Ready to shine: Lewis Holtby

On a usually hectic transfer deadline day, Fulham signed Lewis Holtby on loan for the rest of the season from Tottenham. Widely tipped to go on to great things at Tottenham when he joined from Schalke, he has not lived up to the hype that once surrounded him, vastly due to a lack of game time. 

At Schalke, Holtby was one of the most sought after young talents in Europe and it was Tottenham who beat many of Europe's elite to his signature. However, the move has not quite worked out due to not getting the game time he was once used to at Schalke and has not been able to grow as a player despite showing glimpses of what he can do.  

This move to Fulham could benefit every party involved and be one of the best deals of the window. Holtby could finally live up to the potential he once showed in Germany, playing in his favoured number 10 role at Craven Cottage. If he reproduces the form he once showed, Fulham could benefit the most from this loan deal as he could become a very important player for the side and be pivotal to their offensive moves. If he does showcase his talent, Tottenham could well decide to keep him and rival for a position in Spurs' already cramped midfield. Tottenham may have other ideas as this loan move may just be a tactic to boost Holtby's market value and create a tidy profit on the small £1.5 million they spent on the German with clubs like Schalke and Dortmund reportedly keen. 

Holtby is likely to be a success for Fulham, a player who looks so assured on the ball despite being just 23. Fulham have pulled off a real coup in signing Holtby for the remainder of the season and now likely to get the game time his ability deserves, this could well be one of the best deals of the January transfer window.