Football League loan window: The 5 best deadline-day deals

The emergency loan window closed on 26 March and it proved to be a busy last day of transactions as many Football League clubs took full advantage of a final opportunity to bolster their squads ahead of the end of season run-in.

Here, IBTimes UK takes a look at the five best deals completed in the final hours before the deadline...

Jonny Williams: Crystal Palace to Ipswich

Talented midfielder Williams – or "Joniesta" as he has been affectionately dubbed by supporters – returns to Ipswich for a third spell after endearing himself to manager Mick McCarthy with a series of accomplished performances at Ipswich last season.

He featured on five occasions again for the club in 2015, yet was recalled by Crystal Palace after sustaining a groin injury. And while Palace manager Alan Pardew clearly holds Williams in high regard, he has previously questioned if Williams would play first-team football again before the end of the 2014/15 campaign and stressed the need for him to feature regularly.

McCarthy, who also loaned Zeki Fryers and extended deals for Luke Varney and Richard Chaplow before the deadline, is only too happy to oblige and will no doubt be delighted to have such an influential performer back in the ranks as Ipswich seek to consolidate their spot in the top six.

Kenwyne Jones: Cardiff to Bournemouth

After sanctioning a mini-exodus involving a number of Cardiff's higher earners and loaning defender Matt Connolly to Watford earlier in March, manager Russell Slade continued his necessary cost-cutting exercise by allowing Jones to join Championship leaders Bournemouth.

The Trinidad and Tobago international was Cardiff's top scorer this term with 13 goals and provides Cherries manager Eddie Howe with another experienced option in the final third as the division's highest scorers continue their impressive attempts to secure promotion to the Premier League for the first time.

Jones is combative and a real aerial menace who will no doubt thrive on the quality service provided by the likes of Matt Ritchie and fellow striker Callum Wilson.

Mustapha Carayol: Middlesbrough to Brighton

Tricky winger Carayol is quite a coup for Brighton as they battle against the diminishing prospect of relegation to the third tier.

While the former Bristol Rovers winger has not featured for parent club Middlesbrough since suffering a nasty knee injury against Bournemouth in March 2014, he is still regarded by supporters as one of manager Aitor Karanka's best options for the future.

A lack of match fitness might be an initial hurdle to overcome. However, if he can do so successfully, Carayol should have a sizable impact on the remaining weeks of what has been a hugely disappointing season on the south coast before potentially rejoining Middlesbrough for a spell in the top-flight.

Chuba Akpom: Arsenal to Nottingham Forest

A total of eight Championship clubs, including promotion chasers Derby and Norwich, were said to have shown an interest in loaning Akpom but it was Forest who eventually won the race.

The 19-year-old, who has been favourably compared to Gunners legend Thierry Henry by teammates after impressing with his abilities in training, should certainly bolster a frontline at the City Ground that has been significantly depleted by injuries to Britt Assombalonga, Matty Fryatt and Dexter Blackstock.

Akpom has been involved in the first-team set-up at Arsenal this season, making nine appearances in all competitions and also signing a new long-term deal that will keep him at the club until at least 2019.

With Dougie Freedman's Forest 10 points adrift of sixth-place Ipswich heading into the final stretch, it seems unlikely they will make the play-offs. But with Akpom leading the line, they will at least be able to ensure they finish strongly and are ready to capitalise on any slip-ups endured by the teams above them.

Nathan Ake: Chelsea to Reading

We are admittedly cheating a little with this one, as Ake actually completed his one-month move to the Madejski Stadium late on 25 March after Reading manager Steve Clarke was able to successfully utilise his many connections at former club Chelsea.

However, despite this, we still thought the deal worthy of inclusion given the Dutch youth international's obvious pedigree and experience of both Premier League and Champions League football.

A versatile player capable of playing in defensive midfield or anywhere across the backline, Ake should instantly improve the level of quality available to Clarke as he seeks to strike the right balance in the weeks leading up to Reading's FA Cup semi-final date against Arsenal at Wembley.

Fellow Chelsea loanee Nathaniel Chalobah, who started off slowly in Berkshire before establishing himself as arguably one of their most important players, missed the defeat to Charlton after suffering an injury against Bradford and was forced to withdraw from Gareth Southgate's latest England U21 squad.

While the Royals remain hopeful that his injury is not too serious, the cup-tied Ake is ready to deputise in the Championship.

Ake was not the only player brought to Reading before the deadline, with Kwesi Appiah following in the footsteps of fellow Crystal Palace forward Glenn Murray by signing temporary terms with the club.