The 5 best Deadline Day captures by Ladbrokes Premiership clubs
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The fax machine made its bi-annual return to relevance in the Ladbrokes Premiership on a dramatic Deadline Day, with clubs from Inverness to Ibrox securing last-gasp deals for a host of exciting names.
So, without further ado, here are the five final-day signings set to impress this season.
Philippe Senderos to Rangers
There can be few players in the Scottish game with a pedigree to match the classy Swiss centre-back, who has won the FA Cup, played in a Champions League final and represented his national side in four major tournaments since 2006.
And having impressed at homeland giants Grasshopper Club Zurich last season, the 31-year-old heads to Ibrox enjoying his best form for several years.
All the signs point to Senderos and Rangers being an ideal fit, with Mark Warburton building a side of talented, experienced players with pedigree in the English Premier League, including Clint Hill, Joey Barton and Matt Gilks.
Luka Belic to Motherwell
While it’s Senderos’ past achievements which have Gers fans excited, it’s all about the future as far as the Well’s new loan acquisition from West Ham United is concerned.
The 20-year-old broke records and turned heads when he became the youngest ever player in the Serbian National League for capital club OFK Beograd back in 2012, with his versatile and creative nature making him an instant hit for Romanticari.
While first-team opportunities have been hard to come by since his arrival in east London last summer, his displays in the Under-23 Premier League have continued to boost Belic’s experience and flair footwork, and Motherwell fans are sure to see a gem of a player progress in the coming months.
Adam Barton to Partick Thistle
While Belic’s game is about skill and trickery, Partick Thistle’s Deadline Day catch can be filed under the categories of ‘no-nonsense’ and ‘robust’. But while Barton’s game might not be pretty, he will add steel to a Jags side which has perhaps lacked a bit of toughness up to now.
Although Portsmouth struggled to keep opponents at bay last season, Barton’s 18 outings in League Two saw the south coast club manage five clean sheets, including a defensive masterclass against AFC Wimbledon, who later won promotion.
Having shipped seven goals in their last three outings, the 26-year-old couldn’t be arriving in Maryhill at a better time, as Alan Archibald’s men look to stem the tide and end their losing streak.
Larnell Cole to Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Chances are you learn a few things at Manchester United’s world-famous academy, and 23-year-old Cole certainly has, with the intelligent midfielder boasting a superb passing range and fierce shot which drew huge praise from Paul Scholes, as well as obvious comparisons with the ‘Ginger Maestro’.
But while Cole’s career hasn’t quite hit those heights, he’s been hugely impressive in the Football League, with his slick passing and timely goals proving a major factor in Shrewsbury Town’s survival in League One last season.
Gametime at parent club Fulham has been hard to come by for the diminutive youngster, but that’s Caley Thistle’s gain, with boss Richie Foran snapping him up on a year-long loan. Defences across the Ladbrokes Premiership are sure to be kept busy.
Christian Gamboa to Celtic
OK, so this one did happen the day before, but when a World Cup quarter-finalist joins your ranks, it’s a pretty big deal.
A reliable ever-present in the Costa Rica side, the talented full-back heads to Celtic Park on the back of a mixed two years at West Bromwich Albion, where he showed flashes of real quality but struggled to slot into Tony Pulis’ rigid style of play.
Gamboa’s neat passing and intelligent reading of the game are sure to make him a favourite of the Parkhead faithful, while Brendan Rodgers can breathe easy knowing that the Hoops have strength in depth on the right-flank, with Mikael Lustig also remaining in Glasgow.
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