O'Neil move to Boro sparks off frantic spree as window shuts
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Your support makes all the difference.Tottenham Hotspur were conducting a transfer deadline day clear-out last night with Danny Murphy in talks with Fulham – having failed to agree terms with Sunderland – Wayne Routledge looking set to join Celtic on a season-long loan and Hossam Ghaly also departing, although he was expected to move abroad.
As usual Spurs were one of the busiest clubs in the transfer market although they were rivalled by Portsmouth, Derby County, Fulham and Middlesbrough. Having signed right-back Glen Johnson – the first player bought by Chelsea in the Roman Abramovich era – for a fee that could rise to £4m, Portsmouth were close to agreeing a deal with Fulham's Papa Boupa Diop.
The Senegalese midfielder has long been a target of manager Harry Redknapp who yesterday also sold two of his club's former captains. Gary O'Neil has joined Middlesbrough for £5m while Dejan Stefanovic has moved to Fulham for £1m subject to a work permit. Boro, meanwhile, allowed Jason Euell to leave for Southampton on a free transfer after signing the Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Shawky for £650,000 who impressed during a trial.
Fulham were also trying to finalise a deal with Reading which would have meant Liam Rosenior moving to the Madejski Stadium and the South Korean Seol Ki-Hyeon transferring to Craven Cottage. However while Reading proposed a straight swap for the players, Fulham wanted Seol, who they valued at £1m, plus £2m for Rosenior.
After a long, frustrating trawl Derby were finally strengthening their forward line with the £3m signing of Celtic's Kenny Miller. Last night that was expected to be followed with the completion of deals to sign Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi and Wigan Athletic's Henri Camara.
Camara was allowed to leave the JJB Stadium after Wigan signed Marcus Bent from Charlton Athletic on a season's loan although the Latics have also sold Caleb Folan to Hull City for a club-record £1m. Charlton also saw Amdy Faye leave – also on a season-long loan – to Glasgow Rangers while completing the signing of Danny Mills, on loan until Christmas, and Reading's Sam Sodje, who will stay for the season.
Birmingham City made two signings. The 23-year-old Honduran Wilson Palacios arrived on a season-long loan from Olimpia along with Spanish international Borja Oubina from Celta Vigo. Oubina, a 25-year-old midfielder, also arrives on loan with a view to a permanent transfer. Birmingham made their moves after failing in a bid for Atletico Madrid's Peter Luccin who has joined Real Zaragoza.
Curtis Davies completed his move from West Bromwich Albion to Villa. The 22-year-old initially arrives on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent transfer which will be for a minimum of £8.5m but could rise to £10m. Liverpool signed 19-year-old midfielder Damien Plessi from Olympique Lyon while Bernardo Corradi has left Manchester City, rejoining his former club Parma on loan.
West Ham United had a frustrating day. They expected to complete the free signing of Nolberto Solano from Newcastle United, with the 33-year-old Peruvian providing cover for Kieron Dyer and Julien Faubert. However they were struggling to complete deals for Nicky Shorey, Giles Barnes and Adriano. Reading insist they want £8m for Shorey – West Ham were refusing to go above £5m and may now wait until January to sign the left-back.
They were closer to agreeing a price for Barnes, thought to be £5m, but Derby appear to have disputed the payment plan and West Ham's insistence that part of the money was only paid on appearances. The deal to land Adriano had also floundered.
It what could have been one of the more interesting signings Everton have also failed in a bid to sign Juan Roman Riquelme on loan from Villareal. The Argentinian does not want to play in England.
Deadline day transfer deals
G Johnson (Chelsea-Port, £4m)
C Folan (Wigan-Hull City, £1m)
D Stefanovic (Port-Fulham, £1m)
M Leigertwood (Sheff United-Queens Park Rangers, £900,000)
M Shawky (Al Ahly-
Middlesbrough, £650,000)
J Euell (M'boro-So'ton, free)
K Miller (Celtic-Derby, undis)
S Hughes (Leicester-M'well, und)
D Plessi (Lyon-Liverpool, und)
M Bent (Charlton-Wigan, loan)
B Corradi (Man C-Parma, loan)
C Davies (W Brom-A Villa, loan)
A Faye (Charlton-Rangers, loan)
P Gallagher (Blackburn Rovers-Preston North End, loan)
D Mills (Man C-Charlton, loan)
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