Features

Quiet transfer window

Author: Rose Young
Date: 26/01/2010
Football betting

The 24-hour news channels and their resident 'experts' are constantly telling us that the transfer window is a hive of activity.

Managers and agents are frantically phone-bashing as they look to bring in fresh blood at the midway point of the season.

But with two thirds of it now gone, it's fair to suggest that his hasn't been a classic football transfer window.

Movement has been at a minimum as the real world finally appears to have caught up with the big-spending Premier League.

However, some deals have been pushed through and below we cast an eye over the comings and goings in the window so far.

The biggest cash transfer of the window to date belongs to Birmingham City after they splashed out £3million to sign Spanish midfielder Michel from Sporting Gijon.

The 24-year-old skilful playmaker arrives in the Premier League with a burgeoning reputation after captaining the La Liga club this season.

However, he may well be one for the future as he will take time to adapt to the more physical nature of the English top-flight.

Manchester City have also made headlines this month but, surprisingly for the self-styled richest club in the world, it hasn't cost them a penny.

Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira has returned to the Premier League on a free transfer from Internazionale after new City boss Roberto Mancini made it a priority to sign a player who understands the style of football he wants to play.

However, a calf injury has meant that Vieira is yet to make his debut, while City only saw fit to offer the 33-year-old midfielder an initial six-month contract.

Will Manchester City finish in the Premier League's top four this season? - Latest Football Betting

The other major high-profile move of the window so far has also been concluded without any cash changing hands.

Arsenal have re-signed their former captain Sol Campbell after the 35-year-old defender impressed manager Arsene Wenger while training with the north London club following his decision to walk out on League Two Notts County earlier in the season.

Campbell's return has led to the online betting second title favourites to allow fellow centre-half Philippe Senderos to join Everton on loan until the end of the season.

The Toffees also appear to have pulled off some canny business of their own after landing US international captain Landon Donovan on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy.

Full-back Lucas Neill has also left Goodison Park bound for Turkey after Galatasaray offered a surprise £750,000 for the Australia international four months after he joined the Toffees on a free transfer.

Across the city, Liverpool have spent £1.5million on Argentina winger Maxi Rodriquez from Atletico Madrid as manager Rafael Benitez looks to supplement an under-achieving squad.

Misfits Andrea Dossena and Andriy Voronin have been offloaded to Napoli and Dinamo Moscow but, despite rumours of impending departure for Ryan Babel and the arrival of Kenwyne Jones from Sunderland, the Reds have been unable to push through any more deals.

Sunderland have brought in Sheffield United defender Matthew Kilgallon for an undisclosed fee and Belgium international Geoffrey Mujangi Bia has arrived at Wolves on a season-long loan.

But the final major move of the window so far has brought controversial striker Amr Zaki back to the Premier League.

Hull City boss Phil Brown is gambling that the Egypt striker branded 'unprofessional' by Wigan last season can help fire them away from the foot of the table.

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