Alan Hutton joins Craig Gordon at Sunderland in loan move

SCOTLAND'S two most expensive footballers are now both on the books at Sunderland after Alan Hutton secured a loan deal from Tottenham Hotspur to the Stadium of Light on a relatively slow transfer deadline day south of the Border.

Hutton, who moved to Spurs from Rangers in January 2008 for a fee of 9 million, has signed a contract with Steve Bruce's men until the end of the season. The pacy full-back will link up with Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, his international team-mate who was also the subject of a 9m move when he joined from Hearts in the summer of 2007.

Having only made one Barclays Premier League start for Harry Redknapp this season, Hutton was always likely to seal a move away from White Hart Lane yesterday. He was not available for selection for last night's league match against Stoke but could make his Sunderland debut in Saturday's match with Wigan.

Bruce was delighted at capturing the 25-year-old. "We have been particularly short of defensive options of late so Alan will come in at a very opportune time and will provide us with vital reinforcements," said the Black Cats manager. "We have tracked him for some time so we're delighted to have brought him here until the end of the season.

"I'm sure he will have a big part to play between now and May."

Premier League strugglers West Ham United were the big movers on deadline day. The transfer cut-off south of the border was earlier than in Scotland and the Hammers managed to recruit three strikers before 5pm.

The east London club, battling to avoid relegation, signed South African striker Benni McCarthy, Egypt forward Mido and Brazilian frontman Ilan in a bid to boost their prospects of staying up.

McCarthy, 32, joined on a permanent deal from Premier League rivals Blackburn Rovers, five years after a planned move to West Ham fell through. Mido, in signing a four-month deal, technically moved on loan from Middlesbrough, who hold his permanent contract, although he has been playing for Zamalek in Egypt on loan this season.

Brasilian Ilan, 29, joined the Hammers on loan until the end of the season from St Etienne, with the option of a possible two-year deal after that.

McCarthy has struggled to win a regular first-team place at Blackburn since Sam Allardyce became manager in December 2009. Revealing that he almost joined West Ham five years ago when he was at Portuguese club FC Porto, McCarthy said: "I had a disappointing experience when I thought I was going to be a West Ham player until Porto pulled out and I had to go back.

"I would have loved this to be my first Premier League club. I went to Blackburn instead but West Ham kept on pursuing me and eventually I am here."

In other moves in England, Wigan Athletic signed Crystal Palace's highly-promising 19-year-old Victor Moses for around 2.5m and Bolivia striker Marcelo Moreno joined the club on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk.

"He is a very mature young man and he knows exactly what he wants," said Wigan manager Roberto Martinez of Moses.

"He wants to know about the future plans for the football club and his role at the club, so for him to choose Wigan Athletic is fantastic news for our fans. It shows that we have a short-term aim to stay in the Premier League but a future plan as well."

Former England Under-21 winger, 22-year-old Adam Johnson moved from Middlesbrough to Manchester City on a four- and-half-year year deal for an undisclosed sum.

Stoke City also confirmed on their website they had signed Portsmouth's No 2 goalkeeper, Bosnian international Asmir Begovic, who had been cover for England keeper David James.

Fulham signed England defender Nicky Shorey on loan from Aston Villa, and also completed a loan deal for 20-year-old striker Stefano Okaka from AS Roma and the 100,000 signing of young Liverpool midfielder Christopher Buchtmann.

Daniel Cousin, the former Rangers striker, is on the move again after joining Greek side Larissa on loan until the end of the season, while Portsmouth striker David Nugent has extended his loan deal at Burnley until the end of the season.