At Anfield, Rafael Benitez's steady restructuring of the Liverpool squad continues with the purchase of 21-yearold Danish defender Daniel Agger for £5.8m, while Arsene Wenger "nally got the better of Jose Mourinho as 19-year-old Auxerre midfielder Vasiriki Abou Diaby chose Arsenal ahead of Chelsea.

Mark Hughes and Steve Bruce were both trimming their squads, with Blackburn's Garry Flitcroft and Matt Jansen going on free contracts to Sheffield United and Bolton respectively and Walter Pandiani heading back to Spain with Espanyol.

Meanwhile, Chris Coleman has finally found a replacement for Edwin van der Sar in former Manchester United target Antti Niemi.

United themselves completed the signing of Patrice Evra , with David Bellion going the opposite way to France via a loan move to Nice after a fruitless period with West Ham.

As for the Irish players, striker Alan Lee has joined Ipswich Town from Cardiff City, while Vinnie Arkins has "nally returned home, joining Bohemians after an extended period in Scotland and then with Portadown. At Longford Town it was one defender in and one out as Sean Dillon departed for Shelbourne while AlanMurphy joined from Drogheda.