Transfer rumours

As usual there was much excitement in the last couple of days before the transfer window closed, but this year it was even more than usual due to the goings on at Real Madrid. Michael Owen was finally forced to bite the bullet and move on to Newcastle, who paid a whopping €25 million or so for him, round about twice what Madrid bought him for a year ago. The money was immediately invested though in Sevilla's Sergio Ramos, the first Spanish signing since Florentino Pérez took over the club, the deal finally being tied up shortly before the deadline after Madrid paid the full €27 million buy out clause. Sevilla had been holding out as well until they found a replacement, and after several failed attempts (Lugano, Kompany, Marchena, Lopo...) they finally agreed terms for Standard Liège's defender Dragutinovic. Meanwhile Mallorca were completing their squad with the signing of Choutos, Yordi and Doni, Celta took on Lequi and De Ridder, Deportivo found a new Pandiani in Sebastian Taborda and Málaga tied up Anderson Silva. Talking of Silvas, Sevilla's Darío is on his way to the Premier League to play for Portsmouth, where he will find French youth international Franck Songo'o (son of Jacques), who Barcelona let go for €300,000 plus a share of future profits. The Catalans also offloaded Rochemback to Middlesbrough, saving them a headache over what to do with the Brazilian midfielder on his return from Sporting Lisbon. (01.09.05)