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Ricardinho, Defoe move in Premier League shuffle

Brazilian World Cup winner Ricardinho joined Middlesbrough and West Ham striker Jermain Defoe moved to Tottenham for ?7 million (US$12.6 million) on the final day of the English soccer transfer window Monday.

Middlesbrough, lodged in 12th place in the Premier League, is hoping the Brazilian midfielder's move from Sao Paulo will allow it to make a run at a European place. He joins fellow Brazilian Juninho at the northeastern English side.

Regarded as one of the best young players in English soccer, Defoe joins Spurs with Tottenham's Bobby Zamora moving to first-division West Ham in the same deal.

Defoe, 21, seemed to be headed to Manchester United until the Reds signed Louis Saha last week from Fulham. Defoe has scored 15 goals this season in division one, but has also picked up three red cards.

One big deal fell through just hours before the deadline closed at 1700 GMT.

Cash-strapped Leeds decided against selling English international goalkeeper Paul Robinson to Tottenham for a reported ?2.5 million (US$4.5 million). Robinson was to have made the move at the end of the season and would have competed with Spurs' No. 1 American 'keeper Kasey Keller.
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