Jermain Defoe's switch to Pompey was the big move on transfer deadline day after Manchester City were thwarted in their Benjani bid.
England striker joins Pompey as Benjani remains
Jermain Defoe's switch to Pompey was the big move on transfer deadline day after Manchester City were thwarted in their Benjani bid.
The England striker's switch was left in the balance with Pompey boss Harry Redknapp waiting to see if Benjani would clinch a transfer to Manchester City before rubber-stamping Defoe's deal.
The twist saw Defoe's transfer confirmed with minutes to spare, in anticipation of Benjani's departure for City - something which never happened, because the paperwork could not be completed before the deadline.
Benjani flew to Manchester in a frantic attempt to complete a medical and agree terms but will now have to return south.
As for Defoe, who had found himself on the fringes at White Hart Lane, the prospect of a regular place at Fratton Park is enticing.
"I can't wait. I just want to get my boots on," he told
Sky Sports News.
"At the end of the day I haven't been playing football; I hope I can play football here. I just want to score goals."
Although midnight is the official cut-off point for transfers, special dispensation to complete signings beyond that deadline can be sought - meaning all might not be lost for the Benjani deal.
Switch
City boss Sven Goran Eriksson missed out on Benjani but did manage to sign 19-year-old Ecuador striker Felipe Caicedo in a £5million switch from FC Basle.
Middlesbrough completed their anticipated club-record swoop for Brazil striker Afonso Alves, after he was handed a work permit on appeal.
The 27-year-old agreed terms on a four-and-a-half-year deal and passed a medical this week and will join from Heerenveen, subject to international clearance.
The exact fee has not been revealed but exceeds the £8.1million Boro paid for Massimo Maccarone in 2002.
Boro manager Gareth Southgate told the club's
official website: "I'm delighted to have completed the deal.
"As usual at this time of the year, it was a late night - but Afonso brings us something different in that he is a goalscorer who does much of his best work inside the box."
Tottenham overcame reports that Brazilian left-back Gilberto had failed a medical to sign the Hertha Berlin defender, who was out of contract with the Bundesliga club at the end of the season.
Having also brought in defenders Jonathan Woodgate, Alan Hutton and Chris Gunter this month, Spurs boss Juande Ramos has allowed Anthony Gardner to leave on loan for Everton while Paul Stalteri has also joined
Fulham until the end of the season.
The other main activity saw
Newcastle defender David Rozehnal join Lazio on loan for the rest of the campaign, while
Liverpool denied reports they had signed Javier Mascherano on a permanent deal - although the Argentinian's advisors are thought to have agreed a four-year contract.
Wigan signed Norwegian defender Erik Hagen, 32, on loan from Zenit St Petersburg until the end of the season.
Opposite
Sunderland have also been active - bringing in Republic of Ireland midfielder Andy Reid in a deal which could be worth up to £4million, while Greg Halford moved on loan in the opposite direction and Graham Kavanagh has joined
Sheffield Wednesday on loan.
It has been one in, one out at
Bolton - who have taken
Southampton front man Grzegorz Rasiak on loan for the rest of the campaign but allowed midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson to go out on loan to Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna.
Fulham reunited Finland great Jari Litmanen with former national team boss Roy Hodgson, while also bringing in the striker's international team-mate Toni Kallio. The defender joins from Swiss side BSC Young Boys.
Derby, meanwhile, moved to plug their leaky defence with the signing of
Everton stalwart Alan Stubbs.
They earlier completed the formalities of Roy Carroll's transfer from
Rangers, with Rams goalkeeping rival Stephen Bywater heading to Ipswich on loan.
Fulham's hopes of signing Rangers striker Daniel Cousin were still unclear after FIFA claimed yesterday they had still to make a decision on his £3million transfer.
Cousin played 20 minutes of league football as a substitute for French club Lens before completing his summer switch to Rangers and FIFA regulations forbid a player from playing for more than two clubs in one season.
Newcastle tied up the signing of 17-year-old Atalanta player Fabio Zamblera.
