Jo leads charge as deadline looms

THE final hours of the January transfer window made an inevitably frenetic start yesterday, as Premier League clubs tried desperately to bulk out their squads ahead of today's 5pm deadline.

Everton moved to add depth to their striking resources by signing Jo, the Manchester City forward, on loan for the rest of the season. The Brazilian joined from CSKA Moscow last summer but has failed to make any sort of impression, scoring just twice. David Moyes, however, was in dire need of additional firepower having been forced to play for almost six weeks without any recognised forwards.

City also agreed to let defender Tal Ben Haim leave Eastlands in search of first team football, with the Israeli international joining Sunderland on loan for the rest of the season.