January Transfer Window Closes: Keane on the move again

For a second straight season, Robbie Keane was involved in one of the biggest January Transfer moves. A year ago the Ireland international was shipped back to Tottenham from Liverpool after an unsuccessful six-month stint at the Anfield-based club.

This year the 29-year-old Keane made his dream switch this season from Tottenham to the side he grew up rooting for as a young lad in Ireland after losing his starting spot to Peter Crouch- Glasgow's Celtic of the Scottish Premier League.

Rumors of a bust-up between Keane, the former Tottenham captain, and coach Harry Redknapp after a Christmas party trip to Dublin in December have fueled speculation that Keane was on the market for several weeks.

But according to an espnsoccernet.com story, Keane had been uneasy about coming off the bench and was desperate for any first-team action.

Redknapp said: "It's a good move. Robbie needs to play. He's too good a player not to be starting here regularly. He wants to play all the time.

"It's been difficult to guarantee Robbie a starting place at the moment. He's not a happy man when he's not playing regularly. But he loves his football; he's a great trainer, a great man about the place.

"To go to Celtic is a dream come true for him anyway. I think it's a move that appeals to him. He's a big Celtic man and he'd like to go up to Celtic and play like Roy Keane did.

"The Irish lads, it's in their blood and they dream of playing for Celtic one day. This opportunity is one they want to take and we don't want to stand in his way, because we're strong in that position.''

One does have to call into question Keane's ability after being relegated to the bench at both his former clubs, especially this season in place for England international Crouch - a player with no where near the talent of Keane. Is Keane perhaps over-the-hill? Has his ego surpassed his footballing abilities?

Time will tell. If he cannot make it at Celtic in the Scottish Premier League, he no longer will be a relevant player on the big stage.

Other big moves included Manchester City's swoop signing at the deadline death of championship side Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson, long thought to be the best player outside the premiership in England, and Fulham's coup to sign three young rising players to add depth to its roster in the wake of recent injuries - Roma striker Stefano Okaka, Aston Villa left-back Nicky Shorey and Liverpool youngster Christopher Buchtmann all made the move to London club.