Transfer frenzy continues unabated

AS this crazy, crazy January transfer window moved into its last day, there was no sign of a let up in the frenzied activity.

By midnight last night, with 24 hours still to go before the window closes, Championship teams had completed a total of 111 deals.

The 20 incoming transfer deals where the fee has been revealed already total nearly £15 million.

A further 27 deals involving undisclosed fees, an increasing trend in transfer dealings it seems, probably take the total investment in the combined Championship playing strength to well over £20 million so far.

Biggest January investors so far would seem to be Queens Park Rangers, who have recruited nine new players, seven permanently and two loan signings.

Plymouth Argyle have been the next most active with seven new additions, though they`ve also lost a few in the process.

Leicester City have signed six new players, three on loan and Preston North End have added four permanent signings to their squad, including Richard Chaplow from the Albion.

Of Albion`s main promotion rivals, Crystal Palace and Stoke City have been the biggest players.

The Potters have spent a reported £2.7 million on permanent deals for three loanees, Ryan Shawcross (£1 million from Manchester United), Danny Pugh (£500,000 from Preston) and Leon Cort (£1.2 million from Palace).

Palace themselves have signed Neil Danns (Blues), Shaun Derry (Leeds) and Clint Hill (Stoke). Our old friend Neil Warnock has also recruited John Halls from Reading on loan.

Of the other promotion candidates, Watford have made three signings, though they`ve lost Marlon King to Wigan and have been forced to cut short Callum Davenport`s loan from West Ham because of injury.

Wolves have also made three signings, while Bristol City and Charlton have made one each.

Albion`s only confirmed signing so far is a permanent deal for loanee Sherjill MacDonald. The signings of Czech goalkeeper Michael Danek and South Korean midfielder Kim Do-Hoen were due to be completed yesterday, but by midnight last night there had been no official confirmation from the club that either deal was complete.

Scottish side Livingston are still hoping to get a last-minute offer from the Baggies for 20-year-old goalscoring winger Graham Dorrans, who impressed on trial at The Hawthorns last week.

Albion have already sanctioned outgoing loan deals for Stuart Nicholson (Wrexham) and Tininho (Barnsley) and there`s still talk of Neil Clement going to Fulham.

Additionally, £800,000 was pocketed for the sale of Richard Chaplow to Preston.

Ronnie Wallwork left for Sheffield Wednesday on a free and yesterday came the news that John Hartson had been released.