Hargreaves in shock switch as deadline chaos looms
• Mertesacker jets in for Arsenal medical
• Spurs to conclude signing of Parker
MEGA wealthy Manchester City caused the biggest stir on the penultimate day of the transfer window without even spending a penny after they agreed a deal to bring free agent Owen Hargreaves to the Etihad Stadium.
The England international midfielder joined Manchester United in the summer of 2007, but a series of knee injuries restricted him to just 26 starts in four years at the Old Trafford club.
The 30-year-old managed just 10 minutes on his comeback appearance last November before breaking down with a hamstring injury.
United opted not to renew his contract and the former Champions League winner with Bayern Munich resorted to proving his fitness in a series of videos posted on YouTube in a bid to attract an offer from a Premier League club.
Keen to bolster his midfield options, City boss Roberto Mancini is set to offer Hargreaves a pay-as-you-play incentivised deal after he underwent a medical yesterday.
Arsenal look set to be the most active club today with a number of deals expected to be rubber stamped. Korea striker Chu Young Park arrived from Monaco yesterday and he is set to be joined by highly experienced Germany international centre-half Per Mertesacker, who underwent a medical last night ahead of a £9m move, and Fenerbahce’s Brazil left-back Andre Santos.
The Gunners are also set to test Rennes’ resolve with a club record bid of £25m for France midfielder Yann M’Vila and are locked in a battle with Spurs for England centre-half Gary Cahill.
Spurs are ready to offer Cameroon international Sebastien Bassong in part exchange, while Arsenal have cooled interest with the Trotters refusing to significantly lower their £17m valuation of the player.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, meanwhile, confirmed he expected to conclude a deal
for West Ham midfielder Scott Parker, hours before the east
London club revealed the England midfielder had submitted a formal transfer request.
Redknapp could look to generate extra funds by offloading striker Peter Crouch to Sunderland for £10m and midfielder Wilson Palacios to Stoke as he attempts to make a late bid to persuade Joe Cole, who yesterday held talks with French champions Lille, to join him at White Hart Lane.