this term.

 

Sturridge and Ba cost £12m and around £7m respectively and there's no doubting both have the talent to succeed at their new clubs but, as Ralph Ellis discusses in his Betfair column this week, both signings could cause problems with team selection and tactics.

 

It's unlikely Sturridge and Luis Suarez will play alongside one another and with the Englishman's unwillingness to play the wide role at Chelsea, what sort of opportunity will he get as a central striker at Anfield?

 

And likewise with Ba. Undoubtedly he's in better form than his new team-mate Fernando Torres and his style may even be more suited to the Blues' attack.

 

As a goal poacher, having someone in the right place at the right time is all they need to finish off the creativity of Juan Mata, Oscar and Eden Hazard. Yet the last few Chelsea managers who have dared drop Torres have all been shown the door.

 

But whether either of the two strikers play week in week out for their new sides, their services will certainly be needed with both clubs battling on multiple fronts still.

 

Chelsea are joint favourites with Manchester City at 6.0 to retain last year's FA Cup crown, while Liverpool are at 11.5 to lift the trophy for the first time since 2006.

 

The Blues are also joint favourites to pick up their second European title in as many years, at 7.8 with Atletico Madrid to win the Europa League, with Liverpool at 18.0.

 

AS the cliché goes, the matches will continue to come thick and fast for the remainder of the season and the goals of Sturridge and Ba will be vital.

 

Senegal international Ba scored 13 goals in 22 games for Newcastle before his move to Chelsea - the same number as Sturridge scored in the entirety of last season - and netted twice on his Blues debut, already indicating better value for money.

 

Ba is at 9.8 to be the Premier League's Top Goalscorer this season, with his opposite number at a massive 120.0.

 

Those figures might be slightly unfair on the 23-year-old, who has only featured in seven Premier League games for the Blues this season, but they do give an indication of what is to come.

 

Many have spoken of Sturridge's selfishness on the ball and his unwillingness to pick out a team-mate in a better position - two factors which didn't endear him to the Chelsea faithful. And it's a trait which won't endear him to the likes of Steven Gerrard or Suarez either, should he continue in the same vein.

 

But only time will tell whether the early January purchases will prove shrewd moves, or whether Chelsea and Liverpool will be keeping hold of their receipts.

 

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