The much-anticipated transfer day deadline kicked off in its ever frantic fashion Friday, with a multitude of players finding new places to call home.
Manchester City added to Thursday’s 6.2 million pound signing of Scott Sinclair with pacey right back Maicon for an undisclosed fee. They were expected to wrap up deals for Benfica’s Javi Garcia and Fiorentina’s Matija Nastasic later Friday, after sanctioning Nigel de Jong’s move to AC Milan.
Liverpool provided a tasty prelude for deadline day when they finally disposed of Andy Carroll’s services Thursday, sending the big man on loan to West Ham.
The Reds swiftly continued business Friday morning, as they slashed two midfielders off the wage bill, with Charlie Adam moving to Stoke for 4 million pounds, while Jay spearing went to Championship side Bolton on a six-month loan. Liverpool are expected to push hard for Fulham forward Clint Dempsey as well as Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge, with the Merseysiders touted to ink one of the two if not both before the window slams shut.
Tottenham winger Rafael van der Vaart sealed a return back to former club Hamburg, paving the way for Porto’s Joao Moutinho switch to White Heart Lane, after the two clubs agreed a record fee worth 22 million pounds. Tottenham are also expected to seal the signing of Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, after the Frenchman traveled to London to discuss personal terms. Promising left back Danny Rose was loaned to Sunderland for the remainder of the season, with midfielder Jermaine Jenas expected to follow suit.
Fulham had an extremely busy day, as they signed three new players to cater for the departure of Moussa Dembele, and the imminent exit of Dempsey. Keiran Richardson finalized his 2 million pound move from Sunderland, while Ghana midfielder Derek Boateng signed from Ukranian side Dnipro for an undisclosed fee.
But perhaps the biggest coup of Fulham’s business, came in the shape of Dimitar Berbatov. The Bulgarian finally ended his nightmarish two years at Old Trafford, in a deal reported to be worth 4.5 million pounds.
QPR continued their wholesale changes, adding no less than three players in the early hours of Friday. Renowned Brazilian keeper Julio Cesar joined on a free transfer, while two midfielders were added, in the shape of Esteban Granero, who arrived from Real Madrid, and Marseille’s Stephane Mbia, both signing for undisclosed fees.
In other news, Ibrahim Afellay completed a season-long loan to German side Schalke 04, while Arsenal’s Nicklas Bendtner was loaned to Juventus for the remainder of the campaign.
