Soccer:Stephen Ireland has completed a loan move to Newcastle as Andy Carroll prepares to leave for Liverpool, while Andy Reid has joined Blackpool from Sunderland.
Ireland (24) has joined the club for the remainder of the season from Aston Villa. The midfielder’s arrival comes just hours after reports emerged that the deal had fallen through because he had failed a medical.
Earlier in the day Blackpool signed midfielder Reid from Premier League rivals Sunderland for an undisclosed fee.
The 28-year-old Republic of Ireland international has made 70 appearances for the Black Cats since his €4.6 million switch from Charlton in January 2008.
However, he became surplus to requirements under Steve Bruce and followed Paulo da Silva and David Healy out of the Stadium of Light.
Reid had been lining out for Championship side Sheffied United on loan since last October.
"I think he will be perfect for us and it won't take me long to get him going," said Blackpool manager Ian Holloway. "He's gone for €14 million (in cumulative transfer fees) in the past so that's not a bad take for us I believe."
Elsewhere Bristol City have signed Irish striker Andy Keogh on a three-month loan from Wolves.
Keogh recently returned to the Premier League club from a loan spell at Cardiff and Wolves have agreed to let him go back out to City, where they feel he will benefit from playing more matches.
The 24-year-old made just 18 appearances since moving to Cardiff in August.
Cardiff were being linked with a late move for Manchester City's Shay Given, despite Roberto Mancini insisting the Ireland goalkeeper would not be leaving Eastlands.
