By Stuart Condie
European football's winter transfer window appeared to be closing quietly Monday, with none of the big-money moves that have dominated recent seasons.
The Premier League's infamously profligate clubs were mostly involved with loan transfers as the window closed in England, with Fulham one of the most active after picking up AS Roma striker Stefano Okaka and Aston Villa fullback Nicky Shorey until the end of the season.
The west London club, which is owned by Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed, also signed teenage midfielder Christopher Buchtmann from Liverpool and let Senegal forward Diomansy Kamara leave on loan for Scottish Premier League side Celtic.
Celtic took Bayern Munich defender Edson Braafheid for the rest of the season and also sealed a deal to take Ireland captain Robbie Keane from Tottenham on loan until the end of the season.
Keane rejoined Spurs from Liverpool a year ago but failed to recapture the form that previously made him a fan favourite. He has scored nine goals in 25 appearances this season.
Manager Harry Redknapp spent about 40 million pounds during last season's January transfer window, but, aside from Keane's late move, Spurs had yet to announce any business beyond the departure of fullbacks Alan Hutton and Kyle Naughton on loan to Sunderland and Middlesbrough respectively.
Auditing firm KPMG said the drop in Premier League clubs' total monthly expenditure from 190.5 million pounds in the 2008-09 season to about 41.5 million pounds showed the financial problems facing them.
"Whilst the UK has just recently exited recession, it appears that football may just be entering it," said Geoff Mesher, head of KPMG's forensic sports industry team. "Financial uncertainty still exists for a number of English football clubs and many football club chairmen will look at the current plight of Portsmouth."
After losing the backing of a wealthy owner, Portsmouth is last in the standings. It is only allowed to sign players on loan after defaulting on transfer payments to other clubs and failing to pay players' wages on time.
It faces a court hearing next week that could result in its finances effectively being frozen, a situation that would result in a nine-point deduction and almost certain relegation.
Portsmouth sold backup goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to Stoke on Monday to further reduce its debt. The 22-year-old Bosnia international signed a 4 1/2-year contract shortly before the transfer window closed.
"Asmir is someone we have been tracking for some time and we believe that potentially he is the best young keeper in the country," Stoke manager Tony Pulis said.
But with Manchester United and Liverpool heavily in debt as a result of their takeover by American businessmen, there were fewer transfers than usual involving the big clubs.
The highest-profile permanent transfer in England - and arguably Europe - was South Africa striker Benni McCarthy's switch from Blackburn to West Ham for an undisclosed fee.
British papers said McCarthy cost about 2.5 million pounds.
"Although I could have gone to other clubs, this was the only one I wanted," McCarthy said. "They wanted me before. It didn't happen but now the opportunity arises again and this time I am going to prove myself."
Mido's agent said the Egyptian striker joined McCarthy in east London on loan until the end of the season.
Manchester City spent a little its huge wealth buying winger Adam Johnson from Middlesbrough on a 4½-year contract.
Johnson joined for an undisclosed fee and will wear the No. 11 shirt vacated by Robinho when the Brazil forward went on loan to Santos last week.
"We are delighted that Adam has chosen to come here," City coach Roberto Mancini said. "He is a very good player with fantastic potential, and as a club we are always keen to sign British talent."
Wigan signed Victor Moses from Crystal Palace on a 3½-year contract for an undisclosed transfer fee after the England under-19 forward hit six goals in his last nine matches in the second-tier League Championship.
Elsewhere, Ivory Coast striker Arouna Kone joined struggling German club Hannover on loan from Sevilla, Turkish side Ankaragucu signed Cameroon midfielder Geremi from Newcastle, and Greek club Larissa took Gabon forward Daniel Cousin on loan from Hull.
Inter Milan appears set to loan Brazilian midfielder Amantino Mancini to rival AC Milan, with the option of a permanent move at the end of the season.
The Gazzetta dello Sport reported on its Web site that AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani has confirmed the move, while the paper also said Fiorentina midfielder Martin Jorgensen has flown home to Denmark to rejoin Aarhus, the club he left in 1997 to move to Italy.
FC Porto's attempt to sign striker Kleber from Brazilian side Cruzeiro broke down over a failure to reach agreement on the contract length and wages.
Bundesliga club Mainz signed Slovakia defender Radoslav Zabavnik from Russian club Terek Grozny and brought in German defender Malik Fathi on loan from Spartak Moscow.
Mainz said it will give the 29-year-old Zabavnik a contract until the end of the season, with an option to extend it through June 2012.
In France, Lorient signed defender Gregory Bourillon from first division rival Paris Saint-Germain.
Lorient said that the 25-year-old Bourillon has joined Lorient on a 4 1/2-year contract but did not disclose any financial details of the move.
AP