Zouma, Mitroglou top EPL’s deadline-day arrivals

Chelsea, Fulham, Palace most active during January transfer window.

LONDON:

January transfer spending in the Premier League eclipsed last year’s total by £10 million and has broken the top-flight record for a season by £90m, according to ESPN.

London rivals Chelsea, Fulham and Crystal Palace were the biggest movers as the January transfer window closed with a flurry of activity on Friday.

Chelsea reinvested some of the money garnered from Juan Mata’s sale in centre-back Kurt Zouma, who signed from Saint-Etienne for a reported fee of £12 million.

Zouma is the fourth player to sign for Chelsea in January after Nemanja Matic, Mohamed Salah and Bertrand Traore.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho praised his employers for having the foresight to sanction a move for Zouma.

“He’s another young player in the profile of some Chelsea have signed in the last couple of years,” said Mourinho.

“We liked the profile, we think he’s very much adapted to the Premier League. Well done, Chelsea.”



While Chelsea are jostling for position at the top of the table, it is the threat of relegation that prompted Fulham to pay around £12.5 million to Olympiakos for striker Konstantinos Mitroglou.

Fulham also signed defender Johnny Heitinga from Everton on a short-term deal and midfielder Lewis Holtby on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

Moving in the other direction, striker Dimitar Berbatov was loaned to Monaco, while centre-back Philippe Senderos joined Valencia on a permanent basis.

Kallstrom is a hugely experienced player: Wenger

Injuries forced Arsenal into action, with manager Arsene Wenger signing experienced Spartak Moscow midfielder Kim Kallstrom on loan until the end of the season.

“Kim Kallstrom is a hugely experienced player,” said Wenger. “He is a midfielder with proven quality at both club and international level.”

Meanwhile, striker Park Chu-young was loaned to second-tier Watford.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed his side’s interest in signing winger Yevhen Konoplyanka from Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, but reports in the British media said the move had broken down at the last minute.

Manchester United winger Wilfried Zaha was given an opportunity to prove his ability when he was allowed to move to Cardiff City on loan.

Dani Osvaldo’s five-month stay at Southampton ended with him joining Juventus on loan with a view to a permanent move.

Palace made no less than five signings, with Wayne Hennessey and Joe Ledley among the players joining the club on permanent deals.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2^nd, 2014.

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