Loan deals look set to be highlight of deadline day

Transfer deadline day was shaping up to be one of the quietest since the window was introduced after a summer which has seen an unprecedented reluctance to spend in the Barclays Premier League era.

The only club to have bucked the trend, mega-rich Manchester City, have seemingly concluded their business for the year, meaning the prospect of massive sums changing hands before tonight's 6.00pm cut-off appeared slim.

Football finance expert Joe McLean, partner at chartered accountants Grant Thornton, believes there will be plenty of movement today but few fees of any sort paid.

"It would be wrong to say there won't be any transfers at all," he said. "I still expect a few reasonably-sized deals to go ahead, but what you can be certain of is that there will be a whole plethora of loan deals and exchange transactions."

One such move could see Stoke take former Chelsea and Barcelona star Eidur Gudjohnsen from Monaco for the season, with Potters chairman Peter Coates confirming he was trying to complete the deal.

One of the few sides ready to splash the cash are Birmingham and they were today closing in on the signing of Spartak Moscow defender Martin Jiranek, whose contract in Russia expires in December.

Arsenal had to decide whether it was worth making a fresh bid for Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer, who they have been chasing for some time.

Liverpool are trying to boost their attacking options and manager Roy Hodgson continues to be linked with West Ham's Carlton Cole, while full-back Paul Konchesky's arrival from Fulham looks to be formality.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is in the tricky position of having to sell before he can buy, but one target, AC Milan's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, today joined Schalke 04. Robbie Keane would be sacrificed for any new arrival, with West Ham confirmed admirers.

The most expensive transfer of the day may take place at Sunderland, who have reportedly opened negotiations with Rennes over Ghana's Asamoah Gyan. North east rivals Newcastle still have defender Steven Taylor on the transfer list, but the clubs that could see the most comings and goings before the window closes are Stoke and Blackpool.