Benjani’s Sunderland Move In Doubt

Chris Wright

2nd, February 2010

By Chris Wright

And lo, there was silence in the valley. Here’s the apres-deadline round up…

As well as signing Robbie Keane, Celtic also tied up loan deals for Bayern Munich’s Dutch full back Edson Braafheid and Fulham’s Senegalese striker Diomansy Kamara.

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A deal that is hanging in the balance is Benjani‘s loan switch from Man City to Sunderland. The Zimbabwean striker has a track record of fluffing deadline day transfers and it seems his jinxed run is to continue.

‘Technical difficulties’ are being cited as the reason for communication breaking down mid-negotiation, and Steve Bruce is now hoping for special dispensation from the FA to allow the deal to go through.

The Best of the Rest: Manchester City have signed Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson. The 23 year old has joined for a fee thought to be in the region of £7 million.

West Ham signed a trio of strikers as Ilan (unattached), Benni McCarthy (undisclosed fee from Blackburn) and Mido (loan from Middlesbrough) all completed deadline day switches. Mido has allegedly signed a contract worth less than £1000-a-week, making him the lowest paid Premier League player.

Burnley have extended David Nugent‘s loan from Portsmouth until the end of the season.

Fulham completed deadline day moves for Stefano Okaka (AS Roma), Nicky Shorey (Aston Villa) and Christopher Buchtmann (Liverpool).

The Cottagers also saw Tony Kallio (loan to Sheffield United) leave the club.

Stoke finally got their man as Portsmouth ‘keeper Asmir Begovic joined The Potters for a £3.25 million fee.

Sunderland snapped up Tottenham right back Alan Hutton on loan until the summer.

The Black Cats also let Nyron Nosworthy (Sheff Utd), Daryl Murphy and David Healy (both Ipswich) leave the club on loan.

Wigan snapped up Victor Moses (£2.5 million from Crystal Palace) and Bolivian winger Marcelo Moreno (loan from Shaktar Donetsk).

Newcastle United took Leon Best from Coventry City for a £3 million fee.