The following is my take on Transfer Deadline Day as it happened from 9.20am to 1.00am, when some of the later deals were still being announced:
9.20pm – Spurs have apparently failed in their attempt to sign Bolton’s Gary Cahill. But at least for Harry Redknapp, he’s been able to get rid of the dead wood at the club with Alan Hutton and Jermaine Jenas edging closer to joining Aston Villa. Also on the move from White Hart Lane are duo Peter Crouch and Wilson Palacios who are finalising deals to join Stoke.
9.45pm – Arsenal’s move for Mikel Arteta appears to be back on, as according to the latest reports the midfielder has asked to leave Everton after hearing of the Gunners interest. This would be a huge ‘low blow’ for David Moyes who with so little time left is surely going to be unable to bring in a replacement. How will Everton fans feel about this move? Not very happy probably!
10.00pm – With an hour to go until the deadline, Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Per Mertesacker from Werder Bremen on a four-year deal. It appears now that Yossi Benayoun is also close to joining the Gunners on a season long loan deal from Chelsea, which arises one question – do Chelsea consider Arsenal a ‘rival’ if they are loaning them a player now?
10.20pm – Stoke have announced the signing of Wilson Palacios from Spurs which will be a great move for the Honduran who for a mixture of reasons (competition for places and off-field problems) has been unable to settle in London over the last 2 seasons. Bryan Ruiz, Twente’s talented Costa Rican striker has turned down a move to join Newcastle and will now complete a deal to join Martin Jol’s Fulham.
10.30pm – Here’s a surprise! Liverpool’s Raul Meireles who was arguably their player of the season last year has submitted a transfer request and wants out of Anfield. He’s left it late but as he’s gone from one of Dalglish’s first choices in midfield to having to make do with a place on the bench, it would make sense for him to want to leave. Could a move to Chelsea be on the cards for the box to box Portuguese midfielder?
10.45pm – Shaun Wright-Phillips has completed his deal to join QPR from Manchester City to be reunited with his old pal Joey Barton. It’s a good move for SWP who unsurprisingly over the last 18 months has been a victim of City’s spending and has lost his place in Roberto Mancini’s squad. Scott Dann meanwhile has completed his deal to join Blackburn from Birmingham. That’s a good move for Steve Kean who could do with some cover for Christopher Samba and Ryan Nelsen. Oh and Craig Bellamy has completed his move back to Liverpool and will wear the no.39 shirt. How classy?
11.00pm – The Transfer Window’s now shut but deals are still going to be announced if they were completed before the deadline. Benayoun’s move to Arsenal as expected was one of those that was completed. Whilst Arsenal would probably be better suited with brining in a defensive-minded midfielder, it’s a good move for both parties as the Israeli’s a proven Premier League player who will be happy to play regularly at the Emirates, as well let’s face it he was not going to be doing that for Chelsea at all.
11.20pm – Mikel Arteta’s move to Arsenal has been completed for a fee believed to be around £10million which is probably a bargain considering the quality that the Spaniard will bring to Arsenal’s inexperienced midfield. Meanwhile Sunderland have boosted their forward options by bringing in Nicklas Bendtner on a season-long loan. A good move that for all parties.
11.30pm – Chelsea have confirmed the late capture of Meireles from Liverpool who becomes the third signing the club have made from Anfield in just over a year following the Blues deals to bring in Benayoun and Torres. Aston Villa meanwhile secured a double deal to bring in Alan Hutton (who turned down Fulham) and Jermaine Jenas from Spurs. Full-back Hutton joins the club permanently with Jenas (who has needed a fresh start for a while now) joins the Midlands club on a season-long loan. It’s better than nothing for the lad, trust me.
11.45pm – No news yet on whether Peter Crouch’s deal to join Stoke has gone through, it probably has but Cameron Jerome’s deal to the Potters has gone through. Blackburn meanwhile have announced the signing of Jordan Slew from Sheffield United. David Moyes might be unhappy about losing Arteta but at least Drenthe’s move on a season-long loan from Real Madrid has gone through.
12.00am – Fulham have announced the signing of a striker and it’s not Bryan Ruiz but little-known Portuguese International Orlando Sa. Swansea have re-signed Federico Bessone from Leeds. Earlier in the day Brendan Rodgers brought in Rafik Halliche on loan from Fulham and little-known German keeper Gerhard Tremell who had previously been a part of Bayern Munich’s youth system.
12.20am – Ruiz’s move to Fulham did go through and make no mistake about it, Martin Jol has signed a striker of real quality who in the past has been compared to Marco van Basten. Whilst he’s a different kind of forward to the Dutch legend, Ruiz has the ability to succeed in England and will add real quality to Jol’s side as they look to do well in the Europa League this season. Across London, Anton Ferdinand has completed his move to QPR from Sunderland.
12.40am – Everton have let Jermaine Beckford go after a season with the talented forward joining Leicester City for a fee which could rise to £4million. Replacing the former Leeds forward at Goodison is Argentine striker Denis Stracqualursi (try and pronounce that if you can?) on a season-long loan from Tigres.
1.00am – It’s taken a while but Crouch’s move to Stoke has been announced. Maybe due to his height the medical took longer than normal to complete but there’s no doubting about it, this is a big signing for Tony Pulis. Crouch is a marquee signgig for the Potters and regardless of the fact that he wasn’t going to get many opportunities for Spurs this season, he will bring experience and goals to Stoke and will lead the line well in the Europa League for Pulis. Rory Delap’s throw-ins may now result in even more goals with Crouch there to head them on. That’s it for me, I’m off to bed!
By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87
