STANDARD
Capital giants in last-gasp transfer frenzy
James Olley and Tom CollomosseLondon clubs were today leading the way in a last-minute scramble to secure new signings before tonight's 11pm transfer deadline.
This is the 92nd day clubs have been able to complete transactions for players yet a whole host of teams were looking to squeeze through deals.
After a summer of complex, drawn-out transfers such as Cesc Fabregas's move from Arsenal to Barcelona, today's negotiations were being tackled at breakneck speed.
Arsenal and Tottenham, still reeling from crushing defeats at the weekend, were among those most frenetic.
The Gunners have made a club record £22million bid for Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila and are hoping to conclude a deal before tonight's deadline but Rennes are holding out for a fee between £25m and £30m.
Meanwhile, Nicklas Bendtner's father and agent, Thomas, was in Stoke to thrash out a move expected to be worth around £9m.
And, following the signing of South Korean striker Chu Young Park, the under-performing Marouane Chamakh also looked to be heading out of Emirates Stadium, a year after his arrival, on a loan move back to France.
Per Mertesacker and Andre Santos should also have their moves to Emirates Stadium - from Werder Bremen and Fenerbahce respectively - finalised today.
Should Arsenal's move falter for M'Vila, Sochaux midfielder Marvin Martin and Lille midfielder Eden Hazard are possible alternatives.
The club have also enquired about Yossi Benayoun from Chelsea but the Israeli playmaker is low down on their list of priorities.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp attempted to end Luka Modric's hopes of joining Chelsea today by claiming the Croatian was certain to be a Tottenham player for the rest of the year as the club also sought to finalise deals for Scott Parker and Gary Cahill.
Chelsea have been pursuing Modric throughout the summer and although the playmaker is desperate to move to Spurs' London rivals, chairman Daniel Levy has so far stood his ground, rejecting offers of £22m, £27m and £30m for the 25-year-old.
Redknapp said: "The chairman has held firm and Luka is not for sale, so he's not going. That's great. We need him here. It won't happen, no chance. One million per cent, it will not happen."
Cahill has a £17m release clause in his contract but a £12m package might be enough to persuade Bolton to do business - especially as Cahill has only a year to run on his contract.
Arsenal still have an interest but Spurs are now the more likely buyers. They had originally planned to offer £9m plus Sebastien Bassong, who is no longer wanted by Redknapp.
If Bolton were to resist all offers for Cahill, Blackburn's Chris Samba would be an alternative for Spurs.
Parker, in the England squad for Friday's crucial Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria in Sofia, was having a medical and putting the final touches to his £5m move from Upton Park to White Hart Lane, having submitted a transfer request yesterday.
West Ham had resisted advances for the 30-year-old, both last January and over much of the summer, but Hammers co-owner David Sullivan admitted the club could no longer hold onto him.
"We worked very hard to keep Scott here, but in the end you can't hold on to a totally unhappy player," he said. "It is with deepest regret, that we have to say goodbye to him. He has given the club great service for four years and for that he deserves our respect."
Queens Park Rangers boss Neil Warnock, having already signed Armand Traore from Arsenal, Joey Barton from Newcastle and Luke Young from Aston Villa in the last week, continued strengthening his squad today.
Backed by new owner Tony Fernandes, the club were closing in on the signing of England international Shaun Wright-Phillips from Manchester City.
And they were also in talks with another City outcast, Craig Bellamy, over a proposed move to Loftus Road.
Former West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand could return to London with Rangers and they were also exploring the possibility of signing unwanted Tottenham duo Jermaine Jenas and Bassong.
QPR are also trying to fend off West Ham in the chase for Arsenal's Henri Lansbury.
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce wants to take the England Under-21s midfielder on loan but Warnock is prepared to offer £1.8m to secure a permanent deal.
Lansbury made a brief appearance in Arsenal's drubbing at Old Trafford but has failed to make his mark at Emirates Stadium and was sent on loan to Watford and Norwich.Fulham had a £10.6m bid accepted for FC Twente's Bryan Ruiz and were holding talks with the Costa Rica striker in London.
Boss Martin Jol, who has been pursuing Dnipro's Derek Boateng, would also like to secure the loan services of French striker Andre Pierre Gignac, who has not settled at current club Marseille.
Also on the Dutchman's shopping list for the final day of the window is Czech Republic defender Zdenek Grygera from Juventus.
Chelsea have spent big already this summer but in addition to their interest in Modric, boss Andre Villas-Boas was today considering a late £10m move for Everton's 17-year-old midfield prodigy Ross Barkley.
West Ham winger Junior Stanislas was looking likely to move to another relegated club, Birmingham, but the East Londoners were working to bring in a couple of recruits.
And Allardyce, who has signed eight players since taking over earlier in the summer, was chasing a permanent deal for Hamburg's Ivorian defender Guy Demel.
However, a move for Nice's versatile Gabon international Eric Mouloungui was looking unlikely.
Away from the capital, Liverpool have completed the signing of Uruguay defender Sebastian Coates from Nacional.
Anfield reject Joe Cole signed for Lille on a season-long loan today, after reports claimed he was also speaking to Aston Villa.
Kenny Dalglish's high-flying side have also accepted a bid from Bolton for French striker David N'gog.
Newcastle have failed in a bid to sign Freiburg's Papiss Demba Cisse, according to the German club's director of sport Dirk Dufner.
www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23982668-capital-giants-in-last-gasp-transfer-frenzy.do