Fulham signing Greek striker Kostas Mitroglou could mean the difference between success and failure for the Cottagers this season
Transfer deadline day is a big one for a lot of Premier League clubs.
However, for the teams struggling against relegation the deals that are done today could shape how their seasons will turn out.
Busy
The teams at the bottom of the Premier League table have been very busy in the transfer market on deadline day.
In fact most of the transfer activity so far today has involved the teams battling to stay in the top-flight.
Here is what has happened at those struggling clubs.
Cardiff City
Cardiff City boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been very busy in the January transfer window. On deadline day the Bluebirds have been busy. Solskjaer has raided his old club Manchester United for two players.
Perhaps the coup of the day was Cardiff’s capture of England international winger Wilfried Zaha, who has joined on-loan for the rest of the season. The youngest is one of the most promising players in the English game.
The Bluebirds have also signed Brazilian full-back Fabio from the Red Devils for an undisclosed fee. The side from the Welsh capital looked to have lost out in the race for Blackburn centre-back Scott Dann though.
Fulham
Fulham have made one of the biggest signings of the day with Greek striker Kostas Mitroglou arriving from Olympiakos for a fee of £12million. The Cottagers beat off competition from West Ham for the striker.
The Mitroglou signing was preceded by the Cottagers signing Tottenham midfielder Lewis Holtby on-loan until the rest of the season. The Cottagers are also looking to bring in Swansea full-back Neil Taylor.
A player that looks set to leave Craven Cottage is mercurial Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov. The former-Manchester United striker is reported to be in Monaco to discuss a move to the Ligue One club. Berbatov’s contract expires in the summer.
West Ham
West Ham missed out on the signing of Mitroglou, but look set to bring in Napoli defender Pablo Armero before the transfer window shuts. The Hammers are also interested in bringing in England centre-back Joleon Lescott.
The defender is out-of-contract at Manchester City in the summer, but his wage demands could scupper a move to the Boleyn Ground. No doubt Hammers boss Sam Allardyce was be looking to add to his squad before the window shuts, but looks to have finished his business for the day.
Sunderland
Black Cats boss Gus Poyet has been busy in the transfer window strengthening his squad. The latest arrival being midfielder Liam Bridcutt from Brighton for a fee reported to be around £3.5million. The former-Chelsea youngster could be a replacement for midfielder Lee Cattermole.
The former-Middlesbrough star is subject to interest from Stoke City, who is reportedly in talks with the Blacks Cats over a move for the combative midfielder.
Stoke City
Stoke have dropped dangerously close to the relegation zone in recent weeks and boss Mark Hughes is obviously looking to help curb that slump by bringing in fresh faces. One of those potential signings is as mentioned above Lee Cattermole, with talks believed to be on-going.
One of the other players Stoke are interested in signing is Blackpool winger Thomas Ince. The Potters have made a bid for the former-Liverpool youngster, but Ince is currently at fellow strugglers Crystal Palace for talks.
Crystal Palace
The Eagles have been very busy on deadline day. The Eagles are in talks over the transfer of Blackburn centre-back Scott Dann, after the two clubs agreed a fee.
Palace has already completed the £3million signing of Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessy. Blackpool winger Thomas Ince was expected to join Palace on loan for the rest of the season, but Stoke have now joined the race to sign Ince.
Others
The likes of West Brom, Norwich and Swansea are not yet completely clear of the relegation zone and may do some last minute deals. One player that looks set to leave Norwich is playmaker Wes Hoolahan.
The midfielder has been subject of a number of bids from Aston Villa, but West Brom have now launched a loan move for the out-of-favour midfielder.
Survival
Today’s transfers will no doubt have a major effect on who will survive the drop this season. Fulham are currently favourites to be relegated at odds of 4/5, Cardiff are odds 10/11, Crystal Palace are odds of 6/5, while West Ham are odds of 13/8, Sunderland odds of 15/8 and Stoke odds of 10/3.
The deals done today could have a major bearing on who survives the drop this season. The next few hours could be crucial for those bottom clubs and the next few hours could be very interesting.
Will todays transfer deals have a big effect on the bottom of the Premier League?
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