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Transfers: Meyler sent to Coventry, Burke on the move, Crouch back in the EPL

David Meyler has joined Coventry City on loan
David Meyler has joined Coventry City on loan

Republic of Ireland international David Meyler has joined Coventry City on loan for the rest of the season from Reading.

The 29-year-old midfielder has struggled to break into the Reading first-team following his move from Hull this summer and will hope that the move can kick-start his career.

Coventry Manager Mark Robins said: "We are delighted to add a player of David’s pedigree to the squad until the end of the season.

"He's a tireless, hardworking player and has great experience of playing at the highest levels of English football - he will be a real presence for us on and off the pitch."

Fresh from signing a new three-year contract with Brighton, Ireland Under-19 international Aaron Connolly has agreed a loan deal with Luton for the rest of the season.

Connolly, who is continues to shake off a hamstring injury, will be joining up with his new club as soon as he's fit and interim manager Mick Harford is looking forward to working with him.

"Aaron is very lively. He's a threat off the back of defenders. He always plays on the shoulder.

"He's a player we've really monitored over the last two or three months, kept tabs on him and watched him on five or six occasions and he's one we are absolutely thrilled to get into the football club.

"He'll make the pitch big, he's aggressive in his runs, he's dynamic in everything he does, and he's the right type for us. He's the right age and hopefully he'll come here and do well, develop and score us some goals."

Gillingham have signed Republic of Ireland international Graham Burke on loan from Preston until May 4.

The 25-year-old, who has two caps for the Republic of Ireland, becomes the club's second signing of the transfer window following the arrival of winger Billy King on Wednesday.

Gills boss Steve Lovell told the club website: "Naturally Graham has had a lot of interest from other clubs so I'm delighted he has decided to join us here.

"He has proved he is a goalscorer; he has represented his country and has experience of playing at a higher level.

"This will add competition to our forward areas and we are looking forward to working with him."

Crystal Palace beat off reported interest from several other clubs to land Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi on loan for the remainder of the season.

The Belgium international, who spent the first half of the campaign at Valencia, was linked with Everton, West Ham, Tottenham and Real Betis at various stages during deadline day but Palace won the race.

Fulham made a surprise swoop just before the deadline to sign Serbian winger Lazar Markovic from Liverpool.

The 24-year-old signed on a short-term deal until the end of the season after being released by the Anfield club.

Markovic failed to make an impression on Merseyside after joining the Reds from Benfica in 2014 and has had loans at Fenerbahce, Sporting Lisbon, Hull and Anderlecht in recent seasons.

The Cottagers also managed to offload controversial forward Aboubakar Kamara and sign Norway international Havard Nordtveit on loan.

Kamara (23) had been banned from all club-related activity at Craven Cottage pending internal disciplinary proceedings.

He was arrested last week after a confrontation at the training ground and allegedly previously clashed with Aleksandar Mitrovic during a yoga session.

Nordtveit was another deadline-day arrival, signing on loan from Hoffenheim for the remainder of the season.

The 28-year-old, who can operate at centre-back or as a defensive midfielder, is familiar with England after a spell at West Ham in 2016-17.

Peter Crouch is back in the Premier League after completing a surprise deadline day move from Stoke to Burnley.

The 38-year-old former England striker has traded places with Wales international Sam Vokes, who has joined the Potters for an undisclosed fee.

Crouch, whose previous clubs include Tottenham, Liverpool and Aston Villa, has scored 108 goals in 462 top-flight games throughout his career. He has joined the Clarets on a short-term deal until the end of the season, with manager Sean Dyche hoping the veteran can provide an extra boost in the battle against relegation.

Vokes, 29, who joined Burnley from Wolves in 2012, has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with the Championship Potters.

Newcastle have completed their move for Atlanta United playmaker Miguel Almiron for a club record fee, the Magpies have announced.

The 24-year-old Paraguay international has joined the Magpies on a five and a half-year deal for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £20million, eclipsing the £16million they paid for England striker Michael Owen in 2005.

Almiron told NUFC TV: "I'm very happy and eager to start and to meet my new team-mates. The league is very competitive, this is a historic club, and Rafa Benitez himself were the main reasons why I am here now.

"I think it is a great responsibility, something beautiful for me, and I will try to offer the best I can to repay the trust the club put in me."

Benitez was delighted to have got his number one January target.

Benitez said: "We were following Miguel Almiron for a while and we saw a player with some pace in attack, who can play behind the striker. We have someone who can score goals and give assists.

"We know that MLS is a different challenge to the Premier League, but he has the potential to do what we are expecting and what we need.

"From talking to the lad, you can tell that he is really focused and wants to do well. He wants to be successful and he wants to help the team, to score goals and give assists if it is possible.

"His impact in MLS has been really good - he's been one of the best players this year - and hopefully he can give us more competition and more quality in the final third.

"I am pleased that the hard work behind the scenes has ended positively and I thank everyone for their efforts."

Arsenal have completed the loan signing of Spanish playmaker Denis Suarez from Barcelona until the end of the season.

On Wednesday afternoon, Barcelona announced on their club website that Suarez had agreed a contract extension until 2021 and revealed he would spend the rest of the current season at Arsenal, with an option to buy.

The La Liga leaders later removed the article, though, with the Gunners eventually confirming the deal shortly after noon on Thursday.

Arsenal head coach Unai Emery, who worked with the player during his spell at Sevilla, said on the club website: "We are very happy that Denis Suarez is joining us. He is a player we know well and I have worked with him at Sevilla.

"He brings us quality and options in many different attacking positions, so he'll be able to help the team."

Republic of Ireland striker Scott Hogan has joined Sheffield United on loan from Aston Villa until the end of the season.

Hogan, 26, moved to Villa Park two years ago after scoring 21 times in 36 games for Brentford. He's struggled with form and injuries in the English midlands however, and will hope for more regular minutes at Bramall Lane ahead of the looming Euro 202 campaign which kicks off in March against Gibraltar.

With new Ireland boss Mick McCarthy reportedly keen to bring Hull attacker Will Keane into the fold, as well as  Leeds United's Patrick Bamford, Hogan will be conscious of potentially falling out of favour.

Hogan has made just six league appearances for Villa this season. He joins a decent Irish contingent at Sheffield United. John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick are both plying their trade at the Championship club, who lie third in the table, six points off leaders Leeds.

"He is a player we know a lot about and we are confident that he will be a great addition to what we already have," Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder told the club's website.

"Options at the top end of the pitch are vitally important and in the situation we find ourselves in, Scott offers us a new dimension.

"Also, Scott had options but he made it clear that he wanted to join us and that goes a long way in my book."

AFC Wimbledon have signed former Republic of Ireland Under-19 international Shane McLoughlin on a permanent deal from Ipswich.

The 21-year-old midfielder could be in contention for his Dons debut in Saturday's League One match at Sunderland. McLoughlin will be reunited with ex-Dundalk man Dylan Connolly. The pair previously played together at the Tractor Boys.

"Shane is versatile and very sharp and accurate on the ball," manager Wally Downes told the Dons website. "He has great energy, a superb attitude, and he fits the age bracket we want. He is the type of player that we want here. Shane has been on my radar for ages." 

Meanwhile Marouane Fellaini is edging closer to moving to China after Manchester United reached an agreement with Shandong Luneng.

The 31-year-old's exit has looked increasingly likely as discussions with the Chinese Super League built in recent days.

Fellaini now appears set to end his five-and-a-half year stay at Old Trafford. It's understood that United have reached an agreement in principle regarding his sale to Shandong.

The Belgium international has already passed a medical, leaving paperwork and final terms to iron out.

Fellaini posted an Instagram photo of himself at an airport on Thursday morning, with the phrase "let's go" written across it.

Chinese Super League clubs have until 28 February to complete signings and it is understood another club has been monitoring the midfielder's situation.

Fellaini was a key player under Jose Mourinho and signed a new deal until 2020, with the option of another year, in the summer.

The midfielder has only managed 31 minutes since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took caretaker charge last month, although a calf injury has ruled him out of recent matches.

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez has completed his first January signing with the capture of Monaco full-back Antonio Barreca.

The 23-year-old defender has joined the Magpies on loan for the remainder of the season, with the Premier League club having an option to complete a permanent deal in the summer.

Benitez has been desperate to add cover for Paul Dummett, the club's only specialist left-back who is currently recovering from a hamstring injury, for some time and was delighted to have finally made progress.

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