Besiktas __have re-signed Demba Ba on loan from Shanghai Shenhua until the end of the season.
The striker, 31, returns to the club he left in 2015 to join Shenhua and will attempt to rebuild his career after a period in which it was feared injury may force him to retire.
Ba - who first joined Besiktas from Chelsea in 2014 and scored 18 goals before his move to China - broke his leg last summer but has vowed to re-establish himself.
"I'll do my best to help the team and try to be more effective than the last time I was here," he said, according to Besiktas' official Twitter feed.
A club statement read: "Demba Ba (has arrived) on a temporary transfer until the date 05/31/2017. No compensation will be paid to him or his club."
West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan had earlier revealed on talkSPORT they had also explored re-signing the striker.
Read the full story on why West Ham decided against the deal HERE.
Arsenal host Watford in the Premier League this evening, kick off 7:45pm at the Emirates.
The Gunners are enjoying a strong run of form and are looking to keep the pressure on title leaders Chelsea, who travel to Liverpool later today.
Three points is imperative and Arsene Wenger could make a number of changes to his starting line-up.
Granit Xhaka is serving a four-match suspension for his red card in the win over Burnley, while Hector Bellerin is expected to make his first league start since his return from injury.
And we've put together a predicted Arsenal XI – check it out by scrolling through the gallery above.
Southampton __have signed goalkeeper Mouez Hassen on loan from Nice for the remainder of the season.
The move sees Hassen reunited with Saints boss Claude Puel, with the two having worked together previously at the French club.
The 21-year-old came through the youth ranks at Nice and has made 50 appearances for the Ligue 1 title chasers.
But the France Under-21 international has not featured at all for the club this season and will now head to England.
Speaking about his arrival at St Mary’s, Hassen said: “I am really happy. It’s a pleasure for me to come to England for the first time and I am really happy to get to know the Premier League.
“I am really looking forward to joining the team.”
Southampton's director of football, Les Reed, added: “Mouez is a promising young goalkeeper, and we are very pleased to __have been able to bring him to Southampton.
“He has built an excellent reputation during his time with Nice and also in his country’s youth teams, and will provide us with further depth in the months ahead.
“As well as adding to our squad, we believe Mouez can continue his development in his time at Southampton and make strides in his own game under the expert guidance of our Head of Goalkeeping, Dave Watson, as well as working alongside Fraser Forster.
“Harry Lewis has had opportunities and gained great experience while Alex McCarthy has been injured, and Stuart Taylor has brought excellent experience to the group and now Mouez will add to our strength in depth.”
Burnley __have completed the signing of midfielder Ashley Westwood from Aston Villa.
The 26-year-old has signed a three-and-a-year contract [with the option of a further year] and joins for an undisclosed fee.
His move brings to an end almost five years at Villa Park, where he made 162 appearances for the club - including 124 in the Premier League - and he could make his debut for Burnley when they travel to Watford at the weekend.
``I'm delighted to be here. It's happened fast but I've been made to feel very welcome and I can't wait to get going,`` Westwood told Clarets Player.
"It feels like a proper football club and homely and that's what I like. I like to be appreciated and I think I will definitely get that here.
"The manager at Villa said I could speak to Burnley and for me that was perfect - a fresh start because things had got a bit stale at Villa. It's a fresh start and I want to show people what I can really do.
"I __have had some great times at Villa but recently it's not been too good. I'm back in the Premier League and I've got another chance - coming here into a dressing room like this, full of British talent, and people who want to do well.
"I fit that bill and hopefully we can grow as a team and keep on improving. For any club to stay in the Premier League is a big achievement. Burnley are doing very well and hopefully that can keep improving.
"I have watched Burnley and they look a bunch of people who work hard and have definitely got enough talent and hopefully I can add to that.``
Westwood began his career at Crewe and joined Villa in 2012. He helped the Midlands club reach the 2015 FA Cup final, where they lost to Arsenal, and was part of the Villa squad relegated from the Premier League last season.
Burnley __have signed Robbie Brady from Norwich City.
The Republic of Ireland international moves to Turf Moor for a club-record fee, signing a three-and-a-half year deal.
Burnley paid Derby £10.5m for Jeff Hendrick last year meaning the fee for Brady is higher, although it remains undisclosed.
There is also an option to extend his stay at the Clarets by an extra year.
Brady, who can play down the left side, joined Norwich from Hull after their promotion to the Premier League in 2015 and made 62 appearances in all competitions, scoring seven times.
He had previously spent around four years at Hull, including two loan spells, having joined from Manchester United.
Lyon __have informed Hull City that a deal can be done for Nicolas N'Koulou before tonight's transfer deadline.
talkSPORT told you on Monday about the Tigers' interest in the centre-back, who has made just seven league appearances for the Ligue 1 club this season.
And now, according to L'Equipe, Lyon __have contacted Hull to them that they are open to selling the Cameroon international.
The defender only moved to the French outfit in the summer after his contract with Marseille expired.
But he has failed to live up to his hype and Lyon are ready to cash in on him by taking advantage of Hull's interest.
Leonardo Ulloa could be the key to Sunderland’s hopes of survival, according to Micky Gray.
The striker is desperate to leave Leicester before Tuesday’s 11pm transfer deadline and the Black Cats are working hard to agree a deal with their Premier League rivals.
David Moyes has already brought in three players this month – Bryan Oviedo, Darron Gibson and Joleon Lescott – and Gray believes the addition of Ulloa would make it an excellent window for the club.
Sunderland are currently bottom of the Premier League, three points adrift of safety, but the former Stadium of Light star told talkSPORT: “The eleven they can actually pick now and a few more on top of that is decent and I am quite optimistic.
“We __have got players out injured but if we get that final piece – and I believe it to be Ulloa – our starting eleven is pretty good.”
Birmingham __have signed Watford striker Jerome Sinclair on loan for the remainder of the season.
Sinclair, born in Birmingham, becomes Blues boss Gianfranco Zola's sixth signing during the January transfer window.
The 20-year-old has made seven appearances for Watford since arriving from Liverpool last summer.
Birmingham had been in the market for a striker after finding out that Clayton Donaldson will be out injured for longer than anticipated.
Sinclair told Birmingham's official website: "I think it's a really good move for me. Hopefully I can come here and get a lot of game time and help the team progress and develop my game as well.
"I'm only 20 and I'm still developing as a young player, but hopefully this can be a real kick-on for me and I can score goals and help the team."
He added: "I think I'll learn a lot from Gianfranco Zola in terms of my game and helping me improve and any little tips I can pick up from him is only going to help me."
You're supposed to dislike your rivals, but Chelsea make it so easy, don't they?
It's fashionable to knock 'the Chels' (makes you cringe, doesn't it?) for being the epitome of a plastic, modern club. Which they are.
But even before they started buying titles with wealth effectively stolen from the Russian people, this was a club with an unenviable reputation, thanks to National Front links via a hooligan element on The Shed.
Then the Premier League came along, the crumbling old Stamford Bridge was turned into a Premier Inn hybrid, and Chelsea's fans went from being represented by right wing nutters to right wing politicians. The shame of counting David Mellor among your ranks.
Former Tory politician Mellor was once a Fulham fan, but switched his allegiance and became poster boy for Chelsea's new breed of Premier League era fans, a role he was succeeded in by Tim Lovejoy (allegedly a former Watford fan) as the Abramovich years dawned.
Ah yes, the Abramovich years. There is no doubting Chelsea __have been hugely successful on the pitch since the Russian billionaire decided to invest in the club; a high profile investment seemingly designed to stop him being chucked in prison by Vladimir Putin, but good for John Terry's medal count, nonetheless.
So, while Liverpool fans can look to the foundations of success built by great football men who loved the club, like Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley and Kenny Dalglish, Chelsea supporters can reflect on glory bought because of developments in Russian politics. It must make them so proud.
Yet even with Liverpool's most glorious days a thing of the past, and Chelsea arriving at the top table, the Reds proved a thorn in the London club's nouveau riche side, which explains the modern antagonism.
Why do their fans revel so much in helping deny Brendan Rodgers' 2014 side the title?
Because they are still bitter that a pretty poor Liverpool team knocked Jose Mourinho's runaway Premier League champions out of the Champions League in 2005, then went on to win the greatest European final of all-time.
Mourinho and Chelsea fans went on and on about Luis Garcia's goal, only for the Spaniard to score a brilliant half volley as Liverpool beat the Blues again 12 months later, in the 2006 FA Cup semi.
Then Liverpool knocked Mourinho's Chelsea out of the Champions League semi-finals once more, in 2007, with Anfield providing the kind of mesmeric, atmospheric backdrop that remains the preserve of truly special football clubs.
Waving freebie flags, by comparison, is frankly embarrassing.
The gulf in class was supposed to be between Chelsea's champions and Liverpool's also-rans, but the fixtures ended up demonstrating a gulf in class between an artificially elevated club and genuine football royalty.
But do you know what is most embarrassing about the recent antagonism between the two clubs?
It comes mostly from the team that's currently on top, and it's not often a chip resides on the shoulder of the stronger side.
You see, Liverpool fans are mostly concerned with Manchester United and Everton, because those fixtures are born out of deep rivalries and rich football cultures.
With Chelsea, there's just a very shallow history to contend with.
Can't stand Liverpool? Check out the opposite side of this argument – 'Why I can't stand Liverpool' by a Chelsea fan
Reece Oxford has left West Ham to sign on loan for Reading for the remainder of the 2016/17 season, the Championship club __have announced.
Highly-rated Oxford, 18, is able to play at both centre-back and in midfield, and the Royals beat off a host of other clubs to secure his signature on a temporary basis.
The youngster has made 16 first-team appearances for the Hammers, and rose to prominence last season when he put in a stunning display at Arsenal in a 2-0 win on the first day of the 2015/16 Premier League season.
Playing time for Slaven Bilic's side has been limited this term - with only two matches to his name - and Oxford will continue his development under Jaap Stam - with the Dutchman looking to guide Reading back into the top flight.
Watch Adrian Durham with Darren Gough live on Drivetime on our Facebook page every weekeday from 4pm
Many years ago, a friend of mine was facing a painful divorce. He couldn’t cope. He found himself in an airport lounge one morning crying his eyes out. He missed his plane to London, and consequently missed work that day. Once his employers found out the full story, they offered help and support. He was one of the toughest guys I know, had already endured a traumatic life, but the divorce was killing him: mentally he was weak and emotionally he was shot. It took him a while to get back on his feet.
If that was your friend, you’d support him wouldn’t you?
So how come football turns previously normal human beings into insensitive, uncaring people?
West Ham co-owner David Sullivan confirmed this week that Dmitri Payet wanted to return to Marseille for family reasons. He’s returning to an inferior league, so it’s not a football decision. He’s taking a pay cut, so he’s not a greedy money-grabber. The reasons are genuine. Some fans __have asked why Payet hasn’t revealed those reasons. They’re obviously very personal, and it’s actually unreasonable to expect him to tell all.
My understanding is he went to the club late last year to explain, and was told he couldn’t leave. He faced the prospect of staying in London, unable to deal with his personal issues, which dictated he return to the south of France.
The club wouldn’t listen, so he had to force his way out. If the club could make the player look like the bad guy, then of course the fans would turn on him. And that’s exactly what happened. When Slaven Bilic first revealed Payet wanted to leave, the West Ham boss never mentioned family problems. Why not?
Why didn’t Payet talk to his team-mates? We don’t know for sure what problems he faced domestically but, if it’s anything like the situation my friend went through, it’s no surprise he shut himself off from the ‘banter’ of the group. It’s probably the last thing he wanted to get involved with. In every sense Payet had switched off, and needed to be in Marseille. So much so he didn’t care about half a million pounds he was due in salary in January.
In Payet’s circumstances, I’d expect an employer to be understanding and sympathetic. I can’t believe the club publicly demonised him, turning thousands of fans against him.
I’m not saying Payet is an angel, but the club saying a player is on strike when he is in reality forcing his way out because the club won’t listen to him is something totally different.
Some people reckon West Ham lost their heart and soul when they left Upton Park. Well, it looks like they certainly lost the family values synonymous with their old home.
Payet did what all good, solid East Enders would do – he put his family first. Yet he was vilified by the club and the fans.
Are all Hammers fans happy with what West Ham United Football Club has now become?
Galatasaray are working on a shock move for Tottenham striker Vincent Janssen, according to reports in Turkey.
The 22-year-old joined Spurs in the summer from AZ Alkmaar for £17million but he has struggled to score goals.
The Dutchman has found the net just once in the Premier League so far and was on the bench for Tottenham's FA Cup win over Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.
And now, Galatasaray are trying to prise Janssen away from White Hart Lane before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.
The Turkish giants are in the market for a striker and they believe that a deal for the Spurs forward can be done.
Officials from Galatasaray are now preparing to fly to London to hold talks with Tottenham.
Hull midfielder Ryan Mason admits he feels 'lucky to be alive' after his horror head injury.
The 25-year-old fractured his skull against Chelsea earlier this month and spent eight days in hospital before being released on Monday.
Mason had been at St Mary's Hospital in London after undergoing surgery following a clash of heads with Gary Cahill in the first half of the Tigers' 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge on January 22.
In a statement, Mason wrote: "It has been an emotional rollercoaster and I feel lucky to be alive, but I'm happy to say I'm now at home resting and recovering.
"My fiance & family __have read so many messages of support to me over the past week. To __have had so many people send messages to me, including from fellow players, clubs (in particular the support shown to me from both Hull City and Tottenham Hotspur) so many fans, as well as the support I have received from the general public around the world has been completely overwhelming.
"Each and every message of support really has given me strength and I cannot tell you how much it means to me.
"The love and support my Mum, Dad, sisters, fiance Rachel and all of my friends and family have shown to me during what has been an extremely traumatic time for all involved has been incredible and I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for being there throughout.
"Finally I would like to say a special thank you to all the medical staff at Hull, as well as the medical team at Chelsea and of course the fantastic treatment and support I have received from all of the staff during my stay at St, Mary's hospital.
"I will now be taking each day as it comes and concentrating on my recovery."
Watford recorded a shock win over Arsenal courtesy of an excellent first half performance at the Emirates. The Hornets had the better of the opening stages, and took a shock lead when Kaboul’s long-range free-kick deflected off Ramsey and flew past Cech. Just moments later Deeney doubled the lead, tapping into the empty net after wonderful play from Capoue. The Gunners were losing every tackle and failing to play simple passes, and only Cech denied Janmaat a third goal. Wenger’s half-time words clearly had an impact though, as the hosts came out after the break dominant; it took just 13 minutes for Iwobi to pull one back. However, the defiant Hornets held firm, claiming all three points in their first league win since December.
Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea
Diego Costa had a penalty saved as Chelsea wasted the chance to beat Liverpool at Anfield. The hosts controlled the first passages of play, and looked likely to take a well-deserved lead through either Coutinho or Wijnaldum - both forcing saves from Courtois. However, Chelsea opened the scoring against the run of play, David Luiz firing a wonderful free-kick past Mignolet - who appeared to not be ready for the set-piece to be taken. They held onto the lead until the 58th minute, when Wijnaldum headed Milner’s deflected cross past Courtois from close range. Costa was brought down in the area by Matip, but saw his poor penalty saved by Mignolet - making up for his earlier error. The scoreline did not change before the final whistle was blown, and the Blues ended the night nine points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Bournemouth 0-2 Crystal Palace
Sam Allardyce won his first league game as Crystal Palace boss by downing Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. Both sides had chances in the first half, Zaha hitting the post for Palace just minutes after kick-off, and Stanislas going close with a powerful drive. But neither defence was breached until the second period, Dann sidefooting home from close range after Delaney flicked on a cross. The Cherries pushed for an equaliser for much of the second half, and when Palace were hanging on for the win, Townsend set up Benteke to head home and make safe the victory.
Burnley 1-0 Leicester City
Sam Vokes scored a last-gasp winner for Burnley as they moved into the top half of the table with a win over Leicester. Although it was a goalless first half, Burnley had the better of the play for much of the opening 45 minutes. And they continued this dominance after the restart, Barton fizzing an effort just wide early in the second half. Mee also went close as the Clarets kept pressing for the opening goal, and with just three minutes remaining, Vokes converting from close range - despite calls for a handball against the Welshman.
Middlesbrough 1-1 West Bromwich Albion
The points were shared at the Riverside with Middlesbrough and West Brom playing out a 1-1 draw. Morrison put the Baggies in front early on, firing in a low drive from 20 yards after Boro failed to clear a corner. The visitors were all over their opponents, but McAuley brought down Negredo in the box, and the Spaniard converted the resulting penalty to level the tie against the run of play. Karanka’s men looked the better side as the half wore on, Foster having to clear from Nyom when it looked like the defender would score an own goal. Phillips hit the post as West Brom chased a second goal in the early stages of the second half, with Brunt and de Roon also going close for both teams - who ended up sharing the spoils on Teesside.
Sunderland 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur moved into second despite only playing out a 0-0 draw with relegation strugglers Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats were lucky to still __have all 11 men on the pitch at half time - Jack Rodwell avoiding a red card after two reckless challenges. Spurs dominated the game without ever seriously threatening to score, whilst Sunderland looked dangerous on the break. Pochettino’s men never really got into their stride, but he will feel it was two points dropped on Wearside.
Swansea City 2-1 Southampton
Swansea’s fine form under Paul Clement continued with a superb 2-1 win over Southampton. It took time for the hosts to grow into a game in which Southampton controlled early on, but a textbook set-piece saw the hosts take the lead; Mawson heading Sigurdsson’s left-sided corner home at the near post. The goal gave Swansea renewed confidence, and they ended the first half on the front foot - Sigurdsson forcing a save from Forster. But the Saints levelled soon after the break, Long turning home Bertrand’s low cross, although they found themselves behind just after 10 minutes later when Sigurdsson scored. There were no further changes to the score, and Swansea ended the day two points above the relegation zone.
Jose Mourinho only saw enough from Anthony Martial at the weekend to name the forward on the Manchester United bench against Hull on Wednesday.
An impressive maiden season at Old Trafford has been followed by a frustrating second campaign for the 21-year-old attacker.
Martial has netted six goals in 22 appearances since Jose Mourinho's arrival and the United boss has not been afraid to leave him out of the squad, never mind the starting line-up, at times.
Questions over the player's happiness increased after recently being omitted from the league match at Stoke and EFL Cup semi-final second leg against Hull, but the France international got a chance to shine from the outset against Wigan on Sunday.
Martial was moved out wide after an ineffectual first period through the middle in what proved a comfortable FA Cup fourth-round victory, setting up two of the goals in a 4-0 win at Old Trafford.
Mourinho had said playing "magnificently" against the Latics would mean the forward retains his place on Wednesday, but the United boss only saw "enough to be on the bench" against Hull.
"He has to perform better than the others who are competing for the same positions (if he wants to start)," the Portuguese said.
"His position is one where we __have lots of options. Do you want me to leave (Henrikh) Mkhitaryan out after being man of the match and playing so well as he did? I can't.
"The players pick themselves. I am just there to analyse what they do and try to be fair with them. Such a good performance, Mkhitaryan has to play tomorrow. Simple."
Mkhitaryan is to be joined in the starting line-up against Hull by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, David de Gea and Antonio Valencia.
Eric Bailly, back from the African Nations Cup, is also available for a match that Ashley Young will be involved in after a deadline-day exit was ruled out.
Southampton __have signed Napoli forward Manolo Gabbiadini for an undisclosed fee.
Saints announced the news shortly after their 2-1 Premier League defeat to Swansea at the Liberty Stadium on Tuesday night.
The 25-year-old has put pen to paper on a four-and-a-half-year contract to keep him at the Premier League club until the summer of 2021.
Gabbiadini was impressed by the set-up at Southampton and he is looking forward to starting his career with the EFL Cup finalists.
"I am very, very happy. Since I was a kid, one of my dreams was to perform in one of the biggest leagues in the world, so now that it's happening I can't wait to start playing," he said.
"The facilities that I __have seen here are at an incredible level - top-level standards even for Serie A. These are the sort of facilities that make you want to come here and perform as soon as possible."
Gabbiadini began his career with Atalanta, making 26 appearances in all competitions between 2009 and 2012, as well as undertaking a loan spell with Serie B side Cittadella.
The Italy international, capped six times by his country, has also played for Bologna, Sampdoria and Napoli in Serie A, making a combined total of 160 appearances.
Southampton director of football Les Reed was pleased to get his man after tracking Gabbiadini for a while and he believes he will be a valuable addition to Saints' strike force.
He said: "We have followed his progress for a significant amount of time and have worked hard behind the scenes to agree a deal for him this month.
"At the age of 25, we believe Manolo can play an important part in the remainder of the season, while still having his best years ahead of him.
"(Manager) Claude Puel's reputation for developing young players also makes this an ideal place in which he can take the next step in his career.
"With Jay Rodriguez, Shane Long and Nathan Redmond all in good form, and Charlie Austin making encouraging progress in his return from injury, Manolo is another exciting addition to our attacking line-up ahead of the final months of the season, as well as for future campaigns."
In total, Gabbiadini has scored 58 goals in 215 club appearances in Italy while also netting one goal for the national team.
Why can't I stand Liverpool? Four simple words get me going. Luis Garcia's ghost goal.
It’s irrelevant that Liverpool may __have had a penalty/Cech may __have been sent off if the goal, rightly, had not been given. The fact is a goal was given that should not have been, after Liverpool had fluked their way out of the group stages, and it took them to a Champions League final they should never have won – but did. As a Chelsea fan, I can't abide any of that.
Then there is the fact that, off the back of a lucky final win, where Milan should really have seen them off, Liverpool fans have perpetuated the myth that Rafa Benitez is some kind of world class manager.
That’d be like us claiming Roberto Di Matteo is the second coming.
Benitez, lest anyone forget, destroyed Jose Mourinho’s treble-winning Inter Milan team. He also lasted just seven months at Real Madrid – a Madrid that swiftly went on to win the Champions League and go 42-games unbeaten under Benitez's successor, a managerial novice no less. And now the Spaniard is down in the Championship with Newcastle. Does that strike anyone as world class?
Credit where it’s due, winning La Liga twice with Valencia was impressive from Benitez, but he’s been living off that and a fluky Champions League win for over a decade now. He may have achieved more than Di Matteo, but to compare him with the likes of a Guardiola, a Ferguson or a Mourinho is simply laughable.
I couldn’t write something on the Chelsea-Liverpool rivalry without addressing its most famous moment – Steven Gerrard’s slip. When John Terry slipped and cost us the Champions League against Manchester United, we were always going to get a load of stick. United fans still sing about it now, they probably always will and we accept that.
So why do I see Liverpool fans crying over us singing about Gerrard? Get over it? Why should we? It seems funny to me how the fans who always sing to us about their ‘history’ want to erase a major part of it.
Oh and one final thing, the fact you’ve won 'five European Cups and 18 leagues' – as you’ve been chanting at us for the past 10 years – doesn’t make up for the fact you’ve won just one League Cup in that decade.
Try not to be annoyed by this article Liverpool fans and, if you are, don’t take it out on us Chelsea fans. Instead you should be angry with your team for letting Jesper Gronkjaer score the goal which took us into the 2003/04 Champions League.
This was the moment that ultimately attracted Abramovich to our club and changed the course of our ‘history’ altogether.
Without that Gronkjaer goal we probably would never have had our rivalry and I almost certainly wouldn’t be here writing this article today. Wouldn’t that have been a shame?
Can't stand Chelsea? Check out the opposite side of this argument – 'Why I can't stand Chelsea' by a Liverpool fan
Saido Berahino will cost Stoke an initial £12m fee
Stoke City have finalised the transfer of Saido Berahino from West Brom on a five-and-a-half-year deal.
The 23-year-old will cost Stoke an initial £12m, but that could rise to £15m depending on the success of the player and club.
Berahino will be unavailable for Stoke's clash __with Manchester United this weekend, but will be at the Bet365 Stadium to watch his new team-mates from the stands.
Tony Pulis had dismissed Stoke's bid for Saido Berahino as too low earlier on Friday.
"Finally," Berahino told Stoke's website, after the deal was completed. "I'm just so happy. I can't wait to get started now and meet all the lads.
"The only thing that's kept me going is my faith. I've had a tough two years, it's been hard for me. But everything happens for a reason."
Berahino revealed he did not expect a deal to be completed on Friday, having trained at West Brom in the morning, but believes the transfer has come at the right time.
"I'm mentally stronger and this experience has shaped me to become a better person," he added. "It's finally happened when it was due to happen, it was all God's plan.
"I felt that this was the right step for me to become the player that I need to become. For a team to hang on for me, they could have signed anybody, I haven't been playing. I can't wait to repay them."
Berahino has been the subject of talks __with other clubs since Tottenham's protracted battle with former Baggies' chairman Jeremy Peace in the summer of 2015.
The former England U21 international has made just five appearances for the Baggies this season and is yet to register a goal in the current campaign, but Stoke manager Mark Hughes is confident they've secured the right man.
Mark Hughes is thankful to finally put an end to a transfer 'saga'
"It's been a bit of a saga but we have managed to get it over the line, thankfully," Hughes said.
"At times it appeared like it wasn't likely to happen but, as always with these kind of deals, you have to be patient and hope that all the work you have done throughout the talks pays off.
"It did appear like it was stalling somewhat and I suggested that this morning, but that was based on my knowledge of the deal at that time.
"Evidently, it gained a fair amount of speed this afternoon and we have been able to conclude the deal, which we are all absolutely delighted about."
Highlights as Stoke beat Sunderland 3-1 in their last Premier League fixture
