There is no other way to describe it. Just mental. Transfer Deadline Day is by a mile the greatest day of the footballing year. And you get two of them.
Forget FA Cup Final. Forget the Champions League. You ask every football fan around the country, and they get excited about Deadline Day. January is usually quieter – not today.
For the record, I’ve been advised to start writing more sports ‘report’ style articles and blog posts, in order to further my portfolio. Forget that today – it’s a live feed of the Deadline Day madness that we all know and love.
I’ve been following it since 7 o’clock this morning, and from 4 o’clock this afternoon, will be blogging. Pictures, links and lots of (hopefully) bold deals appearing on here. So, keep your eyes peeled for my opinionated, biased talk, that is effectively a Twitter feed. let’s go.
DEADLINE DAY. AND IT’S LIVE (ISH).
16:00 And we’re off. Sat at home, with Sky Sports News on, the BBC Sport page wide open, and all the right Twitter followers appearing on my feed. It’s a good day. So far, we’ve had plenty to talk about, but very little in terms of deals. The rumours of Fernando Torres from Liverpool to Chelsea for around £50m look to be on, and off, and on, and off. And back on again. Andy Carroll should be on his way to replace him for upwards of £30m. Charlie Adam could also be going to Anfield from Blackpool. But let’s see.
16:13 COMPLETED DEAL: Been very quiet, but hopefully this is the start. Obafemi Martins completes a 6-month loan deal from Rubin Kazan to Birmingham City. Was a great player at Newcastle, but left after they were relegated. Hopefully he can replicate that form.
16:19 Suddenly, Tweets pour in that Charlie Adam is likely to be heading towards Man United. As a United fan myself, I see this as very, very poor business. Especially when Blackpool wanted upwards of £10m for him. But no-one doubts Sir Alex Ferguson. Ever.
16:29 SSN say unconfirmed reports of Liverpool and Newcastle agreeing £35m deal for Andy Carroll, with additional payments on top of. Piss poor English, but frankly, I couldn’t care less right now. That could be a defining moment today.
16:36 That could start it off. Once the Carroll deal goes through, Torres will join Chelsea. Then Liverpool will finalise the Suarez deal, and bid for Charlie Adam. Unless the United rumours are true…
16:42 Well well well. Now turns out that Newcastle rejected that £30m+ bid. Leaving it late now, are Liverpool. That’s the second bid to be rejected.
16:45 COMPLETED DEAL: Tuncay has gone from Stoke to Wolfsburg. Well, there’s a big deal…. £4.5m involved for Stoke, and Pulis will go and splash that now.
16:55 It’s all gone a little quiet… So what shall I do? Let’s send the blog live. More updates and madness every half hour all the way up until the window closes. I don’t care how many hits I get today, it’s all about the fun. And the deals, obviously.
17:02 As you can tell, I have the world’s shortest attention span. Just to clarify, the only major deal involving an incoming player to a Premier League club is that of Obafemi Martins. Less than 6 hours to go…
17:13 It’s a shame we only have speculation to work with at the minute. Confirmation of Newcastle rejecting the 2nd bid coming through. Apparently, according to sources, it’s not because of the amount, but because NUFC want a replacement lined up before accepting. Carroll himself is keen on the move. No-one else getting deja vu over the fact this is exactly the same situation as Torres?!
17:17 And after Tottenham’s crazy £120m bidding spree last night, of which all four were rejected, Sergio Aguero has committed himself to Atletico Madrid by signing a 2 and a half year contract extension. Well, at least someone’s happy.
17:18 BREAKING NEWS: Newcastle have just ‘reluctantly accepted’ a transfer request from Andy Carroll. Must mean deals are close.
17:25 MORE BREAKING NEWS: Liverpool confirm on their website that Newcastle have accepted ‘a club record offer’ for the services of Andy Carroll. Here comes the domino effect.
17:30 EVEN MORE BREAKING NEWS: We wait for ages, then three come along at once. SSN reports that Charlie Adam is in a car on his way to Liverpool to start thrashing out a deal. Utter, utter madness.
17:40 Here’s confirmation from Newcastle regarding both Carroll’s transfer request, and also the ‘British transfer record’ fee that has been accepted in the last 20 minutes. This is just crazy – why do clubs leave it so late?!
17:42 The Guardian have just reported that the Charlie Adam to Liverpool deal is worth £14m. That’s an astonishing figure. The Anfield Revolution will continue well into the night.
17:51 Rumours hitting that Tottenham have made an increased €35m bid for Giuseppe Rossi of Villarreal, despite Rossi signing a new contract until 2016 this month. United will take a share of that, too, as a former club with a clause in the deal. Watch this space.
17:57 And now further rumours that the David Luiz to Chelsea deal is BACK ON. It really is hotting up.
18:02 Hearing from sources around the country on Twitter that Andy Carroll has agreed personal terms. However, SSN report otherwise, and these terms have not been agreed. Make your mind up!
18:10 Now coming up two hours since the last incoming player. Oh, sorry, the ONLY incoming player to the Premier League so far.
18:11 Here we go. Guillem Balague has just confirmed that Liverpool have agreed a fee with Chelsea for Fernando Torres, and it looks like it’s £50m. Torres now on his way to London for a medical. Awaiting official confirmation, but he’s a great source for reliable information.
18:19 (POSSIBLE) BREAKING NEWS: Chelsea and Benfica have agreed a deal for David Luiz – £25m deal, with £20m up front. Great deal for Benfica if that goes through. Fergie was right – no value in this market the way it is.
18:22 SSN still reporting Man United have matched Liverpool’s offer for Charlie Adam. Can’t see it myself. Reports also saying Andy Carroll will be earning £80,000 a week at Anfield. The money in football is mental.
18:25 A bit of catch-up then. Confirmed that Charlie Adam is STILL at Blackpool, for now. Not in a car on his way to Liverpool. However, Andy Carroll has just arrived in Merseyside, and eyewitnesses say that Torres has just got on a helicopter for London. Obafemi Martins has joined Birmingham, Andy Reid joined Blackpool earlier from Sunderland, and a few minor deals involving Premier League clubs have taken place. But those are the major two confirmed deals, and three more that could, and should, happen tonight. Massive apologies to Andy Reid though, having said Martins was the only deal. Here’s a picture of the big man, to say sorry. I’ll get me coat…
18:33 Tottenham continue to surprise us all. ‘Arry seems to be going a bit mad in his old age.The Rossi bid is all but confirmed, but Villarreal haven’t yet accepted or rejected. But, however, the Diego Forlan deal is still live, and going. Amazing.
18:35 FURTHER BREAKING NEWS: Chelsea and Liverpool have ‘agreed a fee’ for Fernando Torres, and the striker will now have a medical. Won’t be any less than £50m. Absolutely remarkable deal, if that goes through.
18:41 As it stands, if all the deals go through, £140m will be spent on Torres, Carroll, Luiz and Rossi alone. Not to mention the other teams bidding for the other players. Absolutely stunned.
18:57 A further update. Torres is on his way to London after fee agreed, according to the BBC. Andy Carroll has arrive at Melwood for his Liverpool medical, after fee agreed. Luiz on his way to Stamford Bridge to agree personal terms and have a medical, and Rossi is in ‘advanced negotiations’ for move to Spurs. We’ve also got some knob’eds on SSN burning a Torres shirt outside Anfield. That shirt cost you 40 quid. That man has just earned your club £50m…
19:01 What an amazing day. Just madness. And we’ve still got four hours to go. Anyway, apparently Rangers are in talks with Blackburn for El-Hadji Diouf on a short-term loan, according to The Guardian. The further away from England, the better. Scotland’s a start, anyway.
19:07 COMPLETED DEAL: Thank God for that. Ruben Rochina moves to Blackburn from Barcelona for a reported £1m. At last – a deal! The Spaniard goes straight into the match-day squad.
19:21 It’s all gone a bit quiet again. The lull before the storm? Let’s hope so.
19:24 COMPLETED DEAL: Here’s another one. Michael Bradley arrives at Aston Villa from Borussia Monchengladbach on loan for the rest of the season. Great deal for them – a US international who adds a different aspect to the team.
19:40 Here’s the official confirmation that Liverpool accept a bid from Chelsea for Fernando Torres.
19:42 COMPLETED DEAL: And another deal goes through. James Beattie passes his medical, and completes a loan move from Rangers to Blackpool for the rest of the season. Great player – got experience, still scores goals, and a great leader. Last point is key – Adam is captain currently, so maybe worth a punt now (take note Liverpool…)
19:52 Nearly there. Fernando Torres is about an hour off becoming a Chelsea player, and is currently finishing off the formalities, say sources. Top player, but you get the feeling he’s only leaving for money. Not a dig at Chelsea, but a big dig at Torres.
20:04 SSN now reports that Stephen Ireland is very close to agreeing his loan deal from Aston Villa to Newcastle. Also saying that the Carroll replacement could very well be Johan Elmander, from Bolton. However, this won’t go through until the Torres deal does. Then Carroll/Suarez deals will happen, and thus Newcastle have cash.
20:06 And there’s no stopping now. After stating that there is no way Stoke will be making any deals tonight, Eidur Gudjohnsen is now on his way to Fulham for a medical, regarding a loan deal. 20 minutes can make all the difference.
20:09 COMPLETED DEAL: All done and dusted for Stephen Ireland. Confirmation of loan deal from Villa to Newcastle.
20:17 BREAKING NEWS: Sources say that the Torres deal between Chelsea and Liverpool is the full £50m, up front. Incredible.
20:21 Rumours beginning to surface that Newcastle may also be interested in Arsenal’s Nicklas Bendtner, for around £17m. This is just getting crazy now.
20:24 BREAKING NEWS: Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge is in ‘advanced talks’ with Bolton over a loan deal till the end of the season. Clears a spot for Torres too.
20:32 COMPLETED DEAL: Blackburn complete their second deal of the day, by signing Mauro Formica from Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina, for a reported £3m. Great deal for the man dubbed the ‘new Gabriel Batistuta’.
20:41 Just awaiting all the confirmation now. Will be very surprised if we see any further big money deals other than Torres/Carroll/Suarez. Just over two hours to go.
20:43 COMPLETED DEAL: Right, the dominoes begin to topple. Liverpool confirm the signing of Luis Suarez from Ajax for €26.5m, and as expected, he will wear the No. 7 shirt. Leaves the No. 9 open for Carroll.
20:54 You know it’s bad when the telly changes from SSN to Glee. Onwards and upwards eh?
21:01 Now less than two hours to go, and it’s been a crazy, crazy Deadline Day. But it’s nowhere near over. Am here all the way to the deadline. Let’s go.
21:10 All eyes on Charlie Adam, and Blackpool now. Will he or won’t he? Liverpool still got concrete interest, but do United? This rumoured £14m bid is too good to turn down. But time’s running out for both Liverpool AND Blackpool to spend the cash.
21:12 COMPLETED DEAL: Daniel Sturridge joins Bolton from Chelsea on loan, as reported earlier. If Owen Coyle can pull off the same as what he did with Jack Wilshire, he’s just made a great acquisition.
21:19 Now hearing from sources that Blackpool will retain Charlie Adam, at least until the end of the season. But will Liverpool test their resolve?
21:26 And we continue to wait…. again. It only seems a matter of time, bearing in mind the majority of the deals are all wrapped up.
21:31 Reports are saying Liverpool had two bids turned down for Charlie Adam today – one worth £8m, and a second worth £10m. Blackpool still holding out for that magical £14m deal. Wouldn’t be surprised if Liverpool went in over the next hour and a half.
21:35 BREAKING NEWS: So it turns out Spurs did make a bid. We learned earlier that Everton had rejected their bid for captain Phil Neville, and now it’s confirmed, in the region of £1m-£2m. Would have been a great move for Spurs though.
21:43 MORE BREAKING NEWS: We thought this might be a deal that will be pushed through. Ashley Young to Liverpool is apparently very close, say reliable sources. Only £3m away from Villa’s valuation.
21:45 Chelsea Chairman Bruce Buck has just arrived at Stamford Bridge. Torres deal imminent.
21:55 The Chelsea deal to be wrapped by by 10:30 this evening, and all other deals to cascade from that. Could be very interesting if there’s a late shock.
22:00 ONE HOUR TO GO: We’ve still got over £100m worth of deals to be finalised too. Strap yourselves in, this is going to be a very bumpy finish.
22:05 It’s the story of the Number 9′s. Fernando Torres – Chelsea’s new Number 9. Andy Carroll – Liverpool’s new Number 9. And Bendtner to become Newcastle’s new Number 9? Maybe…
22:12 BREAKING NEWS: Fernando Torres arrives at Stamford Bridge, and will sign live on Chelsea TV in the next 20 minutes.
22:17 Not long to go. SSN still bigging up every deal, as they have been since 9am. The BBC feed still going, having started at 6:55am. It’s incredible stuff. Love today.
22:25 Looks like Man City really were true to their word. They rejected bids for Shaun Wright-Phillips from Newcastle, Bolton, West Ham, Everton and Portsmouth.
22:26 BREAKING NEWS: Newcastle are back in for old-boy Charles N’Zogbia, from Wigan. That’s a massive deal if that goes through. Massive.
22:27 EVEN BIGGER BREAKING NEWS: Wigan have rejected £10m bid from Newcastle for N’Zogbia, and will reject any further offers. Good God. Need to get my breath back.
22:29 NOT QUITE AS BREAKING NEWS: Eidur Gudjohnsen has signed for Fulham from Stoke on loan, according to reports.
22:34 LESS THAN HALF AN HOUR TO GO: And we still wait for the three big ones….
22:36 BREAKING NEWS: Fernando Torres is, according to sources, signing his deal NOW.
22:45 15 MINUTES TO GO: Torres, Carroll, Gudjohnsen, Luiz to finalise.
22:46 COMPLETED DEAL: Eidur Gudjohnsen confirmed as a Fulham player, going on loan from Stoke City.
22:47 If Torres was signing for Real Madrid, or Barcelona, 80,000 people would be there to watch the unveiling of their new star. At Stamford Bridge? 23 fans… Let’s just hope thy’ve gone for a warm-up in a greasy spoon.
22:49 BREAKING NEWS: Andy Carroll has signed a 5 and a half year deal at Liverpool for £35m, according to SSN.
22:50 MORE BREAKING NEWS: Wigan reject £12m bid from Newcastle for Charles N’Zogbia. 10 minutes to go, and they all start trying to rush the deals through… They’ve had a month.
22:52 MASSIVE BREAKING NEWS: It just gets better. With 8 minutes to go, Tottenham, and ‘Arry, have made a late, late, late bid for Charlie Adam. Madness.
22:54 COMPLETED DEAL: And the dominoes keep falling. Andy Carroll has signed his 5 and a half year deal at Liverpool, and will wear the Number 9 shirt. All confirmed on club website now.
22:56 4 MINUTES TO GO: One big deal done, two to go. Come on Chelsea. Let me go to bed.
22:58 BREAKING NEWS: Sky Sports say Torres and Luiz are Chelsea players. Not official as yet.
23:00 TRANSFER WINDOW SHUT: NO MORE DEALS CAN BE SIGNED. However, deals may have gone through, and are awaiting confirmation. Like Torres and Luiz, for example.
23:04 BREAKING NEWS: Tottenham did make a bid for Charlie Adam, but was rejected by Blackpool. Bid was larger than Liverpool’s, but still not enough.
23:10 COMPLETED DEAL: Not the ones we’re expecting. Conor Sammon joins Wigan from Kilmarnock, for between £500k-£1m. Great player, but maybe a little early to be joining a massive club.
23:12 COMPLETED DEAL: There’s another. Sergei Kornilenko joins Blackpool on loan from Zenit St Petersburg. Big striker that will work well with the retained Charlie Adam.
23:20 COMPLETED DEAL: At last. Liverpool confirm Fernando Torres is now a Chelsea player, for a reported £50m. Just David Luiz deal to be confirmed now.
23:21 COMPLETED DEAL: As mentioned earlier, El-Hadji Diouf is now a Rangers player, having signed on loan from Blackburn. That won’t go down well with Celtic, whose fans were spat at when Diouf was still with Liverpool.
23:24 BREAKING NEWS: Gabriel Obertan has handed in a transfer request and want to leave Manchester United. This news was announced at 11:01PM. What a fool.
23:26 BREAKING NEWS: And here’s Chelsea’s confirmation, alongside first Torres pictures with a blue shirt. What a mad day.
23:30 COMPLETED DEAL: And there we have it. Benfica release a statement to the Stock Exchange confirming David Luiz joins Chelsea for £21m plus Matic. Admittedly, it’s in Portuguese, so it could say absolutely anything…
Well, that’s that then. What a night. Apologies for the lack of photos in the last hour – nothings being released, and deals are coming through thick and fast. Exactly what we hoped – drama, late action, big money moves, and the inevitable Tottenham last-minute bid. Over £214m was spent this transfer window – half of that today. Newcastle could now be in trouble, with no big forward, but Blackpool have kept their star player, which could save them. Liverpool sign £55m worth of attacking prowess, so that almost guarantees Kenny Dalglish the permanent job. Today sums up what could happen at the end of this season. We do know one thing though.
Chelsea’s Fernando Torres, Liverpool’s Andy Carroll, and Blackpool’s Charlie Adam. 2 out of 3 ain’t bad. Let’s just say I’m looking forward to Liverpool vs. Chelsea this weekend. G’night all.
Credit where credit’s due… All info from the great work of Sky Sports and the BBC Sport teams, likewise the photos.
