Portsmouth swoop for Smertin

Not eligible
The 28-year-old defensive midfield player, who left French club FC Girondins de Bordeaux for a €5m fee on Monday, was viewed by Chelsea as an "investment for the future" and will spend the current campaign at Portsmouth, pending a work permit. According to Portsmouth's website, the deal states that the Russian international is not eligible to play when the two clubs meet later this season.

Munteanu stays put
Another loan deal involves Club Atlético de Madrid's Romanian international midfield player Catalin Munteanu, who has agreed to spend the season away from the Vicente Calderón, plying his trade instead with Albacete Balompié, the side he helped gain promotion to the Primera División last term.

Defender's homecoming
Real Madrid CF's Júlio César will play at his fifth club in four seasons after moving to Real Valladolid CF on loan. But unlike his recent spells with AC Milan, Real Sociedad de Fútbol, SL Benfica and FK Austria Wien, the 24-year-old defender will be among familiar faces this year. Júlio César spent three seasons at the Nuevo José Zorrilla when he first moved to Europe from South America in 1996. "I'm glad to return what I consider my home," the Brazilian said.

Third mover
Madrid's fellow UEFA Champions League contenders RC Deportivo La Coruña are also in the habit of loaning out their playing staff. Hot on the heels of José Manuel and Dani Mallo, Paraguayan midfield player Roberto Acuña has become the third Deportivo man to leave for the season, joining Segunda División Elche CF.

Striker switch
Finland's Antti Sumiala has returned to the Turkish Super League to sign for newly promoted Akçaabat Sebatspor. The 29-year-old striker scored 21 goals in 30 games for Swedish side IFK Norrköping after leaving Yozgatspor in 2002, but heads back to Turkey after Norrköping's relegation and subsequent struggle. Croatian defender Stipe Matic has also found new employers, joining FC Zürich until the end of the season.

Injury blows
VfL Wolfsburg's UEFA Intertoto Cup final defeat by AC Perugia has been exacerbated by the loss of striker Marko Topic for up to six weeks. Topic is thought to have ruptured knee ligaments in Tuesday's 2-0 second-leg loss to the Italians. Feyenoord's Robin van Persie is another forward facing a spell on the sidelines after the 20-year-old turned his ankle in training. He is expected to be out for up to a month.