Spending through the roof as English clubs splash out

Records tumbled as Fernando Torres completed his 50m move to Chelsea from Liverpool, and the Merseysiders replaced the Spanish striker with the 35m purchase of Newcastle United's Andy Carroll.

Add into that equation, the already done deals of defender David Luiz from Benfica to Chelsea for 18m and striker Luis Suarez from Ajax to Anfield for 23m and it is clear that money was no object for the Premier League's big boys.

Last year a total of just 30m was spent by clubs in the January window, but this year that figure soared to what many believed last night could yet reach 215m.

Torres had sparked the transfer rush on Friday when he handed in a written transfer request after Chelsea had an initial offer of 35m turned down by Liverpool.

But money did eventually talk, with Liverpool accepting what is a British transfer fee record bid believed to be worth 50m late yesterday afternoon.

It was cash that Liverpool would then utilise themselves by smashing the transfer record for a British player as they paid a staggering 35m for Newcastle front man Carroll.

Torres last night said: "It has been two or three very hard days for me with leaving Liverpool.

"But at the end of the day, I am really happy because I am sure I am doing the right thing.

"Chelsea are a great club and people are expecting a lot of good things from me and I am ready for the challenge ahead."

Liverpool were also understood to have moved for Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam but nothing materialised and it was, in fact, Tottenham who came closest to snatching the player away. Harry Redknapp made an eleventh hour bid for the Scottish international only to be denied by a stubborn Blackpool board who decided the deal was not good enough for them as they battle to stay in the Premier League.

Blackpool were one of the busiest clubs on deadline day as they completed the loan signing of former Sheffield United striker James Beattie from Rangers and snapped up Andy Reid from Sunderland for an undisclosed fee.

It was a frustrating day for Newcastle supporters as they not only saw their star striker sold, they also saw their club struggle to bring in anyone as a replacement.

The closest they came was with a cheeky, failed late 10m bid for their former midfielder Charles N'Zogbia, now at Wigan.

Liverpool had been at the centre of the first major piece of transfer business yesterday morning when Paul Konchesky, after an unhappy start to his Anfield career, made a loan move to Nottingham Forest. They also allowed fellow defender Daniel Ayala to join Forest's East Midlands rivals Derby, but a hamstring injury means the loan move will be put on hold until next month.

Bolton clinched the loan signing of Daniel Sturridge from Chelsea until the end of the season, while the Trotters insisted in-form striker Johan Elmander would be staying put.

Newcastle confirmed they had signed Stephen Ireland on loan from Aston Villa, despite earlier reports claiming the deal was in doubt.

Former Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins joined Birmingham on loan from Russian club Rubin Kazan, while Aston Villa confirmed the loan signing of American international Michael Bradley from Borussia Monchengladbach.

Blackburn signed Argentinian midfielder Mauro Formica on a three-year deal and also Barcelona youngster Ruben Rochina for an undisclosed fee. Striker El-Hadji Diouf was in Scotland completing a projected loan move to Rangers.

Stoke City agreed to sell striker Tuncay to Wolfsburg on a three-and-half-year deal and Sunderland's out-of-favour defender Paulo Da Silva completed his switch to Real Zaragoza for an undisclosed fee.

Wolves signed former Bristol City goalkeeper Adriano Basso on a short-term contract until the end of the season, with Andy Keogh moving in the opposite direction on a three-month loan.

Everton confirmed later on last night that they had signed Greek teenager Apostolos Vellios. The 19-year-old striker has joined from Greek side Iraklis Thessaloniki for what was reported to be a nominal fee.

Vellios, who has scored seven goals in 14 appearances for the Greece Under-19 team, has penned an agreement until 2014.

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