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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Niall McVeigh (now), David Tindall, John Brewin and Gregg Bakowski

Transfer deadline day: Sinisterra to Bournemouth, Iwobi to Fulham – as it happened

Chelsea Manchester United Altay Bayindir Tottenham Brennan Johnson Callum HudsonOdoi Marc Cucurella Nottingham Forest Sergio Reguilon Bayern
Luis Sinisterra completed a last-minute loan move to Bournemouth from Leeds United.
Luis Sinisterra completed a last-minute loan move to Bournemouth from Leeds United. Photograph: Robin Jones/AFC Bournemouth/Getty Images

That’s all for this live blog after another frantic deadline day with money thrown around all across Europe. Catch up with all the transfer news below. Until next time, it’s goodbye from me.

Alex Iwobi seals £22m Fulham move

And finally, at 1.04am, Fulham have confirmed the arrival of Alex Iwobi from Everton. This move has been in the works all day, with the former Arsenal attacker signing for a reported £22m fee.

Forest sign Omobamidele on five-year deal

The third and final late deal at Nottingham Forest is done. Norwich centre-back Andrew Omobamidele has signed a five-year contract after a last-minute dash from near Rotherham – where Norwich play tomorrow – to the City Ground. The fee is a reported £11m.

Divock Origi joins Forest on loan

Another one in at the City Ground – and Divock Origi is back in the Premier League.

A quick update on Crystal Palace’s mooted interest in Hugo Ekitiké – the PSG forward would only consider a loan move, which is not something either club were keen on. Ekitiké has been told he has no future in Paris, so may now look for a new club in a league where the window remains open …

Nottingham Forest sign Ibrahim Sangaré

One of those three Forest deals is done – PSV midfielder Ibrahim Sangaré has signed a five-year deal for a reported fee of €30m. He will wear the No 6 shirt at the City Ground, and looks like an excellent signing.

You can catch up with all the day’s deals right here.

Here’s more from Jamie Jackson on Mason Greenwood’s unexpected loan move to Getafe.

My esteemed colleague Ben Fisher informs me that all three Forest deals – Sangaré, Origi and Omobamidele – are expected to be confirmed tonight. They love a late-night transfer at the City Ground, that’s for sure.

I’m still struggling to understand exactly what Everton were doing today – the suggestion yesterday was that they would sell Iwobi and Cannon to raise funds. Both players are on the way out, but nobody has come in. Perhaps some canny free transfers are in the works. Perhaps not.

It’s all starting to get a bit spiky in the Sky studio as the clock ticks towards midnight. What are we still waiting on? Alex Iwobi to Fulham (seriously, get on with it) and a trio of Forest signings – Ibrahim Sangaré, Andrew Omobamidele and Divock Origi on loan.

Randal Kolo Muani joins PSG on five-year deal

It looked like it wasn’t going to happen at one point today, but Paris Saint-Germain have their man – and here’s a snazzy video to prove it.

Patson Daka, Kelechi Iheanacho and Jamie Vardy may be sticking around Leicester but the Championship pacesetters have added further to their firepower. Tom Cannon has signed from Everton for a fee of about £7m.

Staying in the Championship, Swansea have re-signed Jamal Lowe, with the striker arriving on loan from Bournemouth.

“I know that Derby signing a player on loan from Sunderland isn’t exactly the most exciting move of the window,” writes Charlie Robinson.

“Nonetheless, it’s remarkable how disinterested Elliot Embleton seems to be in signing for the Rams, judging by this video. Let’s hope he shows a bit more passion on the pitch, eh?”

Football League latest: Oliver Burke has joined Birmingham on loan from Werder Bremen; Sheffield Wednesday have bolstered their midfield with moves for Blackburn’s John Buckley and Newcastle’s Jeff Hendrick; Sebastian Revan has joined Rotherham on loan from Aston Villa; and Serbian striker Slobodan Tedic has joined Charlton from Manchester City.

Álvaro Fernández, Manchester United’s 20-year-old left-back, has signed for La Liga club Granada on a 12-month loan deal.

Bournemouth have got their loan move for Luis Sinisterra over the line – it’s done, with Jaidon Anthony heading to Leeds on loan as part of the deal.

In other news from the south coast, Southampton have signed Ross Stewart from Sunderland for a fee of about £8m.

Updated

Mike Tresor joins Burnley from Genk

Burnley missed out on Ian Maatsen but they have still managed to squeeze one more deal out of this window, with Genk midfielder Mike Tresor joining on loan with a potential €14m permanent deal next summer.

“I’m feeling happy, really happy. It’s deadline day but really happy to be here finally,” Tresor said. “I had a long discussion with the coach so that convinced me at the end as well to make the decision.”

Neal Maupay rejoins Brentford on loan

TNeal Maupay has completed a loan move from Everton to Brentford, who have an option to buy their former striker. The 27-year-old enjoyed a productive spell at Brentford between 2017-19 but toiled at Everton, scoring only once in 31 appearances following his £15m signing from Brighton under Frank Lampard.

Alex Iwobi’s £22m move to Fulham is expected to be confirmed soon but Everton failed to make any deadline day additions despite the obvious need to replace Iwobi, sign a winger and strengthen in defence.

Everton have agreed to terminate the final year of Jean-Philippe Gbamin’s contract. The midfielder, who cost £25m when signed from Mainz in 2019 but endured an injury-plagued career at Goodison, is now a free agent.

Updated

Wolves sign Strasbourg midfielder Bellegarde

Wolves have signed Jean-Ricner Bellegarde on a five-year deal from Strasbourg for a reported £12.6m. The 25-year-old can play either as a central midfielder supporting the forwards or in one of the two wider positions.

Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs said: “He’s a player the recruitment team flagged towards the end of last season, and he’s started this season very well. He’s athletic, technical and has ability to drive with the ball, and you can see from his goal and assist record that he’s had an excellent start to this season.” PA Media

Updated

Another Aston Villa academy graduate departs. Jaden Philogene, who spent last season on loan at Cardiff, joins Cameron Archer and Aaron Ramsey in departing in search of regular action. The winger, who made a big impression on Unai Emery in pre-season for Villa, has signed for Hull City.

Down in Bournemouth, a deal sheet has been submitted for the Leeds winger Luis Sinisterra. At Forest, a deal sheet is officially in for Andrew Omobamidele, who had travelled to Rotherham with the Norwich squad this afternoon.

Updated

Getafe sign Mason Greenwood on season-long loan

The La Liga club have announced the arrival of Mason Greenwood, after Manchester United announced that the forward would leave the club following an internal investigation.

“Mason Greenwood has signed for Getafe CF on a season-long loan, subject to international clearance,” an official Manchester United statement said.

“The move enables Greenwood to begin to rebuild his career away from Manchester United. The club will continue to offer its support to Mason and his family during this period of transition.”

Greenwood was charged by Greater Manchester Police with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault in October 2022 after allegations were made online.

The charges were dropped in February when the CPS said there was “no longer a realistic prospect of conviction” after key witnesses withdrew their cooperation from the investigation and new material came to light. Greenwood denied all charges.

Updated

Rob Holding joins Crystal Palace for £4m

Another move done on the stroke of 11pm, as centre-back Rob Holding swaps North London for South …

Brennan Johnson joins Spurs as window shuts

As the window swings shut, we finally have confirmation that Brennan Johnson is a Spurs player, completing his £47m move from Nottingham Forest. Johnson will wear the No 22 shirt at Tottenham.

Forest supporters will be sad to see Johnson depart, ending his 14-year association with the club, but pocketing almost £50m allows them to do other business, namely that £32m move for Ibrahim Sangaré, and, crucially, should keep them in the clear when it comes to financial fair play.

Steve Cooper said: “Whilst we’re obviously going to miss Brennan and the memories he’s given so many of us when he has lit up the City Ground on the right wing, we’re extremely proud of him and we’re pleased that he’s got this move as he enters the next stage of his career.”

Updated

Deal sheets ahoy! Fulham have their paperwork in to sign Alex Iwobi, with Forest doing the same to get a deal for Andrew Omobamidele over the line. And while we’re on the subject of Forest …

Ten minutes to go! Which means we are now firmly into deal-sheet territory. Clubs can request an extra hour (or two hours for international deals) to complete paperwork – despite having had the best part of three months to get their acts together.

Sky reports that the Johnson deal doesn’t need one of these dreaded sheets but we could see them in play. In addition to the trio of Forest arrivals, there are a few Premier League deals yet to be confirmed:

  • Neal Maupay, Everton to Brentford

  • Alex Iwobi, Everton to Fulham

  • Rob Holding, Arsenal to Crystal Palace

Nottingham Forest have confirmed the signing of Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos – taking their transfer tally since gaining promotion to … ah, we’re not counting them all.

Ibrahim Sangaré is also at the City Ground, looking to rubber-stamp a move that will pave the way for Brennan Johnson to finally confirm his Spurs move.

Sofyan Amrabat seals Manchester United loan

Manchester United have sealed a season-long loan for Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat with 30 minutes remaining before Friday’s 11pm transfer deadline. The deal for Amrabat, which will cost the club a £10m loan fee, is subject to international clearance and registration requirements.

Amrabat, who played under Ten Hag at Utrecht six years ago, said: “I know exactly how Erik likes to work and what he needs from his players. His coaching and guidance developed me so much as a player earlier in my career.

“I’ve had to be patient for this moment but I’m someone who always listens to my heart and now I am representing the club of my dreams,” the Morocco international added. “I am a passionate player; I want to bring that energy to the squad.”

Armel Bella-Kotchap has completed his loan move to PSV from Southampton, and Óscar Estupiñán has left Hull to sign for Ligue 1’s Metz, also on loan.

And hold on to your hats, United fans. News is coming …

Sky are reporting that Brennan Johnson has completed his medical at Tottenham – and that the club are still working to try and prise Trevoh Chalobah away from Chelsea. Tick tock …

Bad news for Bournemouth fans: the man in the know, Ben Fisher, tells me the move for Patson Daka is off. The club are still working on a move for Luis Sinisterra, but time is tight …

Fabrizio reports that Ian Maatsen has decided against joining Burnley and will stay at Chelsea. Marc Cucurella is also going nowhere – the left-back corner of the dressing room is going to be crowded.

Here’s more from Ryan Gravenberch: “I’m very happy that the deal is done and I’m finally here. If you see [Liverpool] from the outside, it’s one of the biggest clubs in the world. The fans, the stadium, I think everything is top.”

One hour to go! We’re waiting for confirmation on Brennan Johnson to Spurs, and Sofyan Amrabat to Manchester United. Ryan Gravenberch’s Liverpool move is official, while Forest and Palace are both working on late deals as PSG push to sign Randal Kolo Muani before it’s too late. Stay tuned …

Full time at Kenilworth Road, where West Ham have held on for a 2-1 win at Luton after the hosts produced a late rally. The Hammers are top, the Hatters bottom.

Some sad news to bring you amid the transfer updates – Mohamed Al-Fayed, the former owner of Fulham, has died aged 94.

João Cancelo joins Barcelona on loan

It’s double-João joy for Barça as Cancelo joins from Manchester City on a season-long loan. Like his new teammate, namesake and Jorge Mendes stablemate João Felix, Cancelo arrives without a purchase option.

There we have it – Gravenberch is a Liverpool player and Jürgen Klopp’s midfield rebuild is complete. Here’s another picture of the new arrival:

Ryan Gravenberch.

Liverpool confirm Ryan Gravenberch signing

Ryan Gravenberch has become Liverpool’s fourth midfield signing of the summer after completing a €40m move from Bayern Munich.

Liverpool agreed a fee with the German champions on Thursday and the Netherlands international has signed a five-year contract at Anfield. The deal, which includes €5m in add-ons, is subject to a work permit and sees Jurgen Klopp secure a player who was a target before his move from Ajax to Bayern last summer.

The 21-year-old found his opportunities limited in Germany with Thomas Tuchel admitting that, as a number eight, he was not suited to Bayern’s system. However, Klopp believes Gravenberch is suited to several midfield roles and capable of operating in both an attacking and defensive position.

Tuchel had wanted to sign João Palhinha from Fulham as a new defensive midfielder for Bayern but the late collapse of that deal did not impact Gravenberch’s move to Anfield. He completes Liverpool’s midfield overhaul this summer following the arrivals of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo.

The big three transfers tonight – Johnson to Spurs, Amrabat to United, Gravenberch to Liverpool – are all still ticking along. In fact, Liverpool fans may not have to wait too much longer for official news …

In one of those deals that would have had you rubbing your eyes in bafflement two or three years ago, Ansu Fati has joined Brighton on loan for the season. Here’s more from Roberto De Zerbi on his new recruit:

Especially for the big, big talent, I feel the responsibility to help this talent to become great players. Sometimes the coaches think only of the result, only of their career but football needs to have great players.

Royal Antwerp have quickly moved to rubbish reports of Eden Hazard’s arrival. It was fun while it lasted. Another strange deadline-day rumour – that Newcastle are after Hugo Lloris – has been quashed by Luke Edwards, the Telegraph’s Toon correspondent.

There is some momentum building behind Hugo Ekitiké to Crystal Palace, with both Sky and transfer doyen Fabrizio Romano reporting that a deal for the striker is a live possibility as it stands.

Nottingham Forest have struck a last-minute deal with Norwich for Republic of Ireland defender Andrew Omobamidele. The only thing is, Forest are up against it time-wise and may be in dreaded deal-sheet territory to get it over the line. Norwich were open to selling the 21-year-old for the right price this window – the centre-back has been playing second fiddle this season.

In other Championship news, Zak Vyner has signed a new three-year deal at Bristol City, who have fended off interest from Luton, while the Barnsley captain Liam Kitching is joining Coventry.

João Félix joins Barcelona on loan

A done deal – João Félix, who is out of favour at Atlético and unwanted by Chelsea, has joined Barcelona on a season-long straight loan.

Sofyan Amrabat is still in Italy with two hours until the deadline closes – but don’t worry, United fans, the medical can be carried out over there.

Meanwhile, remember Eden Hazard? After leaving Real Madrid, he could be about to join Royal Antwerp to get that sweet Champions League action for another year.

On Sky, Melissa Reddy has been giving some more background to the Mohamed Salah story. She says there is no suggestion behind the scenes that the forward is agitating for the move – but adds that Al-Ittihad are prepared to offer a salary that surpasses those offered to Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Remember, the Saudi Pro League window is open until next Thursday, so this story may not be resolved either way tonight. As it stands, Liverpool have rejected the £150m offered, and say Salah is not for sale.

Celtic have made a signing: Benfica midfielder Paulo Bernardo arrives on loan for the season with an option to buy. “I’m very excited to be here,” the 21-year-old said. “It’s a great club and I’m ready to be on the pitch and to help the team.”

After showing interest in a move for Spurs’ Davinson Sánchez, PSV are instead set to bring in Southampton centre-back Armel Bella-Kotchap on loan. He will boost a youthful, talented side who could cause Arsenal, Sevilla and Lens some problems in their Champions League group.

Required deadline-day reading from Barney Ronay …

Two hours to go ...

Here are the day’s big stories so far:

  • Brennan Johnson is heading to Spurs for £47m

  • Liverpool closing on Ryan Gravenberch signing

  • Amrabat to join Réguilon on loan at United

  • João Félix and Cancelo set for Barça loans

  • PSG revive move for Frankfurt’s Kolo Muani

  • City sign £53m Nunes as Palmer joins Chelsea

  • Fati seals Brighton loan, Villa bring in Lenglet

  • Liverpool reject £150m Saudi bid for Salah

“Arsenal fans are concerned that the club has a load of fringe players they must be desperate to get rid of - the Pepes, the Cedrics – any word? It’s getting late...”

Fear not, Charles Antaki – there are a handful of leagues whose windows do not close tonight, so players can still find a new club in Greece, Turkey or Saudi Arabia, for example.

Half-time at Kenilworth Road, where West Ham lead 1-0 thanks to Jarrod Bowen’s header. If it stays that way, the Hammers are going top of the table.

Amid the reports of Tottenham interest in Trevoh Chalobah, Sky are reporting that Nottingham Forest may instead move for Norwich centre-back Andrew Omobamidele.

As for Everton, it’s been another frustrating day in the transfer market, with potential moves for Willy Gnonto, Maxwel Cornét and Kamaldeen Sulemana all coming to nothing. A late loan looks the only hope of a new arrival at Goodison Park, while Neal Maupay is set to join Brentford on loan.

Updated

Fulham will be glad to see the window close after losing Aleksandar Mitrovic to Al-Hilal and barely hanging on to João Palhinha. That said, they are working to sign Alex Iwobi from Everton before 11pm.

The Cottagers have also loaned out Kevin Mbabu (to Augsburg) and winger Martial Godo (to Wigan) today.

Fabrizio reports that after trying to arrange a deal for Conor Gallagher, Spurs have been in touch with Chelsea about a loan move for Trevoh Chalobah – who is also on Forest’s radar.

“The Sevilla slogan on Soumare’s announcement brings to mind the Sigourney Weaver/Alan Rickman cult classic Galaxy Quest,” notes Harriet Osborn.

Some transfer news from the EFL: Preston have signed Montenegro forward Milutin Osmajic from Cádiz for a reported £2m, which would be a club record. North End have also brought in the Canada winger Liam Millar, once a Liverpool youth prospect, from Basel.

Boubakary Soumaré has joined Sevilla on loan from Leicester, with an option to buy. Staying in La Liga, Fabrizio Romano reports that Eric García will join Girona on loan from Barcelona.

Lloyd Kelly is sticking around at Bournemouth, at least until January. Tottenham saw a £20m bid for the defender swiftly rejected but have not returned with a bigger offer. Kelly is out of contract next summer. Bournemouth, of course, are working on a couple of big additions, with moves for Patson Daka and Luis Sinisterra set to go to the wire.

In the Premier League, it’s all a little quiet. We wait for Ryan Gravenberch to Liverpool, Sofyan Amrabat to United and Brennan Johnson to Tottenham to be officially announced. Forest and Palace are among the clubs still making moves, while Burnley are still hoping to bring back Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen permanently.

Updated

Elsewhere in Europe, PSV Eindhoven have secured the return of Hirving Lozano, who leaves Napoli. It was thought that the deal for Lozano would allow Johan Bakayoko to join Brentford – but it seems the winger is staying put to play Champions League football.

Fabrizio Romano reports that Randal Kolo Muani’s move to PSG from Frankfurt is on – giving it the “here we go” treatment. According to reports elsewhere, that move had stalled due to Hugo Ekitike preferring a move to Crystal Palace rather than Eintracht – but no longer.

Here’s Jamie Jackson on a busy day at Old Trafford.


Manchester United were closing in on a £10m season-long loan for Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat as Friday’s 11pm transfer deadline neared, with Sergio Reguilón, Altay Bayindir and Jonny Evans signed earlier in the day.

Bournemouth are closing on a double loan signing to bolster their front line, with Patson Daka and Luis Sinisterra poised to join from Leicester and Leeds respectively.

The Cherries, who rejected a bid from Dominic Solanke from West Ham earlier this window, have also sanctioned Kieffer Moore’s loan exit to Millwall. Jamal Lowe is going to Swansea on loan, while James Hill went to Blackburn on same basis on Thursday.

Updated

Over to La Liga, where Fabrizio Romano is reporting that João Felix is heading to Barcelona on loan. If they can also snag Cancelo from City, that’ll be two Joãos signed on one day. Surely a record?

“Has anyone got their abacus out to keep track of how many players Forest actually have on their books?” asks Richard Hirst. “Maybe Steve Cooper thinks he’s buying Panini stickers rather than real people.”

Having spent the summer updating the Guardian’s transfer interactive, I’m convinced there are teams out there (hello, Udinese) with at least 1,000 players on their books.

Don’t forget there is actual Premier League football on tonight – and a proper old-school affair, too. Join Scott Murray for Luton v West Ham here:

“I might be a bit late to the party on this one but I have just spotted tenacious midfielder Vinny Samways tucking into a sandwich in a trendy Liverpool cafe,” writes Darrien Bold. “It seems as if Sean Dyche’s priority is to reintroduce some of the old dogs of war spirit into the midfield, with rumours of a cool £2m deal doing the rounds over here...”

They could do worse. I wonder if Paul Rideout’s available?

While we wait for news of Brennan Johnson, Sky point out that a number of players considered surplus to requirements are still on the books at Spurs – including Eric Dier and Tanguy Ndombele. Still, the Saudi window is open for a good while yet.

On the other side of London, Crystal Palace are working on a £4m move for Arsenal’s Rob Holding.

Deadline day's big stories so far

Time for a 7pm (BST) roundup of the day’s developments …

  • Brennan Johnson is heading to Spurs for £47m

  • Liverpool turn down £150m offer for Mo Salah

  • Reds expected to bring in Ryan Gravenberch

  • City sign £53m Nunes as Palmer joins Chelsea

  • Sofyan Amrabat agrees loan move to United

  • Sergio Réguilon also joins on loan from Spurs

  • João Palhinha’s Bayern move has broken down

  • Ansu Fati completes his Brighton loan move

Forest close on Sangaré and Origi

It’s been a busy day for Nottingham Forest, and they’re not done yet. Steve Cooper’s side are set to sign long-term target Ibrahim Sangaré after striking a £30m deal with PSV Eindhoven for the midfielder. Forest are also working to bring Divock Origi back to the Premier League on a season-long loan, adding to the permanent arrivals of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Nicolás Domínguez. Brennan Johnson’s departure to Spurs, meanwhile, is all but done.

What about João Cancelo, then? The Manchester City full-back is expected to leave today, but won’t be going back to Bayern after the German window closed. Barcelona are his most likely destination, but according to Sky, no more than an enquiry on the table so far.

After agreeing a loan move for Chelsea tyro Mason Burstow earlier today, Sunderland have added another striker. Ukrainian forward Nazariy Rusyn has arrived from Zorya Luhansk on a four-year deal.

“He’s a dynamic and intelligent forward, who likes to exploit space and has consistently impacted a senior environment by contributing goals and assists,” says the club’s sporting director, Kristjaan Speakman. So, there we go.

Thanks, Dave. I’m here until the bitter end, clad head-to-tie in transfer-ticker yellow. Let’s start with Serie A: Luka Jovic is off to Milan from Fiorentina on loan for the season. He wasn’t top of their list, but after moves for Mehdi Taremi and Rafa Mir fell through, they decided to snap him up.

With just over four-and-a-half hours to go before this transfer window shuts, I’ll hand the baton to Niall McVeigh. During that time, Luton will be hosting West Ham so don’t forget to tune in for that one.

Harriet Osborn emails: “Re Hudson-Odoi’s signing comments: is there anyone in top-flight football who doesn’t ‘know a couple of the boys [at Forest] already’ these days?”

Yes, we’re probably looking at two degrees of separation at most.

Bournemouth have agreed a deal to sign the Leicester striker Patson Daka on loan with an option to buy. They’re also after Leeds winger Luis Sinisterra.

Kári Tulinius emails: “Surely, given Carroll’s destination, that was dubbing in the style of a baguette western, if such a genre exists. Either way, this just prompted me to listen to the classic MC Solaar track Nouveau Western, for which I’m grateful.”

Indeed. I didn’t know the song but it samples the Serge Gainsbourg/Brigitte Bardot track Bonnie and Clyde so I’m on board!

Updated

Hudson-Odoi joins Forest for just £5m

Nottingham Forest have sealed the signing of Callum Hudson-Odoi for a cut-price fee of about £5m. Hudson-Odoi has signed a three-year contract with Forest. The 22-year-old reunites with Steve Cooper, whom he worked with when England lifted the Under-17 World Cup in 2017.

Hudson-Odoi’s arrival also talks to the expected departure of forward Brennan Johnson, who is poised to join Tottenham in a deal worth about £45m. Forest also want to sign Ibrahim Sangare from PSV Eindhoven before the window shuts.

“It’s a new chapter for me,” Hudson-Odoi said. “I know a couple of the boys already which was a big thing for me, and I obviously know the manager well, so it’s nice to be here and see familiar faces around.”

Has the collapse of João Palhinha’s move to Bayern had any scuppering effects on Liverpool landing Ryan Gravenberch from the Bundesliga champions? No, according to Times reporter Paul Joyce.

Jonny Evans signs Man Utd deal

Jonny Evans has signed a one-year deal at Manchester United until June 2024.

I am delighted to join Manchester United, a place which has always felt like home. This club and the fans have shaped me as a player and as a person since I was 15 years-old, and I am delighted to be back where it all began as part of this talented squad. I’ve really enjoyed working under the manager and his coaching staff since the start of pre-season, and I’m looking forward to helping this group achieve success together at this fantastic football club.

From the Man Utd website: “The United Academy graduate has been capped 102 times for Northern Ireland. In his previous spell at the club, the defender won three Premier League titles, two League Cups and the Champions League during 198 first-team appearances.”

Of course, Liverpool fans can’t just sleep easy over Mo Salah if no further news has emerged when the transfer window closes at 11pm BST. Although this all seems like some weird game of ‘Football Manager’, there are some actual realities and practicalities in place. Salah’s suitors, Al-Ittihad, play against Al Hilal tonight in a game that brings together Karim Benzema and Neymar. Liverpool take on Aston Villa at Anfield on Sunday. Not that those are deal-breaking distractions but the Saudi transfer window doesn’t shut until 7 September. Once the weekend games are over, Al-Ittihad have plenty of time to test Liverpool’s resolve with further bids.

As a quick line, some bookmakers have odds on Salah’s future and he’s 4/11 to stay at Liverpool and 9/4 to move to Saudi.

Bournemouth are pushing to sign Patson Daka and Luis Sinisterra from Leicester and Leeds respectively. Kieffer Moore, Jamal Lowe and Gavin Kilkenny could be heading out.

Palhinha move to Bayern collapses

Massive news for Fulham fans: João Palhinha’s move to Bayern Munich is off. The midfielder had travelled to Germany for a medical but he’ll be flying back to London now.

One interesting angle from Jacob’s news is whether it could affect Liverpool’s deal for Bayern’s Ryan Gravenberch. That one appeared to be almost done and dusted but nothing is confirmed yet.

Updated

Andy Carroll has joined French Ligue 2 club Amien. Not quite the shockwaves caused by him moving to Liverpool from Newcastle in the 2011 January transfer window. Still, he’s appeared in a nice video which even contains some spaghetti western-style dubbing (19 seconds in) of his voice.

Updated

Trevoh Chalobah’s hopes of joining Bayern on loan also appear to have been scuppered. Jacob Steinberg reported earlier that Nottingham Forest had bid £25m for the Chelsea defender so is that now on even though Chalobah appeared reluctant to go to the City Ground?

Updated

Thanks John.

Zuschlagen! Yes, the German transfer window has slammed shut. And yet, there are deals that don’t appear to have been done before the 5pm closure. One involves Fulham’s João Palhinha joining Bayern and that appears to be off.

Updated

And that concludes my shift on the transfer window. It’s now drivetime with David Tindall before Niall McVeigh is our nightwatchman.

On Joaos Felix and Cancelo, the word is that both may soon be Barcelona players. Both Jorge Mendes clients, reports in Spain suggest they are in Catalonia to sign up, Barça having problems registering players – hence Fati to Brighton – as they continue to suffer financial problems.

David Howell is back among us, and a good sport, too: “In answer to Scott Robinson: I had forgotten about that business amidst all the other depressing developments this window. I guess that answers my question of if there’s one person at the highest level of football I’d trust to be principled. The answer is evidently “no” and I can go back to hoping the sport eats itself. Anyone selling an AFC Giant Meteor shirt?”

Højberg going nowhere?

Am told that Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg will not get a move from Spurs today. We’ve already reported how he did not fancy Fulham.

A Reuters reminder of the summer’s biggest deals. Will Mohamed Salah join them?

  • Lionel Messi: Paris St Germain to Inter Miami (free)

  • Moises Caicedo: Brighton & Hove Albion to Chelsea (£115m)

  • Declan Rice: West Ham United to Arsenal (£105m)

  • Jude Bellingham: Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid (€103m)

  • Harry Kane: Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern Munich (€100m)

  • Josko Gvardiol: RB Leipzig to Manchester City (€90m)

  • Karim Benzema: Real Madrid to Al-Ittihad (free)

  • Neymar: Paris St Germain to Al-Hilal (€90 million)

  • Rasmus Hojlund: Atalanta to Manchester United (£72m)

  • Dominik Szoboszlai: RB Leipzig to Liverpool (€70m)

  • Matheus Nunes: Wolves to Manchester City (£53m)

Updated

More Chelsea thoughts: Trevoh Chalobah’s situation is hard to read. Nottingham Forest have bid £25m for the Chelsea defender but he’s reluctant to go there. Bayern Munich have been trying to get him on loan and Chelsea are now ready to send him there. But it’s gone quiet at the Bayern end and the German window shuts at 5pm… I’ve been told Bayern may be signing someone else.

Shaun Tooze on *that* Arteta press conference metaphor: “Just thank God Arteta doesn’t live near Spaghetti Junction in Birmingham. It would have the potential for a recording being made and sold to insomniacs everywhere. It’d probably gross more than Chelsea have spent in the last few windows.”

James Humphries gets in touch: “It’s not in any danger of knocking Cantona’s “if the seagull follows the trawler it’s because it expects fish” off its perch (ha!), is it?”

Not if he goes via the A21, it’s not.

It’s a bit strange to see Chelsea so willing to shift their academy players. Mason Mount went to Manchester United earlier this summer, Callum Hudson-Odoi is off to Nottingham Forest and they’ve always been willing to listen to offers for Trevoh Chalobah, Conor Gallagher and Ian Maatsen.

Of course we all know why it’s happening - the sale of academy players helps a club’s Financial Fair Play position and Chelsea have spent around £1bn since last summer.

So here we are with them trying to convince Maatsen, a player rated by Mauricio Pochettino, go to Burnley on loan with an obligation to buy the left-back for £31.5m. This comes after they couldn’t agree a deal for the luckless Marc Cucurella to join United on loan. Maatsen doesn’t want to go and time’s running out.

As for Chalobah, talks over a move to Bayern aren’t really progressing. Gallagher, who captained Chelsea against Wimbledon, will probably only go if Tottenham manage to sell Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.

And here’s Football Daily, reminding that there’s actual football to be played this evening, and this weekend.

In other news, and almost two weeks on, this saga continues in Spain. Rubiales is still in a job…

Peter Oh gets in touch: “A couple of days ago it looked like Man City’s out-of-favour Portuguese man was on his way to Barcelona, but I haven’t seen any confirmation of the deal. Has someone been Cancelo’d?”

Sky’s German reporter just looked very confused when asked if Cancelo was going to Bayern, where he’s already been and gone. No takers? A year ago, he was the wind beneath City’s wings.

Updated

Ian, a Hammer, gets in touch: “Hi John - West Ham fan here - almost halfway through the ‘three peaks challenge’ of European draw, Transfer Window closing and Luton away tonight.

“When Arteta says he’s hitting the A21 would it be naughty of me to suggest that if he’s on the A21, he’s further away from his intended route than he usually is from the inside of his technical area - the A21 being the road between SE London to Hastings via the footballing mecca of Tonbridge (Angels).”

We think he meant the A12, the dual carriageway of proper Eastenders. But who knows?

Done deal: Manchester United sign Reguilón on loan

From a United club release: Sergio Reguilón has joined Manchester United on loan from Tottenham Hotspur until June 2024. The 26-year-old has played 230 games for clubs including Real Madrid, Sevilla, Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid, and won 6 caps for Spain. Reguilón has won the Europa League and FIFA Club World Cup.

Sergio Reguilón said:

In life you have to be ready for everything and the chance to represent this great club with such an illustrious history is one that I could not turn down. Having spoken to the manager, I know what he needs from me, and I am ready to play my part in helping the team to achieve success. I know that I can contribute to Manchester United this season; I am ready to fight for this group and show everyone my qualities.

John Murtough, Manchester United Football Director, said:

Once it became clear that we needed to bring in another left-back we assessed a number of targets and acted quickly to sign Sergio. He possesses all the required qualities to help us achieve our aims this season. He has good experience in both the Premier League and in European competitions, so he is ready to come into the squad and perform straight away.

More Chelsea news: their young striker Mason Burstow, who started in the League Cup win over AFC Wimbledon on Wednesday, is going out on loan to Sunderland. Mauricio Pochettino had wanted to keep Burstow but the youngster needs more experience.

Scott Robinson gets in touch: “Can you ask David Howell where he thinks Klopp’s principled stance against “the Saudi threat” was when Liverpool were selling Firmino, Fabinho and Henderson to Saudi clubs?

What do you mean you don’t want to relive Wayne Rooney’s acting performances? And if he was so bad, how bad must have been the others that didn’t make the cut?

Arsenal news: nobody coming in, according to Mikel Arteta.

I don’t expect anybody to come in. We’ve done quite a lot and we had a lot of uncertainty with a lot of players so we have to be very cautious. Sometimes it’s not possible and we have to adapt. We cannot go and buy another three players. It’s not possible.

Instead, he offered this defence of his tactics so far this season. Warning: heavy on the metaphor.

I played different against Manchester City (in the Community Shield) and there were 43 different formations. Every morning I come from my house to Colney. Sometimes I leave at six and I need to go to the windscreen because it’s icy. At six o’clock normally I go Finchley Road and then the A21 because it’s faster.

Now Finchley Road is 20 miles per hour so sometimes I take a back door. But then I go on the M25. But depending on if it’s a school ride I take one exit. If it’s after seven o’clock I take a different exit and then I go. One day I have a flat tyre, what do I do? Maybe I have to replace it because there’s a garage there. So every game is a different story guys.

A different story. If we have another injury we’re going to have to do something else. If Bukayo [Saka] is not there we’re going to have something else. So the M25 won’t be good enough. Maybe we’ll take another one. If I speak to a taxi driver that has learned the whole of London for 20 years, I know nothing compared to him because he will tell me all the streets and options at the best time.

So there’s that.

Another Manchester City outgoing, James McAtee, has joined Sheffield United on loan for the season, where he spent last season in their promotion campaign.

Updated

David Howell makes himself a hostage to fortune: “Even in this transfer market era, selling a thirty-something to a non-rival for up to £150m is almost certainly brilliant business for Liverpool. But if there’s one man at the top of football whom I’d trust to make a principled stand against the Saudi threat, it’s Jurgen Klopp.”

Via PA Media’s Tottenham man, George Sessions, on Hugo Lloris, expected to leave tonight: somewhere, possibly nowhere.

Lloris only has one year left on his contract and if no suitor can be found before the English transfer window closes on Friday night, PA understands the Frenchman may depart Tottenham by mutual consent with the final 12 months of his deal likely to be terminated.

When asked about the 36-year-old, Ange Postecoglou said: “I have only been here a couple of months but Hugo has been excellent throughout the whole process.

“There is no doubt he has had an outstanding career and contribution to this football club. He has been the captain for quite a long time and been very professional, obviously working with (Rob) Burchy and the other goalkeepers.

“He has been helping the others, Vic (Gugliemo Vicario) being the new goalkeeper, so I have nothing negative to say about him and I wouldn’t.

“There has been nothing other than him being very, very professional about everything.”

Chelsea have agreed a deal to loan Ian Maatsen to Burnley with an obligation to buy at £31.5m - but there’s a twist: basically the left-back doesn’t want to go. Let’s see how this plays out.

Updated

Another Celtic development from our Fabrizio.

Manchester City assistant manager Juanma Lillo on the departure of Cole Palmer to Chelsea:

This is the reality - it’s very difficult to go against a player’s wishes. When a player wants to go, it is very difficult to go against that. We have to work out the operation that has value for the club as well.

On the other side, there is a pride that young player upon player is being created now and starting to give life to the rest of the country, like at Chelsea. We have to be proud and satisfied at Manchester City that we have done this, but to deny a footballer the opportunity to do what he wants to do is very difficult.

Harriet Osborn on Todd Boehly’s billion spent: “On the continuing subject of Chelsea’s excesses- also Serbian keeper Djordje Petrovic from the New England Revolution (Matt Turner’s [apt] replacement after he left for Arsenal, as it turns out) for about £12.5m pounds. Surely in excess of £1bn over three windows with that addition. And £20m of that on keepers from MLS...”

We’re running the calculations: Transfermarkt – £920m approx, Soccerbase £930m approx, with a few undisclosed sums in there. It’s close….

Updated

Thomas Tuchel really really likes the English Premier League.

Chris gets in touch: “On the Salah front - I think that people who are saying Liverpool should take £150m for Salah are slightly missing the point. It is, of course, ludicrous money, even for someone of Salah’s significance and stature. But - he is Liverpool’s talisman. Even last year, which detractors said was an off year, 19 goals and 12 assists in the league alone. Secondly, it’s too late in the window. Had this offer come in when the ones for Fabinho / Henderson had, Liverpool would have time to line up a replacement (as they have done with Endo, and look to be doing with Gravenberch). Who could they realistically sign now who would be worth it? I expect Salah to go next year, for around £100m.”

Good advice for anyone, this.

Celtic news. Does Brendan mean “many” or “any” as the club prepares to announce a loan deal for Benfica midfielder Paulo Bernardo?

Asked by PA Media if there could be some late deals, Rodgers said: “I’m not so sure. I don’t think there will be many more coming in.”

On the imminent signing of 21-year-old Bernardo, Rodgers said: “Again a young player that’s coming in with potential and that will hopefully be confirmed. He comes in with the opportunity to see him and give us more strength in depth in that midfield area and we will see how he develops.”

Matt Dony gets in touch: “£150m for a 31yr old? I love Salah so much, and it would be frustrating to not be able to replace him until January (at best), but surely that got to be seriously considered? Well, no. i don’t mean ‘replace’ him. I doubt he can be replaced. But the money couldn’t be reinvested straight away. There would be an obvious hole in the attack. At the risk of over-simplifying things, however, it’s a lot of money.”

John Brewin is back from his lunch and ready to steer this blog ever onwards. Bye!

Spurs agree £45m deal with Forest for Johnson

Tottenham have agreed a £45m deal to sign Brennan Johnson from Nottingham Forest. The winger is on his way to Tottenham’s training ground for a medical.

Forest, meanwhile, are on the verge of completing the signing of Callum Hudson-Odoi from Chelsea for a fee in the region of £5m. The deal includes a significant sell-on clause.

Here’s a bit from Brighton on the terrific loan signing of Ansu fati from Barcelona.

Manager Roberto De Zerbi said:

This is a great deal for all of us. I am sure Ansu will help us to reach a new target and we can help him get back at the level he deserves to be.”

And technical director David Weir said:

We are delighted to bring Ansu to the club. He is one of the most highly-rated young players in the world and arrives with an impressive amount of experience both domestically and in European competition, despite his age. This season is the biggest in the club’s history and we’re really happy that a player of Ansu’s quality is going to be part of it.”

Tottenham pushing hard for Brennan Johnson

It’s a busy day at Spurs and it feels appropriate to whisper the dreaded two words – deal sheet. Lots of moving parts, with outgoing business linked to incoming. In midfield, the move for Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher seems to hinge on shipping out Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg but he does not fancy a move to Fulham.

In central defence, there is interest in Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly. Japhet Tanganga has completed a loan move to Augsburg while Sergio Reguilón to Manchester United on loan is also done. Augsburg will be obligated to buy Tanganga for €6m if he makes a certain number of appearances. There are January break clauses on both sides in each deal.

At present, there is nothing to report on moves for Eric Dier, Davinson Sánchez and Tanguy Ndombele. Hugo Lloris’s situation also remains unclear. Dier is not expected to leave.

Spurs are pushing hard for Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson, who wants the move. Forest have a replacement for him in Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi lined up. They want a package worth £45m for Johnson.

“Wocher Gregg, nice to see footie keeping its sense of perspective in these times of climate change, inflation, austerity, collapsing school buildings, Rubiales, etc,” chirps Jeremy Boyce. “How many climates could you change back with the lolly that is sloshing around today, never mind in the whole window, right up to next Friday when Mo Salah does one to Saudi Arabia? It’s lovely that Saka, Rashford etc. do good works socially, but it’s a bread and circuses thing these days, isn’t it ? Loads of bread and a huge circus. Thank goodness for coats down in the park … eh Ron?” The kids take their own plastic cones to the park these days, Jeremy. Sigh.

Callum Hudson-Odoi has passed his Nottingham Forest medical and will sign from Chelsea for what appears to be a bargain-basement price of £8m. It’s only a few seasons ago that Bayern Munich offered to take the player on loan with an option to buy for £70m – and Chelsea rejected it.

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“Ansu Fati’s loan move is one of the rare deals which should be great for everyone involved,” writes Kári Tulinius. “Brighton get a player who could potentially rip opposing defences to shreds, but they have cover in his position if he’s injured again. The player has a huge chance to get his career flying again, but if he fails he’ll have plenty of suitors in Spain. And Barcelona get him out of the way of Lamine Yamal, and if he regains his scintillating form, he returns next year.”

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The transfer window moves quickly! A couple of hours ago it was only rumoured that Sergio Reguilón may be joining Manchester United. But it turns out he has already trained with the club and is available to take on Arsenal this weekend. Here’s what Erik ten Hag had to say:

He is here, he trained. Yes [he will also be available for Sunday].”

Summer signing Rasmus Hojlund is also fit to make his debut this weekend as well as the goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.

He was tight-lipped about Sofyan Amrabat would be joining, though a wry smile suggested it is close and Sky are reporting that a loan deal is almost done.

Updated

Done deal – Ansu Fati joins Brighton on loan

One of the more surprising summer moves is complete. And what a heartening signing this is for Brighton. The club’s burgeoning ability to improve youngsters has clearly made players – and clubs – sit up and take notice. If they can get Ansu Fati firing again, what team they’ll be to watch.

Updated

Report: Liverpool reject £150m Al-Ittihad offer for Salah

Liverpool have received and rejected their first serious offer from Al-Ittihad for Mohamed Salah, a £100m fee rising to a staggering £150m with add-ons.

The offer from the Saudi Pro League club was made in a phone call on Thursday night to Mike Gordon, president of Liverpool’s owners Fenway Sports Group, and immediately rejected. Gordon reaffirmed Liverpool’s stance that Salah is not for sale although Al-Ittihad are expected to continue their pursuit of the Egypt international until the Saudi transfer window closes later this month.

Continue reading the full story here.

Updated

Any clubs looking for a quick-fix creative spark on the cheap? Papu Gómez is no spring chicken, mind, but he was a fine player a couple of seasons ago. Maybe he’ll return to Atalanta.

Hello. It’s Gregg here, in on a free transfer to do a job in the middle of the park while John grabs some food. I wonder how much money Al-Ittihad will have to throw at Liverpool before Mo Salah suddenly isn’t for sale any more? For all that Jürgen Klopp spoke of Salah staying I did think he seemed a little bit resigned when talking about the forward in his press conference this morning. Perhaps he was just fed up of being asked about it.

Gregg Bakowski is in the chair for the next hour while I devour a chicken Salah, sorry, salad.

Ed Webster gets in touch: “On your list of Chelsea’s signings under Todd Boehly, I think Chelsea have also signed Deivid Washington this summer for c. £15m…. so I think that pushes them over the £1bn mark!! Keep up the good work.”

Well well, party for Todd? What an achievement.

Report: Saudis make their move for Salah

According to David Ornstein of the Athletic, a £100m “plus substantial add-ons” verbal offer was placed last night by Al-Ittihad to sporting director Mike Gordon. It was refused out of hand, and Liverpool consider the matter closed. The Saudis almost certainly don’t.

Updated

Ron Stack: “I read your post about Fair Game before my first cup of coffee, so for a moment I thought they wanted the Government to transfer Levy. As a Spurs fan, I’m in favourr.”

This one’s been a long-running saga, all summer long but looks like the PSG reboot has got its man.

Richard Hirst also gets in touch: “Am I the only person who finds the Man Utd screen behind ten Hag utterly incomprehensible? Team Viewer, DXC (presumably) Technology and the plea/instruction Download Now; I guess you have to be 12 to understand it. Which, thinking about it, also applies to their transfer ‘strategy’.”

Ben Lake gets in touch: “I imagine you as you sitting in your yellow suit and yellow chair, locked in your yellow vault that keeps you safe from a big purple floppy thing in your ear. Anyway, despite constant self affirmations that the (mostly men) running football can’t be that stupid and ignorant, I see from earlier reporting that some clubs are sniffing around Mason Greenwood.”

“I will be, honestly, a little impressed with whoever attempts to make that signing, particularly if it is in Europe. The genuine gall to welcome that level of vitriol onto your club for a single player is really astounding, yet somehow, totally unsurprising. Football has a long history of trying to ignore any murky past a footballer may have, particularly in relation to their activities around the bedroom.

“Let’s see where he ends up at the end of this window and wait for the totally predictable fallout that the perplexed looking man in a suit who sanctioned the whole thing will have to deal with.”

Simon Gill gets in touch: “Well spotted there, Jack Kirby-Lowe. Could the appearance of that white rose on City’s infographic mean that Kalvin Phillips has finally found a (somewhat subversive) role at the club, beavering away in the social media department rather than anchoring the midfield?”

Still got an England call….

James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Timothy Castagne are among those Leicester City have sold this summer but there could yet be more movement out of the King Power Stadium. Patson Daka, Harry Souttar and Boubakary Soumare are among those who are yet to feature under Enzo Maresca this season. Kelechi Iheanacho is another player who could be up for grabs, while Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward has been relegated to third in the pecking order at the club. “I want my players to play and if it means he gets a move, from a selfish point of view, I’d be happy,” the Wales manager Rob Page said on Thursday.

Done deal: Aston Villa sign Lenglet on loan

Per the club’s website.

Aston Villa is delighted to announce the loan signing of French international Clément Lenglet. The centre-back joins Villa from Barcelona and returns to the Premier League having spent last term on loan at Tottenham Hotspur.

Lenglet started his career with Nancy in his native France before going on to enjoy a spell at Sevilla. The move is subject to a successful visa application.

Looks like good news for Manchester United fans on Amrabat.

Jack Kirby-Lowe gets in touch: “Great work you’re doing. I noticed Man City’s smart little graphic for their Nunes signing. Very nice, the design team must be proud. One GLARING issue though is rendering the red rose of Lancaster in white, the colour of hated county rivals, the mighty Yorkshire (Yorkshire!!). I hope someone gets fired for that blunder!”

Fair Game, the campaign, have got in touch and are calling on the Government to add a “transfer levy” to its package of reforms for football, which would provide a lifeline to clubs below the top flight that continue to struggle with the fall out of the pandemic and the day-to-day challenges of the cost-of-living crisis.

Using data from the last five years, if a 10 percent levy had been in place it would have led to an extra £160m to Football League clubs and the grass roots game each year.

Niall Couper, the CEO of Fair Game, said:

The dreams of signing the likes of Moises Caicedo, Declan Rice and Rasmus Hojlund, and a place among the world’s elite has led to a gambling culture in English football that has put the very future of dozens of our clubs at risk.

On the one hand we have normalised the £100m transfer. On the other, Fair Game research has revealed that 39 clubs are technically insolvent. And since the start of the Premier League 64 clubs in our top four divisions have gone into administration.

“If the levy had been in place over the last 12 months, that would have raised over £200m. It would transform the lower echelons of the football pyramid, protecting the domestic transfer market for EFL clubs and lower, and giving a much-needed cash injection into clubs that have been left on the brink by the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. That would be life-changing for football in this country.

Todd Boehly et al, it’s over to you.

Wolves are determined to make up for lost time. They have plenty of irons in the fire, with Southampton striker Che Adams and Fulham midfielder Harrison Reed among those of interest. Tommy Doyle, Enso Gonzalez and Santiago Bueno have signed in the last 24 hours. Wolves missed out on Alex Scott, the Championship young player of the year, to Bournemouth earlier in the window, before they had the cash from the £53m deal Manchester City struck to buy Matheus Nunes.

Alex Iwobi’s move to Fulham is close to completion. Everton are set to receive £20m plus add-ons for the Nigeria international, who is in the final year of his contract at Goodison Park, and Leicester have moved ahead of Norwich in the race to sign young striker Tom Cannon. Cannon, who enjoyed a successful loan at Preston last season, is expected to raise another £7.5m towards Sean Dyche’s deadline day budget - but how much he will be given to spend is anyone’s guess.

Liverpool face Aston Villa on Sunday and Jürgen Klopp has pronounced himself very happy with his new-look midfield of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and now Ryan Gravenberch. Only Thiago Alcantara remains of the old guard, and Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott are now the two longest-serving players in that department, give or take a repurposed Trent Alexander-Arnold.


We pretty much had to reinvent the team. The midfield is all ready and will be completely new. We had to do that in a season where we didn’t qualify for the Champions League, which has a massive impact. I know people expect it to be different but it is how it is. I really think we did good business, the players we brought in are really good, will help the team. We are less experienced but that is normal, but we are full of desire and I love this team.

More to come from Manchester United with Reguilon and Amrabat perhaps still in the offing but the word from inside the club is that they believe the window so far to successful, one well-planned and executed by John Murtough, the football director, having yielded the maximum from a limited FFP constrained budget.

Johnson set for Spurs?

Tottenham are closing on a deal for Brennan Johnson, with final details of the deal being ironed out. Nottingham Forest want circa £45m for the Wales forward, who has been tracked by Brentford for the past couple of years. Spurs are also weighing up a second bid for Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly, after a £20m move was swiftly rejected by the Cherries. Kelly is out of contract next summer but is viewed as an integral part of Bournemouth’s squad. Spurs want to offload Eric Dier, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Hugo Lloris and Tanguy Ndombele.

Cole Palmer £40m signing took Chelsea’s spending under the Todd Boehly/Clearlake regime takes them very close to £1 billion, according to our potted calculations. Just one more flex and they are there?

Summer 2022 transfer window

  • Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) - £47.5m

  • Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli) - £34m

  • Gabriel Slolina (Chicago Fire) - £8.1m

  • Carney Chukwuemeka (Aston Villa) - £20m

  • Marc Cucurella (Brighton) - £60m

  • Cesare Casadei (Inter Milan) - £16.8m

  • Wesley Fofana (Leicester) - £70m

  • Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Barcelona) - £12m

Summer 2022 total - £268.4m

Winter transfer window 2023

  • Benoit Badiashile (Monaco) - £35m

  • David Datro Fofana (Molde) - £10.6m

  • Andrey Santos (Vasco da Gama) - £16m

  • Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid, loan fee) - £10m

  • Mykhailo Mudryk (Shakhtar Donetsk) - £90m

  • Noni Madueke (PSV) - £30m

  • Malo Gusto (Lyon) - £26m

  • Enzo Fernandez (Benfica) - £106.8m

  • Jimmy-Jay Morgan (Southampton) - £3m

Winter total - £327.4m

Summer 2023

  • Nicolas Jackson (Villarreal) - £32m

  • Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig) - £53m

  • Angelo Gabriel (Santos) - £13m

  • Lesley Ugochukwu (Rennes) - £23m

  • Axel Disasi (Monaco) - £38m

  • Robert Sanchez (Brighton) - £25m

  • Moises Caicedo (Brighton) - £115m

  • Romeo Lavia (Southampton) - £58m

  • Cole Palmer (Manchester City) – £40m

Summer 2023 total - £397m

Full total: £992.8m

Manchester United have received multiple interest in deals for Mason Greenwood, Eric Bailly and Donny van de Beek to leave but nothing yet finalised, is the understanding.

Fulham have now submitted a bid for Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, and are closing in on a £20m deal to sign the Everton winger Alex Iwobi. Everton are eyeing West Ham’s Maxwel Cornet.

Done deal: Manchester City sign Nunes for £53m

“Manchester City are delighted to announce the signing of Matheus Nunes from Wolverhampton Wanderers on a five-year deal.”

He becomes their fourth major signing of the summer.

The 25-year-old has signed a five-year contract and joins Josko Gvardiol, a defender, midfielder, Mateo Kovacic, and Jeremy Doku, a wide player.

Nunes said: “I’m so happy to be joining Manchester City, the Champions of Europe and a club I’ve admired for a long time. The opportunity to work under Pep Guardiola, one of the greatest managers ever, and alongside some of the best players in the world was something I simply couldn’t turn down.”

His transfer follows Nunes’s refusing to train at Wolves to force the move through.

Updated

Per PA Media: more on Liverpool, who look to have closed the books once Gravenberch was secured:

Despite a need for reinforcements in defence - Ibrahima Konate is injured and Virgil Van Dijk is suspended - Klopp is not expecting any more business to be done.

“It’s deadline day so I don’t want to kill the excitement of the people so you never know,” he said. “But I’m busy today with other things. If we could bring in a centre-half for a weekend I’d think about it.”

Another Manchester City youngster is heading out.

Wolves have signed Manchester City royalty in Tommy Doyle, in that he is grandson of two City legends in Mike Doyle and Glynn Pardoe. He will spend the season on loan at Molineux after Matheus Nunes went the other way on a permanent move and joins Wolves on the back of a successful season with Sheffield United, who he helped to promotion to the Premier League in May.

Done deal: Arsenal must be missing a full-back, and it only takes a minute to tell you that Nuno Tavares will play the season at Nottingham Forest on loan.

There is a growing expectation that Brennan Johnson will not wake up a Nottingham Forest player on Saturday morning. Whether he does a Tottenham Hotspur one remains to be seen. Spurs want to sign the versatile forward but need to offload fringe players to finance any deal and trim their squad. The significant part here is Forest are very much open to selling for a fee circa £45m. Brentford still retain interest in a player they have bid multiple times for over the past couple of years but are loath to enter a bidding war of sorts.

Palhinha heading to Bayern Munich?

Fulham are not confirming reports from Germany that they’ve accepted a €65m offer from Bayern Munich for João Palhinha. The day’s early, though, and the deal is expected to go through - assuming that Fulham, who have contacted Tottenham about Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg - can find a replacement for their influential midfielder.

Losing Palhinha would be a huge blow for Marco Silva, who is desperate to keep the Portugal international. It’s been a weird window for Fulham. They’ve already lost Mitrovic to the Saudi Pro League and it will be interesting to see what Palhinha’s likely departure has on Silva’s future.

By the way, this is a deal that could spark a merry-go-round. If Palhinha goes and Fulham sign Hojbjerg (they have alternatives) then don’t be surprised to see Tottenham go for Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher.

Updated

Just as Liverpool find their new supersub in Darwin Nunez, the previous incumbent is coming back to the Premier League.

For the moment, here’s Jürgen Klopp’s say on the Salah matter: “The position remains the same. No offer as far as I know. No doubt about it. Nothing else to say.”

Updated

We await developments on Liverpool’s latest signing and await the Saudi Arabian swoop for Mohamed Salah. It’s coming, surely.

More on Manchester United from Jamie Jackson: “United remain intent on signing Sofyan Amrabat, with their interest independent of the sale of Scott McTominay, who is not expected to leave.

Done deal: Chelsea sign Palmer from Manchester City

The deal is a boost for Mauricio Pochettino, who has been pushing Chelsea to buy an attacking player since losing Christopher Nkunku to a long-term knee injury last month. Chelsea are also without Mykhailo Mudryk and Carney Chukwuemeka before hosting Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Pochettino’s preference was to bring in a forward capable of playing in a variety of roles. Palmer fits the bill: a left-footed talent capable of playing on the right wing and through the middle.

Updated

It should be a busy day at Nottingham Forest. Odisseas Vlachodimos is on his way from Benfica, Callum Hudson-Odoi will join from Chelsea and Nuno Tavares from Arsenal. Where the most intrigue lies is with regards to Brennan Johnson and whether Forest can come to an agreement with Tottenham. If the winger does go, they will likely pull the lever to sign Ibrahim Sangare from PSV.

Updated

Done deal: Manchester United sign goalkeeper Bayindir

Manchester United have signed Altay Bayindir from Fenerbache for €5m on a four-year deal with an option of another 12 months, the 25-year-old goalkeeper replacing Dean Henderson who joined Crystal Palace earlier in the week.

The transfer was completed on Thursday night but the announcement was delayed due to the Turkish club’s 2-0 Europa Conference League win against FC Twente then.

Bayindir said: “It is a huge honour to join Manchester United and become the first Turkish player to represent this incredible club. I have a passion for success, and I will give everything to help this special group of players to achieve our ambitions.”

On transfer deadline day United hope to sign Tottenham’s left-back Sergio Reguilon on loan due to Erik ten Hag’s first-choice in the position, Luke Shaw, in the position being injured until as long as November.

The proposed deal is thought to have a break clause in January to allow Reguilon’s return to Spurs. Marc Cucurella playing for Chelsea against Wimbledon this week prevented such a deal.

Updated

Barry Glendenning brings you the Rumour Mill.

Chelsea’s policy of offloading home-grown academy graduates in the interests of trimming their squad and balancing the books shows no sign of abating, with Callum Hudson-Odoi being shipped out to Nottingham Forest. Once valued at £50m, the injury prone winger is rumoured to be going for a cut-price £8m. Trevoh Chalobah is also expected to leave Stamford Bridge for Bayern Munich, even if the German champions’ insistence on a loan deal is not entirely to Chelsea’s liking. Bayern also remain interested in taking Conor Gallagher off the Chelsea payroll, but any move they make could be hijacked by Tottenham.

With Spurs looking increasingly unlikely to lure Brennan Johnson away from Nottingham Forest, expect them to ramp up their efforts to sign Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace instead. After their pursuit of Chelsea full-back Marc Cucurella came to naught, Manchester United will announce the signing of Tottenham full-back Sergio Reguilón. The 26-year-old Spaniard spent a couple of hours on Thursday night being poked by the Old Trafford medics before a season long loan. United remain hell-bent on signing Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina and both clubs and the player himself all seem amenable to a deal being concluded as long as the price is right.

Preamble

It’s here, yellow-ticker fever day is with us. And there’s plenty of loose ends to tie up, with transfers aplenty to be carried out through the day and night until we reach the witching hour and talk of “deal sheets” descends. While the supernova deals of the summer have been done, largely, in Declan Rice and Harry Kane, just about every Premier League club has a gap or two to fill. And that could make for some deadline day drama. They say anything can happen on deadline day and while that is a statement full of more holes than Blackburn, Lancashire, it’s bound to be heavy on the jet fuel, and clicks on X/Twitter. Stick with us for the duration until the window SLAMS SHUT.

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