By ROB HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
Associated Press Sports
updated 4:53 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2012
LONDON (AP) -European football's January transfer window is set to close on Tuesday with clubs looking unlikely to outlay any late lavish sums in the first season of UEFA's strict new financial controls.
While 225 million pounds (then $362 million) was spent last January by English clubs alone, only 40 million pounds have been spent this month with the 2300 GMT transfer cutoff approaching.
Manchester City has invested more than $1 billion on new players in a little more than three years, but the Abu Dhabi owners have reined in their spending and prioritized losing some big earners.
Defender Wayne Bridge was sent Tuesday to Sunderland on loan but City is still to unload troublesome striker Carlos Tevez, who has not featured for the club since an act of rebellion during a Champions League match in September.
City has vowed to only sell the Argentina striker for his true worth as it need to slash losses of more than 195 million pounds ($315 million) last season. No deal could be done with French leader Paris Saint-Germain, which has been embarking on its own spending spree since the last offseason under Qatari ownership.
Despite pursuing a string of leading players - including David Beckham and AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato - PSG has failed to captured the superstar it craves, although signing midfielder Thiago Motta from Inter Milan on Tuesday will help to soften the blow.
Motta's reported ?10 million signing took PSG's spending this season to more than ?100 million ($131 million), with defenders Maxwell and Alex having joined for a combined ?12 million earlier this month.
Motta, who previously played for Barcelona and has six caps for Brazil, will bring valuable experience to a PSG team chasing its first league title since 1994 and which hasn't played in the Champions League since 2004.
"We studied the possibility of bringing in a striker but it didn't happen," PSG sporting director Leonardo said. "It's not the end of the world ... it's normal that it's more difficult to sign someone in Ligue 1 than in Spain or in England, but things can change."
PSG's plans, though, could be curtailed by the looming threat of expulsion from the Champions League for overspending clubs.
In an initial two-year monitoring period that started in July 2011, UEFA's rules allow clubs to make a total loss in the first assessment period up to ?45 million ($58 million). But persistent loss-makers can first be barred from the 2014-15 Champions League.
"Financial fair play has definitely had an impact (in the transfer window)," said Alan Switzer, director of the sports business group at Deloitte. "The 2011-12 season does now count towards the UEFA rules and that will be part of the consideration which clubs will be giving to any transfer.
"The likes of Chelsea and Manchester City have already been on record as saying they will take it into account in terms of their spending on transfers and wages."
In England, Queens Park Rangers is trying to ensure it isn't relegated from the Premier League after only one season by luring former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse back to England from Lazio. QPR is also interested in Fulham forward Bobby Zamora.
"I have unfinished business here in England," the 30-year-old Cisse said. "The English league is the best in the world."
Midfielder Marcus Olsson has joined his twin brother Martin at relegation-threatened Blackburn after signing from Swedish side Halmstad.
The biggest English side to complete any business on Tuesday was Chelsea, with winger Kevin De Bruyne joining for a reported 9 million pounds ($14 million) from Racing Genk but he will return to the Belgian club on loan for the rest of the season.
In Spain, pacesetters Real Madrid and Barcelona were also quiet, although Barca reached a deal with Alexander Hleb to release the Belarus midfielder from his contract.
In Italy, clubs, players and agents gathered at a Milan hotel and the city's two clubs were the busiest.
Inter Milan signed Porto midfielder Fredy Guarin and Sampdoria midfielder Angelo Palombo, while Sulley Muntari moved on loan to AC Milan.
Serie A leader Juventus signed midfielder Padoin from Atalanta for almost ?5 million ($6.6 million).
For some players, Tuesday was the last time to leave clubs where they aren't playing regularly ahead of the European Championship. Croatia defender Vedran Corluka joined Bayer Leverkusen after only three league appearances for Tottenham this season.
? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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??European football's January transfer window is closing with the leading clubs appearing to avoid any lavish outlays in the first season of UEFA's strict new financial controls.
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