Top 10 Yorkshire winter transfer moves of the past

GARY HOOPER was expected to be confirmed as a Sheffield Wednesday player today as the Yorkshire transfer window, after a slow start, began to generate some big-money activity.
Barnsley to Everton: John StonesBarnsley to Everton: John Stones
Barnsley to Everton: John Stones

Hooper joined the Owls from Norwich City for a fee in the region of £3m, just a few days on from another major transaction up the M1 at Leeds United, who confirmed the sale of Sam Byram to West Ham for around £3.7m.

On previous occasions in New Year windows of yore, the tills have been ringing at other White Rose clubs with big incoming sales, while some have wafted the chequebook in a significant way.

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Here’s a look back at 10 previous big-money deals involving Yorkshire sides in the winter transfer window.

West Brom to Hull: Shane LongWest Brom to Hull: Shane Long
West Brom to Hull: Shane Long

2015: Dame N’Doye - Lokomotiv Moscow to Hull City, undisclosed.

Dame who?, Hull fans were entitled to ask when the Senegalese striker was brought in from Lokomotiv Moscow to aid their survival quest just over 12 months ago. The forward was not successful in that mission, but had his moments - scoring five times. Moved on amid the Tigers post-relegation cull in the summer of 2015, joining Trabzonspor for £2.2m. Now back in the Premier League at Sunderland on loan.

2014: Shane Long - West Brom to Hull City, £7m.

A case of second time lucky for Hull, with Long close to signing for the Tigers on deadline day in September, 2013 - he was at the club’s training ground when West Brom pulled the plug as their own pursuit of Romelu Lukaku faltered. Hull were rather more successful this time around and he joined fellow Irish internationals David Meyler, Robbie Brady, Paul McShane and Stephen Quinn. Now at Southampton and doing well.

Leeds to Norwich: Luciano BecchioLeeds to Norwich: Luciano Becchio
Leeds to Norwich: Luciano Becchio

2014: Nikica Jelavic - Everton to Hull City, £6.5m.

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The first big-money part of Hull’s ultimately successful mission to stay up in 2013-14. The Croatian arrived in search of regular football ahead of that summer’s World Cup in Germany, with Steve Bruce providing him with the platform - with the frontman firing four goals as the Tigers’ held onto their top-flight status. Joined West Ham last September.

2013: John Stones - Barnsley to Everton, £3m.

England’s most talked about and naturally gifted defender may have been one of the stories of the last summer window after Chelsea were repeatedly thwarted in their quest to land him, with Everton rebuffing their advances which stretched to a final offer of £37m. At the start of 2013, the Penistone lad was just establishing himself in the Reds’ line-up, before David Moyes came calling.

West Brom to Hull: Shane LongWest Brom to Hull: Shane Long
West Brom to Hull: Shane Long

The then Everton chief beat off interest from his Goodison Park successor Roberto Martinez - then at Wigan - to sign Stones, in one of the most outstanding pieces of window business on winter deadline day in 2013. Stones had been en route to Wigan before Everton made the plunge, with Moyes convinced of the young defender’s potential by Blues chief scout Tony Henry in the nick of time.

2013: Luciano Becchio - Leeds United to Norwich City - exchange deal.

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The Argentine made the increasingly familiar route from Elland Road to Carrow Road to join ex-Whites colleagues Bradley Johnson and Jonny Howson after sealing his move on winter deadline day, with Steve Morison involved in a seven-figure exchange deal. His contentious move out of Elland Road - hastened by the breakdown of his relationship with United’s then manager Neil Warnock - cost Norwich £2m on paper but only £200,000 in cash with Morrison heading the other way.

Becchio had a horror time in Norfolk, failing to score in 16 appearances in which had made just two league starts - and left a year early last autumn after his contract was severed by mutual consent. Morison fared a bit better at Leeds.

Leeds to Norwich: Luciano BecchioLeeds to Norwich: Luciano Becchio
Leeds to Norwich: Luciano Becchio

2013: Nick Blackman - Sheffield United to Reading, £1,2m.

The Blades marksman had been showing his promise at S2, hitting 14 goals for Danny Wilson’s side before Reading won the race for his services, with the forward rebuffing interest from Crystal Palace to join. Moved on from the Royals to Derby County in a £2m move at the start of January - spurning the advances of Sheffield Wednesday.

2012: Jonny Howson - Leeds United to Norwich City, undisclosed.

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In echoes of Byram’s move, another Leeds loving lad idolised by sections of fans in Howson moved onto Norwich having reluctantly came to the decision, admittedly tough, that he could not bank on securing top-flight football with Leeds. With his contract running down, he elected to move onto pastures new when opportunity knocked. Has since established himself as a regular for the Canaries and is a popular figure with supporters - as the Leeds faithful suspected he always would be when he moved.

2011: Matty Fryatt - Leicester City to Hull City, £1.2m.

Joined Hull in a £1.2m deal, rising to £1.6m to link up again with then Tigers chief Nigel Pearson, having helped Leicester City to promotion under him in 2009. Fryatt followed Peterborough United striker Aaron Maclean into the Tigers squad just weeks after a multi-million pound takeover of the Tigers by East Yorkshire businessman Assem Allam - and did his bit on the scoring front with Hull, although injuries ultimately bedevilled his career there.

2010: Scott McDonald - Celtic to Middlesbrough, £3.5m.

After weeks of speculation, the Hoops marksman added to Gordon Strachan’s ex-Parkhead contingent at Boro, joining ex-team-mates Stephen McManus, Barry Robson, Chris Killen and Willo Flood. Decidedly mixed time at Boro which ended ignominiously - left to join Millwall on a free transfer in 2013, having fallen out of favour on Teesside, with his big-money wages not helping when Boro were in retrenchment mode.

2010: Matthew Kilgallon - Sheffield United to Sunderland, £2m.

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The York-born ex-Leeds United defender, in his prime at 26, was brought in by then Black Cats manager Steve Bruce to bolster his side’s back-four options. Had an indifferent time on Wearside and failed to establish himself under Bruce’s successors, Martin O’Neill and Paolo di Canio. Now at Blackburn and approaching veteran status.