Deportivo de La Coruna defender Alvaro Arbeloa, 24, and promising Malaga youngster Francisco Manuel Duran, 18, both wrapped up moves to Anfield within hours of the window closing at midnight on Wednesday.

    Arbeloa admitted the move had taken him by surprise. "For me this is a beautiful challenge and I hope everything goes well," he said. "It's a huge leap for me."

    Liverpool also secured the registration of Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano after FIFA ruled that the former Corinthians and West Ham player could sign for his third club in less than a year.

    The World Cup star will however have to wait for a final green light from the English Premier League, which has asked for more time to examine the deal.

    Mascherano was signed by West Ham along with Argentina striker Carlos Tevez at the start of the season but neither player has made an impact.

    Manchester United failed to close out moves for its two main targets, Southampton teenager Gareth Bale and Bayern Munich's Owen Hargreaves, but manager Sir Alex Ferguson is confident the pair will come to Old Trafford this summer.

    Elsewhere, Matthew Upson moved from Birmingham to West Ham.

    Upson has been a transfer target for several Premier League clubs but the Blues finally accepted a bid from the relegation-threatened Hammers. West Ham, which has picked up six players during the transfer window, will pay 6 million pounds (US$11.7 million), rising to 7.5 million pounds depending on appearances.

    Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce hired Michael Ball from PSV Eindhoven until the end of the season. The defender also had spells with Rangers and Everton.

    The midseason transfer window has hardly been a frenzy of big money signings. The most expensive move was Ashley Young's 9.65 million pound move from Watford to Aston Villa.

    Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger voiced faith in his current squad, especially a group of youngsters he describes as the best he has seen since arriving in north London just over a decade ago.

    "From the back to the forwards you have class, everywhere you have good players," Wenger said after watching his young guns sink Tottenham to reach the League Cup final on Wednesday night.

    Chelsea, in contrast, may be regretting its failure to bring in an additional defender after Ashley Cole suffered a knee injury which, it is feared, could ruled him out for the season.

    (Source: Shanghai Daily/Agencies)