Flurry of transfers in English football as deadline looms Wednesday, 01 February 2012 02:40

From left: Ravel Morrison, Djibril Cisse and Wayne Bridge.

LONDON: A flurry of last-minute transfers were being brokered across English football yesterday as clubs moved to bolster their squads in the final few hours of the January window. Premier League side Sunderland completed a loan deal for out-of-favour Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge while struggling Queens Park Rangers were set to confirm the signing of French striker Djibril Cisse.

Cisse, who currently plays for Lazio, was undergoing a medical at QPR, who were also linked with a £5 million move for Fulham striker Bobby Zamora, according to Sky Sports.

Meanwhile Everton confirmed a fee had been agreed with Scottish giants Rangers for Croatian striker Nikica Jelavic.

The 26-year-old international was seen at Everton’s Finch Farm training complex where he was reportedly discussing personal terms and undergoing a medical following agreement of an £8m fee. “Everton can confirm a fee has been agreed with Rangers for the transfer of Croatian international Nikica Jelavic,” Everton confirmed on their website ahead of the Toffees clash with Manchester City.

Jelavic has scored 36 goals in 55 matches for Rangers since joining from Rapid Vienna in 2010 but had been keen to pursue a career in English football. Meanwhile Manchester United were set to finally part company with youngster Ravel Morrison, the highly rated 18-year-old youth player who has failed to establish himself at Old Trafford.

Morrison is regarded as one of the most promising youth players ever to pass through the Manchester United ranks but the club has reportedly lost patience amid ongoing problems in his private life.

Morrison was undergoing a medical with Championship side West Ham with a deal set to be concluded today. “The deal is not quite done yet but we are hopeful it will be completed,” West Ham manager Sam Allardyce told the London Evening Standard.

Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill meanwhile said he hoped the capture of 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,” Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill told the club’s official website. Arsenal’s Japanese youngster Ryo Miyaichi has joined Bolton Wanderers in a loan move until the end of the season. The 19-year-old, who joined Arsenal in 2010, will not be eligible to face the Gunners for his new club in today’s Premier League meeting.

Premier League giants Chelsea announced a total loss of £67.7m ($106.6m, ¤81.6m) for the financial year ending June 30, 2011.

But for Chelsea, bankrolled by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, this represented a reduction on a previous operating loss of £70.9m as the London club tried to comply with UEFA’s new financial fair play rules.

Failure to fall in line with the European football governing body’s regulations, designed to ensure a more level playing field for the continent’s leading clubs, could see sides barred from lucrative tournaments such as the Champions League. Transfer fees were a major factor in the loss but Chelsea were able to declare a record group turnover of £222.3m.AFP

| More...