Keane move concludes recession-hit transfer window
LONDON (AFP) - Robbie Keane gave Monday's transfer deadline day a late twist by completing a loan move from Tottenham to Celtic.
The 29-year-old Ireland captain, who had fallen behind Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe in the White Hart Lane pecking order, has moved north in search of first-team football after Spurs signed Eidur Gudjohnsen, a similar style of player, on loan from Monaco.
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp admitted: "Robbie wants to play and I have Crouch, Defoe and (Roman) Pavlyuchenko and I signed Gudjohnsen so it will be difficult to guarantee him a starting place and he has to be playing regularly so I have decided to let him go on loan until the end of the season."
Spurs also released Alan Hutton on loan with the Scotland defender joining Sunderland until the end of the season.
The biggest deal of the day was Manchester City's signing of Adam Johnson from Middlesbrough on a four-and-a-half-year deal, although the reported transfer fee of six million pounds (9.5 million dollars) underlined how the recession and high debt levels have taken their toll on spending at England's leading clubs.
Business advisory firm Deloitte put total spending in this transfer window at 30 million pounds, the lowest total since the mid-season window system was introduced in January 2003 and a huge fall when compared with the 170 million pounds that was spent last year.
Deloitte partner Dan Jones said it was not just the economic climate that had caused the reduction in spending.
"Managers, club owners and directors have become increasingly sceptical of the near-term impact a January acquisition can have," Jones said.
"Therefore, it is unsurprising to see a lack of high value activity, with those clubs that are active preferring loan deals.
"The absence of new club owners and the tightening of club finances and credit availability have helped to accelerate that trend and dampen down the market."
City's acquisition of Johnson came just days after Robinho, who cost them 32.5 million pounds in 2008, was offloaded to Santos.
"We are delighted that Adam has chosen to come here," City's manager, Roberto Mancini, said. "He is a very good player with fantastic potential, and as a club we are always keen to sign British talent."
At the other end of the Premier League's financial spectrum, cash-strapped Portsmouth were given a welcome boost after the bottom of the table side agreed to sell goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to top-flight rivals Stoke City for 3.25 million pounds on a four-year deal.
South Africa's Benni McCarthy completed his long anticipated move to relegation threatened West Ham from Premier League rivals Blackburn Rovers.
The 32-year-old striker joined for an undisclosed fee after he became frustrated with his lack of first team football at Blackburn ahead of this year's World Cup finals in South Africa,
He was not the only striker joining West Ham with Egypt's former Tottenham forward Mido arriving on loan from Middlesbrough after cutting short a loan spell with Egyptian side Zamalek. The club also brought in Brazilian Ilan.
Wigan signed teenage forward Victor Moses from Crystal Palace for a reported fee of 2.5 million pounds
Moses signed a three-and-a-half year contract following a sale triggered by Palace's move into administration last week.
The 19-year-old, described as a "special talent" by Wigan boss Roberto Martinez, had also been a target for Championship leaders Newcastle but he has opted to join Wigan's battle for top-flight survival.
The move is the latest chapter in what has been an extraordinary life story for Moses, who came to England as an 11-year-old asylum seeker following the murder of his father, a Christian minister, and mother, during an outbreak of sectarian violence in his home city of Kaduna, northern Nigeria.
Bolivia striker Marcelo Moreno joined Wigan on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk.
Fulham had a busy day of transfer activity with manager Roy Hodgson making several signings.
Italy Under-21 striker Stefano Okaka joined on loan from Roma until the end of the season as Diomansy Kamara departed to Celtic on a similar deal.
Fulham also signed England defender Nicky Shorey on loan from Premier League rivals Aston Villa and German utility player Christopher Buchtmann who joined from Liverpool on an 18-month contract.
Egypt celebrate while Ivory Coast ponder the future
LUANDA (AFP) - Egypt chalked up their seventh Africa Cup of Nations triumph here just as the 'Golden Generation' of the Ivory Coast again departed the continent's biggest football stage empty-handed.
The Pharaohs 1-0 win over a youthful Ghana in Sunday's final made it the 19th match they have gone unbeaten since 2004. It was also their third successive continental title.
Just as it was two years ago in Ghana, the Elephants from the Ivory Coast were again the popular choice to win their second Nations Cup crown, with such stars as Didier Drogba, Yaya and Kolo Toure in their lineup.
But not many reckoned that a suspect defence would cave in almost too easily against Algeria in the knockout stage of Angola 2010.
After a rather indifferent start, the Desert Foxes of Algeria would now have assured many they will not be making up the numbers at the World Cup in South Africa even after a 4-0 thrashing by fierce rivals Egypt. Egyptians dance in streets for African Cup football triumph
"People did not expect us to be in the semi-finals. We have not reached this stage for a very long time," said Glasgow Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra.
"We're a young team who have made a lot of progress."
Skipper Yazid Mansouri added: "We will move ahead and learn from the mistakes we made at this tournament.
"We have to work very hard to get ready for the World Cup especially in the midfield and attack.
"The Nations Cup has afforded us a chance to know where we have to improve."
Hosts Angola showed a lot of promise two years ago in Ghana reaching the last eight for the first time.
Cheered on by their noisy home fans in Luanda, the Palancas Negras bounced back from an opening day 4-4 draw with Mali in one of the most unforgettable matches of Angola 2010 to again equal their quarter-final finish in the previous tournament.
Most probably their run was cut short by their over dependence for goals on striker Flavio, who battled on despite suffering an injury.
He netted a brace against Mali and was also on target against shock troopers Malawi, who caused one of the biggest upsets by putting three unreplied goals past Algeria.
Part of the magic of this Nations Cup evaporated following the exit of the home team, but before then, it was football fever at its best across this oil-rich country of about 15 million people with long-serving President Eduardo do Santos at all their four games.
Gabon, who will co-host the next tournament with neighbours Equatorial Guinea, promised a lot only to capitulate on the final hurdle in their final Group D match against Zambia and thus miss out on a place in the quarterfinal. The price of this disappointment is that French coach, Alain Giresse, who has been with the Azingo since 2006, will most likely not have his contract renewed when it runs out later this month.
Giresse would be just the latest coach to lose his job following failure at the Cup of Nations.
Already Mali have fired their Nigerian-born coach, Stephen Keshi, and Nigeria, who again failed to live up to their huge potential, will decide this week to do away with coach Shuaibu Amodu.
This would be the second time Amodu will miss out on leading his country to a World Cup after qualifying the team.
He was also sacked when his team stumbled in the semi-final of the Nations Cup eight years ago and his place on the bench at the 2002 World Cup was taken by compatriot Adeboye Onigbinde.
There has been a public uproar back in Nigeria against the performance of the Eagles in Angola with an entire nation apprehensive of how such a team would fare at the World Cup in June against first round foes Argentina, Greece and South Korea.
Skipper Joseph Yobo has blamed Nigeria's underachievement on a lack of continuity in the team.
"We often have different players in and out of the team when we need enough time to train and play together, if we are ever to reach great heights," he argued.
There are now strong indications that his replacement would be the young Frenchman, Herve Renard, who guided Zambia to the quarterfinals for the first time in 14 years.
"I know what I want, I'm very ambitious and I'm not scared to say so. I said even before this tournament, that I wish to be coach of a very top team one day. I'm young but I'm not scared about anything," said the 41-year-old Renard, whose contract with Zambia ends in May.
Hannover sign Sevilla's Kone
(GSM) - Bundesliga side Hannover 96 have beaten off competition from two Premier League clubs to sign Sevilla striker Arouna Kone on loan until the end of the season.
The relegation-threatened Bundesliga side have agreed a deal with the Ivory Coastinternational.
The 26-year-old was linked with potential moves to Wigan Athletic and Birmingham City earlier in the season.
Kone, who is under contract at the Primera Liga side until 2012, has struggled to make an impact in Andalusia since joining from PSV Eindhovenin 2007.
He has started just five matches for Manolo Jiménez's men this season.
Arshavin refuses failed title bid
(GSM) - Arsenal playmaker Andrey Arshavin admits his side's title bid has faltered over the past week but has refused to throw in the towel.
The Gunners were held to a goalless draw at Aston Villa last weekend before being beaten 3-1 at home to champions Manchester United on Sunday.
The North London giants are in the middle of a season-defining quartet of fixtures, with first Chelsea and then Liverpool next on their agenda.
Arsene Wenger's men were being tipped as outsiders for the Premier League crown after charging back into contention, but results against the top sides have seen their cause deteriorate.
The United defeat, their fifth in the league this term, leaves Arsenal five points behind leaders Chelsea, who also won at the Emirates in November.
However, while Arshavin admits their title chances have taken a big knock he insists the side will look forward and not back as they prepare for their visit to Stamford Bridge.
"It is getting even harder to believe that we can win first place after such defeats," the Russian said on his personal website.
"I divide the games with Aston Villa, Man United, Chelsea and Liverpool into two parts - the first part has been held, there are still two more games, I hope we will conduct them better."
Milan make loan swoop for Inter's Mancini
(GSM) - Internazionale full-back Amantino Mancini has switched to city rivals AC Milan on a six-month loan deal.
The Serie A rivals opened negotiations last week over a trade in personnel, with Milan full-back Marek Jankulovski a target for Inter.
Inter's Mancini eventually agreed a six-month loan deal with Leonardo's side, who have the option to buy half the Brazilian's playing rights at the end of the season.
Jankulovski, meanwhile, was expected to head in the opposite direction as part of the deal but the Czech Republic international is still mulling over a switch.
The 32-year-old's hesitation failed to halt Mancini's loan move, and Inter boss Jose Mourinho is still thought to be keen on landing the player.
Reports in the Italian media suggest Jankulovski will reject any further advances from table-toppers Inter as he is happy with the Rossoneri.
FA say Terry´s England captaincy in Capello´s hands
LONDON (AFP) - England manager Fabio Capello alone will make a decision on John Terry's future as England captain, the Football Association (FA) said on Monday.
The 29-year-old Chelsea defender's position has been called into question following reports the married father of twins had an affair with the ex-girlfriend of former team-mate Wayne Bridge.
There are now concerns the issue could have a damaging effect on England's bid to win the World Cup in South Africa later this year but the FA were adamant they would leave the matter to Capello.
"Fabio Capello alone will make the decision about John Terry's position," said an FA spokesman.
"Fabio is fully up to speed with developments regarding John Terry.
"He spoke with our chairman Lord (David) Triesman and chief executive Ian Watmore today (Monday), who both backed him to make the best decision for England on footballing grounds.
"Fabio is dealing with the matter in his own way using his extensive experience as a football manager."
Capello is due to return to England later this week and will travel to Warsaw for the Euro 2012 qualifying competition draw this weekend.
Hammers and Pompey contact Kezman
(GSM) - Premier League duo of West Ham United and Portsmouth have reportedly made contact with Paris Saint-Germain striker Mateja Kezman.
The former Chelsea man has recently returned to the French capital after a loan spell at Zenit St Petersburg.
However the 30-year-old striker is thought to be not part of Antoine Kombouare plans.
The Hammers are in the market for strikers after missing out on Ruud van Nistelrooy and Eidur Gudjohnsen and are therefore thought to have made enquiries, despite an imminent deal for Benni McCarthy.
The Hammers' Premier League relegation rivals Portsmouth are also believed to have approached Kezman with a view to securing additional attacking options.
Any move would come late on transfer deadline day but the 30-year-old would bring experience of England's top flight.
Kezman played for Chelsea during the 2004/05 season after a £5million move from PSV Eindhoven, although his time with the Blues failed to meet expectations as he scored just four league goals in 24 appearances.
Barca's Keirrison completes loan move to Fiorentina
(GSM) - Barcelona's Brazilian striker Keirrison will join Fiorentina on loan until June 2011.
The Serie A outfit have confirmed that an agreement has been reached with Barcelona to bring Keirrison to Florence.
A statement from Fiorentina read: "Fiorentina announce they have reached an agreement with Barcelona for the temporary acquisition of Keirrison for the next two seasons.
"The deal will be completed after the player passes a medical in the next few hours.'
The 21-year-old Keirrison joined Barcelona last summer on a €14 milllion transfer deal from Palmeiras, but he was loaned to Portuguese side Benfica earlier this season.
The South American is under contract with the Primera Division champions until June 2014.
Wigan land Bolivian ace Moreno
(GSM) - Premier League side Wigan Athletic have signed Bolivia striker Marcelo Moreno on loan till the end of the season.
Moreno has become Wigan's second signing on transfer deadline day as the 22-year-old joins on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk, subject to visa and international clearance.
His arrival follows the earlier deal for 19-year-old forward Victor Moses who joined from Crystal Palace for a fee of around £2.5million.
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez said: "We knew we needed more competition in the forward area, and now we have Victor Moses and Marcelo Moreno.
Jorgensen returns home after Italian exile
COPENHAGEN (AFP) - Veteran Danish international midfielder Martin Jorgensen returned to his first club, Danish First Division side Aarhus, on a one year contract on Monday from Serie A outfit Fiorentina.
The 34-year-old - capped 93 times scoring 12 goals - began his career with Aarhus where he played from 1994-96 before leaving for Italy, playing for Udinese from 1997-2004 and since then with Fiorentina.
"It has been a long birth," said Jorgensen, referring to the drawnout talks between Aarhus and Fiorentina over the transfer.
"I am happy that I will be able to play more football here than I was getting in Italy," he added.
Jorgensen, who has appeared for Denmark at two World Cup finals and two European championship finals, is desperate for regular first team football so he can make the 2010 World Cup finals squad having started just twice for Fiorentina this season.