Transfer Window Done Deals plus Rumours and Predicted Signings - Day 4

Hello and welcome to my latest blog post.
This is a new segment on my blog, where I analyse all of the done deals in the winter transfer window, along with giving you the LATEST rumours involving EPL clubs. Also, I will give you the predicted signings club-by-club in the EPL. 

Done Deals so far - Day 4 

Liverpool have completed the £12million signing of Chelsea forward Daniel Sturridge. 

Done deal: Daniel Sturridge poses with Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre after completing a move to Anfield.

Make a mark: Sturridge trained at Melwood with his new team-mates on Thursday morning.

He is The Reds' first signing of the transfer window, and will feel the void left after Borini's injury.

He is likely to partner Suarez in attack, but will have to prove himself to manager Brendan Rodgers, or will end up with the same fate as he did at Chelsea - on the bench.

Chelsea have announced the signing of Newcastle United striker Demba Ba on a three-and-a-half -year contract this morning, after activating the £7million release clause in his contract.  

It's official: Ba signs his contract alongside Chelsea chief executive Ron Gorlay on Friday morning.

Reinforcement: Chelsea have signed Newcastle striker Demba Ba for £7million pounds.

Show your worth: Demba Ba is tested in his first training session at Chelsea with Benitez.

 

The Senegal striker told the club's official website, www.chelseafc.com: "This club is at another level - it isn't West Ham or Newcastle.
"They are both big clubs with a strong history, but Chelsea is Chelsea and you cannot compare.
"It will be easier with world-class players around, who make the football look so easy."
"Now they (Newcastle) have the whole month to buy someone and, for me as well, the sooner the better. Now I am here I just need to get settled in.
"When the club who won the Champions League wants you, the decision-making is very easy. This club is massive and that's something that helped the decision a lot. It was not a hard one."

Newcastle United have completed the signing of French defender Mathieu Debuchy from Lille for an undisclosed fee.

The 27-year-old has signed a five-and-a-half year deal at St James’ Park after passing his medical and agreeing personal terms.

Almost done: Newcastle's new £5.5million signing Mathieu Debuchy is tested for any problems during a medical.

First training session: Debuchy trains at Newcastle after a £5.5million move from Lille.

Debuchy said: "It is great to become a Newcastle United player. After many great years at Lille I felt I was ready for a new challenge, and cannot wait to play for such a big club in the best league in the world."

"I hope I can bring something fresh to the team and help us get up to the highest possible position in the Premier League this season. "I will give everything for this club."

Marouane Chamakh, Arsenal to West Ham - loan deal

Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh has completed a loan move to West Ham in the hope of gaining more first-team action.  

Another chance: Striker Marouane Chamakh has moved to West Ham on a loan deal.

He may be instantly in Allardyce's plans, as he is a decent striker but has under-performed so far during his time at Arsenal. 

He said this on West Ham's official website: "I didn't have opportunities to play recently, but I did well before and I know I am a very good striker. We played only one striker at Arsenal, so I didn't play a lot, so I hope to do so more with West Ham."

Joe Cole, Liverpool to West Ham - undisclosed fee:

The England winger has found chances hard to come by at Liverpool, after moving on a season long loan deal French club Lille last year and coming back last year in August. 

Back at home: Winger Joe Cole has returned to West Ham, the club that he left in 2003.

 

Angelo Henriquez, Manchester United to Wigan - rest of the season loan:

Wigan have confirmed the loan signing of Manchester United's 18-year-old Chilean striker Angelo Henriquez. 

Potential: Chilean striker Angelo Henriquez has signed on-loan for Wigan.

The loan move was expected, and it will bolster Wigan's attacking options as they look to stay up and avoid relegation again this season. It will also provide solid experience for the teenage striker who was signed by United in the summer.


Wigan manager Roberto Martinez told Wigan's official website: "We're really excited about Angelo because he is a very young man with a huge potential; he's a goalscorer with clever movement inside the box and has had a very successful time with his former club Universidad."


"This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I am really excited after the manager has given this chance for me to prove myself," the teenage striker said.
"Now I need to work to try and earn my place in the team."

Tottenham have confirmed that they have signed Schalke midfielder Lewis Holtby, and he will join the team in July at the end of the season. 

Schalke midfielder Lewis Holtby has been training in Qatar with his club.

Tottenham have beaten off tough competition from Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton for the signature of Schalke's highly-rated midfielder.

The Germany Under-21 captain will join Spurs, subject to a medical in the summer, and will see out the remainder of the season with the Bundesliga club.

Transfer Rumours:

Sunderland are ready to sign former Everton midfielder Tim Cahill on loan from U.S. side New York Red Bulls. QPR are also interested in his services.

Aston Villa are ready to make a £6million bid for Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott as they look to solidify their defence.

Lescott is not playing regularly enough, and Villa and Norwich are ready to make it happen.

Everton and Manchester United are both looking at £2.5million-rated Molde defender Vegard Forren, while reports suggest that Fulham have taken their interest one step further and make a formal bid for the player.

Eye-catching: Vegard Forren has caught the eye of David Moyes, while United are interested in him and Fulham have reportedly made a bid.

Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder's agent said that his client is "interested" in a move to the Premier League, but wants to play for a top club after reports suggested that QPR were looking at him and were ready to make a move for him. 

Where to next? Sneijder is interested in a move to the EPL, but the question remains: Where?

Liverpool and Manchester United are among the clubs who want him.

Sunderland are lining up a £5million bid for Swansea striker Danny Graham. 

Sunderland are interested in signing Swansea striker Danny Graham, along with Reading and Norwich.

QPR are interesting in making a bid for French right-back Anthony Reveillere.

Tottenham have put young midfielder Jake Livermore "available for loan", but Spurs may consider a permanent deal as QPR and Fulham are both keen on the player.

They may try and sign Toulouse's defensive midfielder Moussa Sissoko on a pre-contract agreement (just like Holtby) as there is more interest from other EPL sides including Chelsea and Newcastle.

Wanted: Tottenham are ready to sign Sissoko on a pre-contract agreement amid interest from other clubs.

FA Cup 3rd Round Ties - Saturday, Sunday:

Saturday's matches (Matches with EPL teams involved ONLY)

Brighton vs Newcastle - LIVE at 12:45pm 

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew will be hoping for a routine win from his side tomorrow afternoon as they travel to Brighton.

He will have to understand that it will not be easy for the visitors though, especially as they will be away from home, and lost this time last season.

Newcastle will be without striker Papiss Cisse and captain Fabricio Coloccini who both picked up knocks.

Ivory Coast international midfielder Cheick Tiote is also unavailable for the match, as he left for the African Cup of Nations after playing on Wednesday in the 2-1 defeat to Everton. 

Ba's transfer to Chelsea has left a gap in attack, while defender Steven Taylor (hamstring) and Yohan Cabaye (groin) are both out of contention.

Ryan Taylor and a quartlet of midfielders; Hatem Ben Arfa (hamstring), Jonas Gutierrez, Dan Gosling and Haris Vuckic (all knee) are also out. 

This is great news for the home side Brighton, who will fancy their chances against a weakened Newcastle side.

FACT: Brighton and Newcastle have met 4 tiimes before in the FA Cup, with the latter losing the last 3 TIES.

FACT: Newcastle have not won an away match in the FA Cup since January 2006 (0-2 against Cheltenham)

These stats and the squad does not go in Newcastle's favour. But the question will be whether they can perform despite injuries and facts going against them...

Aston Villa vs Ipswich Town - LIVE at 3pm

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert will be hoping that his three attacking minded players will be fit and back in contention for tomorrow's home match against Ipswich.

Darren Bent (hamstring), Gabriel Agbonlahor (thigh) and winger Charles N'Zogbia (knee) have been back in training today, and will be assessed by Lambert tomorrow morning to see whether they are 100% able to play.

However, he will be without sidelined defenders Ron Vlaar (calf), Nathan Baker (hamstring) and Richard Dunne (knee) along with midfielder Ashley Westwood (ankle).

FACT: Aston Villa and Ipswich have both met 4 times before in the FA Cup (coincidence?) with both sides winning twice.

FACT: Aston Villa have won their last 5 FA Cup matches at Villa Park.

FACT: Ipswich have lost their last 10 (FA Cup) matches against teams from a higher division, and have only won 1 out of their last 23 ties.

Villa will be hoping for a big win tomorrow, especially at home because their fans need it after the recent performances of late in the EPL where they find themselves in relegation contention. 
Ipswich will need to start the match off well if they want to progress into the 4th Round, and it will not be easy but if they can pressure the Villa defence... who knows what can happen..

(MORE TO FOLLOW SOON)