Flurry of Transfers as Window Closes
Last-minute transfers were brokered across English football on Tuesday as analysts reported a sharp fall in overall spending as a low key January window drew to a close.
Struggling Queens Park Rangers provided two of the most eye-catching deals of the day after confirming the signing of French striker Djibril Cisse from Serie A side Lazio before swooping for Fulham forward Bobby Zamora.
Cisse signed a two-and-a-half year deal with QPR for an undisclosed fee while the club wrapped up what was believed to be a £5 million ($7.9 million) deal for Zamora shortly before the window closed at 11pm local time (2300 GMT).
Overall spending by Premier League clubs during the window was estimated at between £50 and £40 million, well down on last year's record spend of £225 million in January.
Alan Switzer, director of the sports business group at accountancy giants Deloitte said the 2012 fall could partially be attributed to the onset of UEFA's financial fair play regulations, which dictate that clubs wishing to take part in European competitions will only be allowed to spend what they earn.
"Financial fair play has definitely had an impact. The 2011/12 season does now count towards the UEFA rules and that will be part of the consideration which clubs will be giving to any transfer," he said.
"The likes of Chelsea and Manchester City have already been on record as saying they will take it into account in terms of their spending on transfers and wages."
In other transfer deals on Tuesday, Everton confirmed the signing of Croatian striker Nikica Jelavic from Scottish giants Rangers, with Toffees striker Louis Saha heading to Tottenham in a surprise move to White Hart Lane.
"Striker Louis Saha has left Everton to join Tottenham Hotspur," said a statement on evertonfc.com.
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp later confirmed the club was trying to capture Blackburn's New Zealand international defender Ryan Nelsen.
Meanwhile Manchester United parted company with Ravel Morrison, the highly rated 18-year-old youth player who failed to establish himself at Old Trafford and has now signed for Championship side West Ham.
Morrison is regarded as one of the most promising youngsters ever to pass through the Manchester United ranks but the club reportedly lost patience amid ongoing problems in his private life.
"I'm really pleased to have signed. The move has happened very quickly and I'm looking forward to hopefully moving up to the Premier League with West Ham soon," Morrison said on West Ham's website.
Manchester City meanwhile sealed the loan signing of Roma's Chile international midfielder David Pizarro until the end of the season.
The 32-year-old played under Roberto Mancini when he managed Inter Milan.
"Pizarro is a good player. I think he can help us in the next three months because he is a good player. He has good quality," he said.
Chelsea signed Belgium international Kevin de Bruyne from Genk although the midfielder will spend the rest of the season on loan with the Belgian club, the London club confirmed.
The 20-year-old's transfer deadline day capture means he becomes the latest Belgian player on Chelsea's books, joining compatriots Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois, currently on loan at Spanish side Atletico Madrid.
Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill meanwhile said he hoped the capture of Wayne Bridge would solve the club's long-running vacancy at left-back.
The 31-year-old has played only 58 times for City since joining from Chelsea in 2009, and has appeared for the club just once this season.
"I'm hoping that with Wayne's undoubted experience and ability he can be a big help to the team until the end of the season," O'Neill told the club's official website.
Sunderland also signed former Liverpool player Sotirios Kyrgiakos on loan from Wolfsburg later Tuesday.
Elsewhere West Brom signed defender Liam Ridgewell from Midlands rivals Birmingham, now in the second-tier Championship, for an undisclosed fee.
Source: Agence France Presse
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