Busy 'Arry makes FIVE deadline-beating deals
Published 22:45 31/01/12 By Mike Walters
Harry Redknapp completed a shock deadline day swoop for Everton striker Louis Saha as Roman Pavlyuchenko was finally farmed back to Russia by Tottenham.
Former France striker Saha, 33, arrived on loan to the end of the season with an option for a further 12 months, while Pavlyuchenko flew out to seal a £7.5m move to Lokomotiv Moscow.
Redknapp, who rarely fails to pull a rabbit from the hat on deadline day, said of Saha after Spurs' 3-1 defeat of Wigan: “He’s bright, his movement is good, and when he’s playing well I think he will do OK.
“It’s just as well it gives me another striker because I’ve lost Rafa Van der Vaart with a calf strain [tonight], and the chairman has managed to get decent money for Pav.”
Redknapp’s biggest transfer surprise, however, was the free transfer capture of Blackburn centre-half and New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen.
The Spurs boss said: “Ryan is a great competitor, a good sort to have around the place, I’ve always liked him.”
Centre-back Sebastien Bassong went through the revolving door on loan to Wolves with Redknapp adding: “Seb needs to go, his head is down.”
Tottenham also sent midfielder Steven Pienaar back to former club Everton on loan for the rest of the season, but missed out on a deadline deal for Juventus midfielder Milos Krasic.
Pienaar, 29, left Goodison Park 12 months ago to sign a four-year deal at White Hart Lane but has failed to win a regular place in the line-up.
The move had been rumoured earlier in the day but appeared unlikely after Redknapp revealed he had been unable to sign the player he wanted as cover.
But a deal was completed after a telephone conversation between Everton chairman Bill Kenwright and his Spurs counterpart Daniel Levy after their sides' respective games on Tuesday night.
Who's in and who's out at YOUR club? Every Premier League deal of the January transfer window
