City had hoped to hijack Manchester United's bid for Dimitar Berbatov by agreeing a British record fee of over £30million for the Tottenham striker.

But with Berbatov appearing to favour a move to Old Trafford after arriving at the ground tonight following talks with Sir Alex Ferguson, City have turned their attention elsewhere.

Robinho is desperate to leave Real Madrid and had appeared destined for Chelsea but City - bankrolled by Abu Dhabi United Group's prospective takeover - are reported to have offered £32.4million for the Brazilian.

However, the waters remain muddied by the absence of any public confirmation from Tottenham that they have given United given permission to talk to Berbatov, with Spurs accepting City's offer.

Speculation in Spain suggested that the Bulgarian marksman was a subject to a late approach from Real Madrid but United clearly remain in the driving seat.

In another remarkable development at Eastlands, City revealed they have also lodged bids for Valencia striker David Villa and Stuttgart forward Mario Gomez.

Prospective new City owner Sulaiman Al-Fahim told PA Sport: "We have bids in for three players.

"There is Berbatov, but there is also David Villa and Mario Gomez.

"We have bids in for Villa and Gomez and I am waiting to hear whether we have been successful with those (offers).

"Funds are available, and transfers such as these show we are serious."

Tottenham had been the busiest Premier League club early on transfer deadline day.

Spurs completed the signing of £14million Russia striker Roman Pavlyuchenko while Croatia right-back Vedran Corluka also arrived at White Hart Lane from Manchester City.

Defender Corluka, 22, joins Croatia team-mate Luka Modric at Spurs, after putting pen to paper on a deal thought to be worth £8.5million.

Liverpool have captured Spain winger Albert Riera from La Liga side Espanyol for an undisclosed fee.

The 26-year-old has signed a four-year contract at Anfield after choosing Rafael Benitez's side over a host of other clubs, including neighbours Everton.

He joins Vitor Flora at Liverpool after the 18-year-old Brazilian, who holds an Italian passport, agreed a free transfer.

But striker Andriy Voronin and full-back Steven Finnan have departed Anfield.

Voronin agreed a one-year loan deal with German side Hertha Berlin while Espanyol have moved for Finnan on a two-year contract.

Not to be outdone by their Merseyside rivals, Everton confirmed the signing of French striker Louis Saha from Manchester United for an undisclosed fee.

Saha has signed a two-year deal with an option for a third year and has been joined at Goodison by Wigan keeper Carlo Nash.

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp signed Algerian international left-back Nadir Belhadj on loan from French club Lens.

Newcastle have signed Valencia's Uruguayan midfielder Nacho Gonzalez on a one-year loan deal, although reported late interest in Joey Barton from an unnamed Premier League club appeared to dwindle as the night wore on.

Blackburn strengthened their squad with the acquisition of goalkeeper Mark Bunn, 23, from Northampton on a four-year contract.

Defender Danny Higginbotham, 29, has rejoined Stoke from Sunderland on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Fellow Premier League new boys West Brom have swooped for AZ Alkmaar defender Ryan Donk on a season-long loan deal with a view to a permanent deal.

The central defender passed a medical this afternoon before completing his move to The Hawthorns.

NEC Nijmegen have signed Dutch striker Collins John on a free transfer from Fulham, subject to a medical.