Transfer deadline day round-up: Stoke seal Giannelli Imbula deal, Everton sign Oumar Niasse and Saido Berahino stays

Stoke and Everton landed major signings but deadline day deals were conspicuous by their absence at the top end of the Barclays Premier League.

None of the current top eight clubs chose to strengthen their squads ahead of the title run-in with leaders Leicester no doubt delighted to keep hold of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez.

But statements of intent were evident elsewhere with the Potters smashing their transfer record again to bring in £18.3m midfielder Giannelli Imbula from Porto.

Stoke boss Mark Hughes said: "Giannelli is a good young player. He has great power, good ability on the ball and a great range of passing and there's no doubt he will add to the quality that we already have at the club."

Earlier, Everton paid £13.5million to capture striker Oumar Niasse from Lokomotiv Moscow on a four-and-a-half year deal.

Both players could go straight into contention to make their respective debuts when the two clubs clash at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

Saido Berahino resigned himself to staying at West Brom after the Baggies flatly rejected a £21million bid from Newcastle.

Berahino had been expected to feature in the biggest deadline day deal but it soon became apparent West Brom were standing firm in their desire not to sell.

An ambitious bid from the Magpies fell short and just before 11pm Berahino took to Twitter to seemingly rule out the possibility of an imminent move elsewhere.

Referencing his social media outburst in the summer when he was denied a late move to Tottenham, Berahino wrote: "Everyone waiting once again for the silly little spoilt boy to make same mistake so here you go. Goodnight all and thanks for the support."

Despite losing out on Berahino Newcastle continued to reinforce their squad with the loan signing of Seydou Doumbia from Roma until the end of the season.

The Magpies had already spent nearly £29million on Andros Townsend, Jonjo Shelvey and Henri Saivet before deadline day arrived.

Leicester's only dealing was the exit of Yohan Benalouane to Fiorentina on loan, while Arsenal sent Mathieu Debuchy and Yaya Sanogo to Bordeaux and Charlton respectively.

Tottenham's Alex Pritchard has been loaned to West Brom and Federico Fazio has gone to Sevilla, while Milos Veljkovic moved to Werder Bremen on a permanent deal.

There was bigger news in the Championship where promotion-chasing Middlesbrough landed Jordan Rhodes from Blackburn for an initial fee in the region of £9million.

In addition, Boro brought in defensive midfielder Julien De Sart from Standard Liege on a three-and-a-half year contract, and Ritchie De Laet on loan from Leicester.

Promotion rivals Hull also struck as they landed a loan deal for Manchester United midfielder Nick Powell, and Dusan Kuciak from Legia Warsaw for an undisclosed fee.

PA