Tottenham remain hopeful of Ryan Nelsen transfer

Ryan Nelson (GETTY IMAGES)

Tottenham were today hoping to complete the signing of Ryan Nelsen after the transfer deadline following the defender's release by Blackburn.

Spurs were awaiting international clearance after agreeing terms with the 34-year-old New Zealand captain, according to his agent.

Lyle Yorks, Nelsen's Washington-based representative from James Grant Sports, told the Washington Post: "We settled with Blackburn and have reached agreement with Spurs.

"We're just awaiting clearance. It's for six months, with a one-year option. It all unfolded quickly."

Nelsen, who is able to sign for a new club outside the transfer window because he is now a free agent, was in the final year of his Rovers deal and had had made just one appearance since April following a knee injury.

His move to Tottenham is something of a surprise considering that and his age, as was the north Londoners' swoop last night for Everton striker Louis Saha just before the January transfer window shut.

The pair will fill the void left by the departures of Sebastien Bassong, who joined Wolves on loan, and Roman Pavlyuchenko, who was today on the brink of completing his reported £8million move to Lokomotiv Moscow.

The Russian transfer window is still open, so Pavlyuchenko did not need to wrap up the formalities of the deal last night, with Lokomotiv today confirming only a medical remained to be conducted.

Everton, meanwhile, replaced Saha with Rangers' Nikica Jelavic and also took their former midfielder Steven Pienaar on loan from Spurs.

After completing their transfer business for the season, Barclays Premier League clubs must submit their 25-man squad lists for the remainder of the campaign by 5pm tomorrow.

They do, however, still have the option of loaning out players between February 7 and March 22 or selling to countries whose transfer windows have yet to close.

It is doubtful Manchester City will choose to exercise either option when it comes to Carlos Tevez, who they appear to be lumbered with until at least the summer.

Meanwhile, the Premier League have responded to Wigan boss Roberto Martinez's tirade against their decision to schedule a number of matches on transfer deadline day.

Martinez dropped star striker Hugo Rodallega to the bench for last night's 3-1 defeat at Tottenham after becoming unsettled by talk of him leaving the Latics.

He said: "It's just ridiculous. It affects human beings.

"It was a big day of speculation and that should never be bigger than the celebration of the game, which is playing football."

A Premier League spokesman told Press Association Sport: "It's incredibly tight to get away the fixture list as it is and we didn't really have any spare dates.

"So it was unfortunate but necessary."

PA