Transfer Talk: The Window is Closing

By: Bob | January 31st, 2007

After having a month to seal transfer deals, clubs all over the world are scrambling to get things done at the last minute. The winter transfer window closes for good tonight and as you would expect there has been plenty of activity today. Here are some of the highs and lows from today’s deadline day transfer news.

Rules, we don’t need no stinkin’ rules. Despite a rule that says that a player can’t play for more than two clubs in one year, FIFA has given the go ahead for Javier Mascherano to leave West Ham for the already crowded midfield at Liverpool. Not that I have ever been a stickler for rules (see my disdain for grammar rules), but why even have a rule in place if it can be broken this easily?

West Ham are working overtime today and they are excited to land central defender Matthew Upson from Birmingham City for a fee somewhere above £6m. The former England Under-21 international joins Luis Boa Morte, Lucas Neill, Calum Davenport, Nigel Quashie and Kepa Blanco as January transfer window arrivals at Upton Park. Now we can see if this is enough to turn the season around.

Meanwhile, Teddy Sheringham continues to give hope to the over-40 crowd and Tottenham manager Martin Jol has hinted Spurs are interested in acquiring the old gun as well as his West Ham colleague Marlon Harewood. Neither of those things have happened at the time of this writing. Nor have I discovered the meaning of life. Check back later.

Unhappy with his lunatic owner at Hearts, midfielder Paul Hartley is moving to the greener pastures of Celtic where he won’t need to speak to his teammates in Lithuanian. Speaking of which, Hearts signed another one, Lithuanian striker Linas Pilibaitis.

As Hartley enters, Celtic forward Shaun Maloney might be exiting for Aston Villa. Landing the 24-year-old would be quite a coup for the Villains if you ask me, which you didn’t so I won’t charge you for it.

Barcelona midfielder Xavi claims Manchester United have spoken to his agent about a possible switch to Old Trafford, which would be convenient if you are to believe that Cristiano Ronaldo would head to Barca in return. Expect to hear a lot of Ronaldo talk before the summer transfer window, but short of acquiring the country of Andorra, why would Manchester United part with him?

Manchester City have signed former England left-back Michael Ball from PSV Eindhoven until the end of the season. City are also chasing their tails around after Mido, Marlon Harewood and Collins John.

If Manchester United can have a Larsson so too can Birmingham. They have decided to make the loan of Sebastian Larsson from Arsenal permanent. In return, the Gunners will get a million pounds to presumably spend on another teenage French defender you’ve never heard of but who someday will be a star.

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is set to turn down the chance of adding the supposed firepower of Nigerian striker Chinedu Ogbuke to his team. Maybe Redknapp is opposed to weaponry?

Reading have completed the signing of Stoke captain Michael Duberry for an undisclosed fee. That fee better be good because he has been an important part of a solid Stoke defense.

Marseille striker Habib Bamogo has joined Spanish top flight side Celta Vigo for six months with an option of a permanent move. He’ll likely see considerable time on the pine in Spain as he continues to try to find the form he lost after breaking his leg last year.

There is a transfer window in Italy and as usually the case Martha at the Italy Offside is all over the action.

Real Betis have added a couple of cool names to their squad with the signings of Branko Ilic and Juan Pablo Caffa. With a name like Branko you have no choice but to be a bad ass.

They don’t have the money that some of the other bigger clubs in Europe have, so Porto have cast their luck by raiding South America of some of its talent. In turn they’ll probably sell these guys in a couple of years and make a pretty euro.

Rangers were kind enough to release Lionel Letizi and to allow the former France goalkeeper to rejoin hometown club OGC Nice where he’ll likely be greeted with flowers.

For the transfer stories I have missed or skipped – at least the ones in England — over check out the BBC’s deadline day update page, as well as The Guardian’s. It is fun reading if you are into this kind of thing and you really should be after reading me do posts about transfer rumors for the past month.