The following is my take on Transfer Deadline Day as it happened from 5.20pm to 9.00pm:
5.20pm – David Bentley’s season-long loan deal to West Ham has gone through from Spurs. It shall be interesting to see if the winger can resurrect his career this season at the Hammers, as it would be fair to see he hasn’t done much since leaving Blackburn in 2008.
5.45pm – Bentley isn’t the only Spurs player to be moving today as Jermiane Jenas and Alan Hutton apparently are at Villa Park for talks today. Both players don’t seem to be Harry Redknapp’s plans for the coming season and will add good experience to Alex McCleish’s side that is certainly short of quality and numbers.
6.00pm – Speaking of Redknapp, days after ‘Arry said Peter Crouch would not be going to Stoke City, it appears that Tony Pulis has made an attempt to bring the gangly forward to the Britannia. Apparently talks are ongoing and the forward who has also been linked with Sunderland could be keen on a move as it appears he will not be a first choice in London this year.
6.20pm – Sebastian Bassong despite being on International duty with Cameroon is being linked with a move to QPR to join Neil Warnock’s side. Despite doing well in his first season in London, since moving down from Newcatle, Bassong has fallen down the pecking order and there’s no doubt his experience would be welcomed at Loftus Road. Will the move go through though and could ‘Arry be making room to bring in Bolton’s Gary Cahill. Only time will tell?
6.45pm – Missed this one earlier, but apparently Arsenal are thinking about bringing in Mikel Arteta from Everton. Needless to say he ticks all the right boxes for Arsene Wenger. He’s a classy midfielder, can score goals, has great leadership qualities. Only problem is he’s Spanish and has come through the Barcelona system? Does that remind you of anyone, can’t quite think of his name, what is it?
7.00pm – Wigan have completed their deal to sign Celtic’s Shaun Maloney whilst the Crouch to Stoke rumours are increasing. There’s no doubt Rory Delap must be rubbing his hands, dreaming about seeing England’s Robotic-Dancer lining up in a penalty area at the end of his long throw-ins. Defenders must be crapping themselves of the though!
7.30pm – Arsenal have apparently tested the waters for Mikel Arteta and have offered Everton around £10million for their playmaker. Apparently at the moment that doesn’t appear to be enough and for the moment anyway Wenger is going to have to either look elsewhere or go back in with more.
7.45pm – Manchester City have unsurprisingly been low-key today, but they have announced the signing of free agent Owen Hargreaves on a one year deal. Why on earth Roberto Mancini feels that he needs an injury-hit midfielder to boost his squad, god only knows. Wigan have announced that they have signed Chelsea’s Patrick van Aanholt on a season-long loan deal, who many inside Stamford Bridge rate extremely highly to say the least.
8.00pm – In surprising developments it seems that Craig Bellamy is having a medical at Liverpool and that the Welsh striker is on the verge of a shock return to Anfield, four years after leaving. I’m no accountant but you would have to imagine that Bellamy’s taking a pay-cut to join Kenny Dalglish’s side.
8.30pm – Bolton have completed the signing of Liverpool’s David N’gog who surprisingly made almost 100 appearances for the Reds. If anyone can bring out the best in the former highly-rated French U21 international, you’d have to feel that Owen Coyle can do it. He’s no Danny Sturridge mind you, but N’gog could be a decent signing for the Trotters.
8.45pm – Coyle’s certainly been a busy man tonight as he’s signed Gael Kakuta on loan from Chelsea until January. The Frenchman who had a good loan spell with Fulham last season will certainly bring pace and skill to Bolton’s flanks. Another loan-deal on the verge of being completed is Everton’s bid to bring the dynamic Royston Drenthe to Goodison from Real Madrid for the season.
9.00pm – Nicklas Bendtner aka the fella with pink boots who wears no.52 is eyeing up a move to the north-west and could be about to be reunited with his old manager (whilst on loan with Birmingham City) Steve Bruce up at Sunderland. Whilst there’s no doubt it would be a good move for the Dane, you do have to wonder how Wenger didn’t send him out on loan at the start of August!
By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87
