SPORTS EDITOR PAT MOONEY REFLECTS ON A MEMORABLE DAY OF ACTION OFF THE FIELD AT WHITE HART LANE: TOTTENHAM were one of the most active clubs in the country on Manic Monday – transfer deadline day – being involved in deals worth more than £53million. Spurs

SPORTS EDITOR PAT MOONEY REFLECTS ON A MEMORABLE DAY OF ACTION OFF THE FIELD AT WHITE HART LANE

TOTTENHAM were one of the most active clubs in the country on Manic Monday - transfer deadline day - being involved in deals worth more than £53million.

Spurs hit the ground running early on Monday morning with confirmation on the Stock Exchange that they had signed Russia striker Roman Pavlyuchenko from Spartak Moscow on a five-year deal for £14 million.

Shortly afterwards, the Lilywhites announced they had bought Croatia defender Vedran Corluka from Manchester City for £8.5m on a six-year deal.

But, the main headlines involved want-away striker Dimitar Berbatov, who finally joined long-time favourites Manchester United for £30.75million in the final hour of the transfer window. United also allowed young striker Fraizer Campbell to go on loan for a year to the Lane.

Earlier in the day, City, who themselves had been taken over by a billionaire sheikh for £210m, had a bid of £34million for Berbatov accepted by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.

But the Bulgarian did not get an opportunity to meet with City boss Mark Hughes despite flying to Manchester. Instead, Berbatov was met at the airport by Sir Alex Ferguson - apparently without Spurs' permission - and driven to United's training headquarters at Carrington, where he spent three hours before having a medical.

The Bulgarian arrived at Old Trafford in the evening for further discussions with chief executive David Gill and club solicitor Maurice Watkins. The deal was finally concluded 10 minutes before the transfer deadline.

Wigan and England striker Emile Heskey was also spotted in north London early on Monday, possibly having talks with Tottenham as insurance in case the Pavlyuchenko deal fell through.

One man who is glad the window has finally closed is Spurs boss Juande Ramos. Having seen Berbatov's protracted move to United overshadow events at the Lane all summer, Ramos this week called for a change in the transfer rules.

"The thing that worries me most is the system," he said. "The league started on August 16 but the window does not shut until September 1. Therefore, you have to play three games before it shuts and players are uncertain where they are going to be playing and team-mates are thinking which players will go and whom will come in. That means they are not fully focused on their work. We have been playing without strikers because the transfer window has left things open.

"I would prefer that, once the league has started, you don't have a player playing for one team and playing for another the next week. Berbatov's situation has certainly been uncomfortable."

Spurs, whose next league game is against Aston Villa at the Lane on Monday week, have been drawn against Wisla Krakow in the Uefa Cup. They start their defence of the Carling Cup away to Newcastle on September 24.

pat.mooney@hamhigh.co.uk