Deadline looms as Pompey chase Defoe

Portsmouth were involved in a race against time to sign England striker Jermain Defoe, pictured in 2007, from Premier League rivals Tottenham as the final day of the January transfer window neared its end here Thursday.

Portsmouth were involved in a race against time to sign England striker Jermain Defoe from Premier League rivals Tottenham as the final day of the January transfer window neared its end here Thursday.

Defoe, something of a bit-part player at White Hart Lane this season behind Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane, didn't feature in the provisional 30-man squad announced by new England coach Fabio Capello for next week's international friendly against Switzerland at Wembley.

Were Defoe, who played under Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp at West Ham, to join the south coast club it would pave the way for Benjani Mwaruwari to join Manchester City.

But the Zimbabwean forward will only leave the south coast club if Defoe signs with Pompey.

Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson was also close to signing Ecuador striker Felipe Caicedo, 19, from Swiss side Basle with midfielder Ousmane Dabo leaving City for Italian club Lazio.

Coming to Eastlands was Filippo Mancini, the 17-year-old son of Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini.

Also heading to Lazio was Newcastle defender David Rozenhal, in a loan move for the rest of the season.

Redknapp was in no doubt about Defoe's potential value to Portsmouth.

"He will be a great signing for us. He needs to play," said Redknapp.

"Jermain is a top player. He's too good not to play and I think he's a fantastic goalscorer. It will be great to have him here."

Sunderland signed Republic of Ireland midfielder Andy Reid from Charlton in a deal that could cost four million pounds with defender Greg Halford making the opposite journey, on a loan deal, to the London-based Championship club.

Bolton, like Sunderland just outside the relegation zone, brought in Poland striker Grzegorz Rasiak on loan from Southampton for the rest of the season while allowing midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson to be loaned to Spanish club Deportivo Lo Coruna.

Roy Hodgson, manager of second-bottom Fulham, used the contacts gained from his previous job in charge of Finland to bring international duo Jari Litmanen and Toni Kallio to Craven Cottage.

Basement club Derby, who've conceded 51 league goals so far this season, looked to strengthen their back four by signing Everton veteran Alan Stubbs.

The Rams earlier brought in Rangers reserve goalkeeper Roy Carroll, who had a spell with Manchester United, a move that paved the way for Stephen Bywater's departure to Ipswich on loan.

Elsewhere, teenage Italian striker Fabuo Zamblera became the first signing of Kevin Keegan's second spell as Newcastle United manager, the 17-year-old joining from Atalanta.

In Scotland, Celtic signed Dundee United midfielder Barry Robson while selling Czech international midfielder Jiri Jarosik to Russian side FC Samara on a two-year-deal.

Although midnight (0000GMT) is the official end of the transfer window, clubs can seek extensions to complete signings already in progress.