the deadline looms All quiet in the Charlton transfer deadline world mid afternoon in London and the start of the work day in Chicago.

Jason Euell is expected to sign on the dotted line for Boro today, but that surprisingly hasn't been confirmed yet. One website is predicting that Birmingham are about to make a last gasp attempt to "persuade the Addicks to sell" Marcus Bent (more). Oh, I do hope so.

Richard Murray was quoted yesterday, whilst at Lingfield races as saying "This is the busiest and most expensive summer I’ve known in my time as chairman," He also hinted that one more player may arrive today and it might be a striker if the lazy Bent does end up leaving.

Elsewhere Spurs have signed Steed Malbranque from Fulham, with Wayne Routledge going the other way in a loan deal but it is West Ham who made the biggest splash so far with the reported signing of Argentinian world cup stars Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano on a years loan.

'Arry Redknapp's Pompski have signed two more players in the form of Andrew Cole from Man City for an initial £500,000 (rising to a £1m, depending on appearances, which sounds a lot to me) and Hajduk Split midfielder Niko Kranjcar is expected to be unveiled at Fratton Park later. When do you think some of that dirty Russion lucre will be spent on a roof for that away end?

Ashley Cole (yawn) will finally become a Chelsea player later and Robert Huth and Jonathan Woodgate both signed for busy Middlesbrough. Perhaps Euell couldn't get his Bentley is the car-park? Huth cost £6m quid and Woodgate is on loan. With their injury records, they should have signed for us!

Personally I was sorry to see Giuseppe Rossi sign for Newcastle last night on loan to January, I was secretly hoping Fergie might give him to us.  ¶ 11:08