West Ham United for once stole the limelight from London [Images] rivals Arsenal [Images] and Chelsea with a stunning double swoop for Argentines Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano on transfer deadline day on Thursday.

But Arsenal and Chelsea were also involved in feverish activity with Ashley Cole's protracted switch Chelsea finally confirmed hours after the deadline. The champions paid Arsenal 5 million pounds ($9.52 million) and gave them France [Images] defender William Gallas as part of the deal.

Arsenal also brought in Brazilian attacking midfielder Julio Baptista on a season-long loan from Real Madrid [Images] who signed Spanish striker Jose Antonio Reyes, also on loan with a view to a permanent move.

French defender Pascal Cygan left Arsenal to join Spanish Primera Liga club Villarreal on a two-year contract, subject to a medical.

Portsmouth, who lie second to Manchester United [Images] in the embryonic Premier League table, were also busy signing three players before the transfer window closed until January, former England [Images] striker Andy Cole, Cameroon winger Roudolphe Douala Mbela and Croatian playmaker Niko Kranjcar.

Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven signed former Dutch international Patrick Kluivert from Valencia and defender Jan Kromkamp from Liverpool. United States midfielder DaMarcus Beasley left PSV for Manchester City on a season-long loan.

HUGE COUP

The deal that captured the imagination most, however, was the one that took Tevez and Mascherano from Brazilian club Corinthians to West Ham.

It represented a huge coup for the Hammers, who have beaten off Europe's biggest clubs including Arsenal and Manchester United to sign the pair. Both played key roles in helping Argentina reach the World Cup quarter-finals.

The transfers echo the shock double signing of Ossie Ardiles and Ricardo Villa, who joined Tottenham Hotspur just weeks after Argentina won the World Cup in 1978.

That deal transformed Tottenham's fortunes in the late 1970s and early 1980s and Tevez and Mascherano will become heroes in east London if they are anywhere near as successful.

Tevez, 22, is one of the most talented young strikers in the world. Widely described as "the new Diego Maradona [Images]", he is one of the few players who might live up to that tag.

Mascherano, also 22, is a highly rated defensive midfielder who adds a touch of granite to Argentina's attacking play.

Mascherano left Argentine club River Plate, the great rivals of Boca Juniors, to join Corinthians in 2004, for $15million, and helped them in their title success last year.

Both players are in London preparing for Argentina's friendly against Brazil [Images] at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium on Sunday and should make their debuts for the Hammers against Aston Villa next week.

DEFENSIVE STEEL

While Tevez and Mascherano will bring a Latin American lustre to the Premier League, Cole should add a touch of English defensive steel to Chelsea if he lines up alongside England team mate and national skipper John Terry.

Talk of the deal first surfaced in January 2005 when a secret meeting between Chelsea and Cole was leaked in the press and it has turned into one of the longest running transfer sagas in English soccer history.

Both Chelsea and Cole were subsequently fined by the English FA for meeting which occurred while Cole was still under contract at Arsenal.

Since then he has made little secret of his desire to leave Arsenal.

Gallas, who joined Chelsea in 2001, played for France in the World Cup final and would join the large French contingent at Arsenal which includes manager Arsene Wenger and French international team mate Thierry Henry [Images].

Elsewhere, Sunderland, under new coach Roy Keane and eager to make an immediate return to the Premier League after being relegated, signed six players on Thursday including Keane's former Manchester United team mate Dwight Yorke, who is returning to England from Australian club Sydney FC.

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