Impending transfer deadline sparks a flurry of activity

With the transfer window ready to slam shut at 5pm next Tuesday, the past few days has seen a sharp increase in business as many managers try to put the finishing touches to their squads, whilst some desperately try and hold on to their prize assets. 

Stoke City have led the way in the spending with the capture of Roberth Huth from Middlesbrough for £5 million, with Tuncay Sanli also set to swap the Riverside for the Britannia. There was never any doubt that Tuncay and Huth would leave Middlesbrough to further their international ambitions and to reduce the club’s wage bill following relegation, although few would have predicted Stoke as their destination.

Elsewhere, after seemingly being linked to every Premier League side, Sylvain Distin finally looks set to join the Portsmouth exodus by filling the gap at Everton left by Joleon Lescott. Whether Tommy Smith is the answer to Portsmouth worries remains to be seen, but he has joined the south coast club from Watford.

Fresh from their European exit, Aston Villa seem to be doing some much neeed reinforcing at the back with Stephen Warnock and Richard Dunne both set to join before Tuesday. Martin O’Neill will be hoping that Dunne can provide the strength in the centre that has been missing since Martin Laursen’s departure, whilst Warnock offers great attacking potential in addition to his defensive abilities.

Harry Redknapp’s fondness of recruiting ex-players shows no sign of abaiting, with rumours today that he is trying to sign Sulley Muntari from Inter Milan. If he joins then he won’t be playing with Pascal Chimbonda who has ended his second spell at the club and joined Blackburn Rovers to fill the Warnock shaped hole. Rumours perist that Jermaine Jenas will also leave White Hart Lane by early next week.

Elsewhere on the continent, Real Madrid finally seem to be shifting some of their unwanted players. Wesley Sneijder had joined Jan Klaas Huntelaar in Milan, although for Inter rather than AC, whilst Arjen Robben looks set to join a faltering Bayern Munich for €25 million. Could this be the move that paves the way for Franck Ribery to move on?

Say what you like about the transfer windowm, but the final few days of are always intriguing and there are bound to be a few shock moves before business closes until the new year. Let us know what you think. Do you agree with the transfer window? And who do you think will be trading clubs in the next few days?