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Quiet window comes to an end

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 04/02/2010
Football betting

Sleep is back on the agenda for football managers across the country. The transfer window has been slammed shut and there was a distinct lack of action with many fans taking a keen interest in the activity of Manchester City and Chelsea.

However, Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is obviously happy with his Premier League table-topping outfit as he opted to stay out of the transfer exchanges although he allowed young defender Jack Cork join Burnley on loan.

Citizens boss Roberto Mancini did make a splurge by landing Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson for an undisclosed fee as they look to cement their top-four challenge.

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Tottenham Hotspur striker Robbie Keane made the most surprising move of the day by joining Scottish giants Celtic on loan until the end of the season.

With his first-team chances limited because of the form of Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch, Keane decided to link up with Tony Mowbray's side, who are struggling ten points behind leaders Rangers in the league.

Harry Redknapp has added former Bolton Wanderers, Chelsea and Barcelona forward Eidur Gudjohnsen to his ranks from French side Monaco until the end of the season.

Celtic also snapped up Diomansy Kamara from Fulham and Dutch full-back Edson Braafheid from Bayern Munich, who is looking to increase his chances of earning a call-up to Bert van Maarwijk's World Cup squad.

Elsewhere, West Ham United's new owners David Gold and David Sullivan sanctioned the moves for three strikers to bolster their toothless attacking options.

Middlesbrough's temperamental Egyptian star Mido has joined on loan alongside Brazilian forward Ilan from French outfit Saint-Etienne.

The biggest deal for the Hammers though was the capture of Blackburn Rovers man Benni McCarthy, who has signed until the summer of 2012 for an undisclosed fee.

Young starlet Victor Moses has swapped life in the capital for the north-west. He has joined Roberto Martinez's Wigan Athletic from Championship side Crystal Palace in a move that can only ease the Eagles' difficult financial plight in a deal reportedly costing the Latics £2.5million.

Fulham have snared Aston Villa's Nicky Shorey on loan, who enjoyed a similar spell at Nottingham Forest this season, while AS Roma's Stefano Okaka has also joined the Cottagers.

Okaka, an Italy Under-21 international, impressed when the two clubs met earlier in the season in two Europa League encounters.

German left-back Christopher Buchtmann has also joined Roy Hodgson's side from Liverpool on an 18-month deal.

Championship leaders and online title favourites Newcastle United added Coventry City forward Leon Best to their squad.

He has penned a three-and-a-half year deal in an otherwise quiet finale to the latest window of opportunity.

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