Alan Curbishley was just as busy, finally signing Lucas Neill and bringing in the erratic Sevilla striker Kepa on loan. Neill's move went through only after Blackburn Rovers had secured a replacement full-back in Liverpool's Stephen Warnock, as Mark Hughes also acquired further defensive reinforcement in Congolese centreback Chris Samba from Hertha Berlin.

Tottenham bolstered their options at the back too, with the highly-rated Portuguese centre back Ricardo Rocha coming in from Benfica. Former Spurs winger Simon Davies is on his way back to London meanwhile, this time to Fulham as he seeks first-team football after an injury-struck time at Everton. At Middlesbrough, Gareth Southgate decided to take a gamble on Korean number-10 Lee Dong Gook after three weeks of trials. A talented creative player, Lee struggled during his last spell in Europe at Werder Bremen. Rafa Benitez also sought some creativity this week, landing the promising Jordy Brouwer from Ajax. The 18year-old striker had been on Ajax's books, but Liverpool stole in before the Amsterdam club could offer him professional terms.

The revolving door at Sheffield United continued to rotate apace this week, with Neil Warnock bringing in Egyptian mid"elder Ahmed Fathi and Jamaican striker Luton Shelton. On their way out are Neil Shipperley, who joins Brentford, and Steven Kabba, who is on his way to Watford.

In the Championship, Roy Keane again made use of Manchester United's youth system, acquiring full-back Danny Simpson on loan.

Stoke City followed suit with Lee Martin, and also turned Salif Diao's loan deal from Liverpool into a permanent one.

The old "rm were again busy this week, Celtic finalising a loan deal for Cameroon full-back JeanJoel Perrier Doumbe from Rennes.

Walter Smith continued to reshape the Rangers defence, Ugo Ehiogu joining from Middlesbrough on a free and Jeremy Clement returning to France with Paris St Germain.

Finally, on the continent, former Newcastle striker Jon Dahl Tomasson has gone to Villareal on loan from Stuttgart, while Monaco's Marco Di Vaio has returned to Italy with Genoa. Released Manchester City midfielder Claudio Reyna is also making a return home, this time to the New York Red Bulls.