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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Paul Doyle, Jacob Steinberg, Michael Butler (earlier) and Nick Ames (now)

Transfer deadline day: Drinkwater, Bony, Llorente, Barkley and more – as it happened

Let's wrap this up for tonight

There are some deals pending, we know that. We’re expecting Palace to sign Mamadou Sakho and Danny Drinkwater to end up at Chelsea, as things stand, although things can change in an instant. The status of Leicester’s move for Adrien Silva is not clear. What excitement for when we (in the UK and the few timezones either side) wake up in the morning!

So to finish, here’s a summary of the main things that did and didn’t happen on deadline day:

There was, of course, so much more. To get your own tailored look at it all, check this out:

And thanks so much for all your emails, tweets and other interactions today and in the past few – it’s been good fun and you’re all indispensable to that. I’m off home to bed now, perhaps with a quick diversion to the fridge. See you again soon!

Updated

Paraguay are winning 2-0 in Chile. How’s Alexis playing ... ?

In rather more footbally news – we believe Chelsea’s move for Danny Drinkwater is done ...

Some things are just more important than a player getting to play football ...

“When do you get to go home Nick? I feel very little is happening,” asks Ruth Purdue.

It’s lovely of you to ask, Ruth. There are a few things happening so we’ll merrily plough on for another 20 minutes or so. It’s been a long day, but not a dull one!

Whether or not there are a few deals pending, take a look at this – assessing the window each Premier League club has had:

Rough day there – you’ll recall they didn’t get the centre-back they wanted either.

Right, it’s past 1am now. If Palace have snared Sakho and Chelsea tied down Drinkwater – not to mention Leicester collaring Silva – we really should be hearing about this now-ish.

One little late note of interest – Ahmed Musa was supposed to be joining Hull on loan from Leicester ... but that’s broken down.

Have to feel for Oumar Niasse now too. Another few months in the cold. Remember this excellent interview?

Dave is on fire tonight! That kiboshes that for Brighton, who look worryingly light up top – and it also means Tottenham now have three big lads to fight over that centre-forward place. I know who my money’s not on at the moment.

Now is probably not the time to remind anyone that it’s not entirely unknown for deals, in very exceptional scenarios, to be officially confirmed the day after the window ends.

So Palace, anyway. The Sakho move is still on as far as I know but if they don’t get Niasse – which looks to be the case, although I don’t have the details – then it’s a really big blow for their attacking options. I’ll say it again: even if they do get Sakho, they are in trouble. He’s good but he’s no panacea I’m afraid.

Darren MacGowan writes: “Barkley returning to Everton is reminiscent of Mac in Local Hero when he returns home to soulless Houston. I’m convinced he’s not really happy at all. But who is these days?”

After nine hours at this I think it’d be dangerous for me to ponder too much on that question, David.

Oh! Late drama at Palace! And not of the kind they’d want!

Still there? Let’s see this thing through. Surely Palace, in particular, can’t be far from crossing the Is and dotting the Ts. Then we can all put our heads together and pore over *exactly* what this all means – or just go to bed, which I think is more likely if I’m honest.

To think that, all those hours ago, today looked as if it could be all about Alexis Sanchez. That one died in the water by late afternoon, eventually, and he’s now playing for Chile - who are a goal down to Paraguay at half-time in a really important game. I’m sure the distraction has greatly helped his country’s knife-edge bid for World Cup qualification.

The race remains on .

There will be a few players feeling quite disappointed when they get back to their clubs, won’t there? Van Dijk, Sanchez, Barkley, perhaps Drinkwater. How do they come back from that?

To remind you: we are still here now, rapping our fingers on the desk, because a few big deals could go through in the next 40 minutes. Mamadou Sakho and Oumar Niasse to Palace seem a matter of time; Danny Drinkwater to Chelsea has gone eerily quiet fgiven he was waiting at their training ground earlier ... and what will that do for Leicester’s pursuit of Adrien Silva? Others that still have a chance of happening involve Tottenham – Andre Gomes perhaps in, Vincent Janssen perhaps out to Brighton.

Wolves have signed someone too – Villarreal midfielder Alfred N’Diaye, ex-Sunderland and Hull, on loan. Didn’t land the striker they wanted earlier though.

Sheffield United have been busy – not content with Donaldson, they have also signed centre-back Ben Heneghan from Motherwell.

Because football is absolutely relentless and mad and bonkers, Uruguay and Argentina are as we speak contesting an absolutely crucial World Cup qualifier in Montevideo.

This is correct – I’d meant to come back to this actually but, y’know, a lot going on. If Janssen is to sign for Brighton, who are desperate for a striker, they’ll have to cough up what I think would be some very serious money. How far will they push it?

I’m almost giddy enough by this stage to offer Dave a group hug.

Swansea have loaned striker Oli McBurnie to Barnsley. Good move for all, that. Cardiff have taken Derby midfielder Craig Bryson on loan and ... stop me if you’ve heard this one before ... Chelsea have loaned a player out to the Championship too! Fikayo Tomori, the England U20 defender, joins the champions’ WhatsApp loanee army as he links up with Hull City.

Updated

Done deal! Ravel Morrison to Atlas FC in Mexico

Fascinating move for him. I’ll happily volunteer do to

Sunderland have wrapped up the loan signing of Palace’s Jonny Williams and the free transfer arrivals of West Brom’s Callum McManaman and Bournemouth’s Marc Wilson.

Updated

On Sakho and Niasse – I’m reliably informed there is no reason to panic. Those deals are on the verge of being rubber-stamped.

But what about Sakho and Niasse? They have 75 minutes to get those done ...

Bad window for Newcastle, no? They didn’t really get hold of anyone they wanted today and the most recent disappointment was that their loan ... errrr ... target, Southampton’s Matt Targett, didn’t get over the line either. What will Rafa do?

One out from Birmingham today – they’ve allowed the very decent target man Clayton Donaldson to join Sheffield United.

This has been Harry’s deadline day. The world is as it should be.

Sky have had someone outside the gates of Manchester United’s training ground all day – now that’s what call dedication. It’s also what I call abject boredom.

Wilfried Bony has taken shirt No2 at Swansea, if you like/are repulsed by that kind of thing.

Chelsea have now confirmed the Zappacosta move, not that anyone reading this blog had any remaining doubt. Will they Announce Drinkwater next?

Still waiting, I reckon, on pending business involving Sakho, Niasse, Drinkwater and possibly Andre Gomes. Currently the Palace ones look the most likely.

I’m seeing a few things about this too. Janssen played 64 minutes of Holland’s shambles in Paris so I would think a move is touch and go – but clubs have until 1am to get paperwork done and now the Llorente move has gone through things could in theory gather pace, as long as they were in place before 11pm.

Done deal! Swansea re-sign Wilfried Bony!

He’s back after that dead duck of a two and a half year spell at Man City. Can he reproduce the wonderful form he showed at Swansea first time around? They will need him to – and he’s only score 12 goals since he left the Liberty Stadium first time around ...

Done deal! Tottenham sign Fernando Llorente!

The floodgates have opened! Pochettino gets his quality backup/alternative to Harry Kane and, believe me, that comes as a blow to Chelsea as well. It also means ...

Done deal! Chelsea sign Davide Zappacosta!

That is confirmation from his club, Torino. Waiting for the same from Chelsea but we can be sure that the right-back is onboard now.

That’s a very interesting snippet. Pochettino loves Edwards ... could he make a big splash this season?

Full story on that Barkley bolt from the blue, which all seemed to kick off just as I’d said it had been quiet, here:

James Powell has a reality check for whinging Chelsea fans, who I might add will be greeting at least one new signing in the coming moments:

“Some of my fellow Chelsea fans need to calm down. Matic, a decent player yes, but incredibly inconsistent. Bakayoko looks like he has 10 times the energy and thats when he’s 80% fit. We’ve hardly gifted United the missing piece of their puzzle...

“Lukaku, yes in hindsight, maybe should have kept him, but no one was complaining last season when Costa was banging in goals and we’re lifting trophies. I for one am very positive about Morata and what I’ve seen so far.

“We beat Spurs at Wembley with half a team and made Everton look like Colorado Rapids on a good day, and thats before Hazard’s back. Nobody was interested when we signed Dave and Marcus Alonso and look at those two now ... integral.”

One thing I would say, James, is that plenty of people would argue with the last sentence of your first paragraph.

Updated

Scotland’s deadline officially goes on an extra hour, by the way, because absolutely nothing about any of this is as simple as it ought to be.

It’s ... errr ... 11pm so the transfer window has SLAMMED SHUT! But it hasn’t, really – paperwork can still be completed after this time and there is so much still to be announced. If you haven’t heard your team’s big signing confirmed yet, don’t panic!

Birmingham have completed a pretty astonishing hat-trick of big-money signings from Brentford: they have shelled out around £3m for right-back Maxime Colin, who joins Harlee Dean and Jota in the Redknapp revolution.

I’d say this was one for the road but who are we kidding – I’m going absolutely nowhere for the foreseeable.

A Done Deal that has been rumbling on all day: Brighton have signed Tim Krul on loan from Newcastle.

Andy Hunter has been lovely and transcribed Moshiri's quotes on Barkley for you

On Barkley, Moshiri said: “The two clubs agreed a deal of £35m, I think personal terms were agreed and after the medical we heard from Paul Martin, his agent, that he changed his mind. He wants to reconsider his position during the January window. He is currently injured so I think technically he will be with us because he is under contract for another year. It is a big surprise but that is football. The number ten position is very congested as we have Sigurdsson, Klaasen and Rooney. It is not easy to break into that now but he is a good player, he is a world class player but he needs to play.”

And on not getting the striker in that Ronald Koeman had repeatedly asked for, Everton’s majority shareholder added:

“I think it’s been a very busy transfer window. We brought in a lot of new players, especially in the attacking areas. In the number ten position we have brought in Klaasen, Sigurdsson, Rooney. We brought in Sandro Ramirez and we want to give the team a chance to gel. We have a lot of new players and it takes time for them to gel. We reconsidered the position and we will try to strengthen the squad in January. We need some time for the nine new players to gel and we have also Bolasie and Coleman to come back in October and December. It will be quite a strong squad. We might need another striker. We brought in a Croatian attacker so that will help the squad. We are quite happy with the business we have done.”

Done deal – Leicester sign Aleksandar Dragovic on loan

They wanted another centre-back and he is one – arriving from Bayer Leverkusen. You may remember him from Euro 2016 with Austria. Leicester are also frantically trying to get the paperwork done for Adrien Silva ...

They were carefree times, weren’t they, when we were swapping Classics-themed jokes and helping each other out with foodie tips? We’re now getting to within 15 minutes of the deadline and I count up to seven high-profile moves that could reasonably still be announced.

Tom Noble is also frustrated: “As a Chelsea fan, it’s been a long time since I was this frustrated with the way the club is run. From Costa to Matic and now leaving crucial depth signings this late? Bloody hell, what’s going on over there? Marina and Emenalo simply incompetent? Abramovich’s divorce? Complacency after winning the title? Help me understand. Please.”

Farhad Moshiri, Everton’s majority shareholder, is talking on Sky – confirms Barkley changed his mind and decided that he would reassess his options in January.

We understand Zappacosta’s move to Chelsea will be announced shortly – the fee is €28m plus €2m in add-ons.

Sakho is close – but another one for Palace?

Palace looking to loan Frederik Rønnow, a Danish international goalkeeper, from Brondby though any deal would go down to the wire.

Gokul Kannan is frustrated: “First Lukaku, then Ox, Llorente and now Barkley. How can Chelsea miss signing players whom they have set their sights on. Sounds so un-Chelsea like. What changed? They are the defending champions for god’s sake. Conte must be frustrated. Or is he also to be blamed? Who helps a direct title rival by handing them the final piece of the puzzle on a golden platter - Matic to Utd."

It is worth noting, vis a vis Lemar, that he wouldn’t be in a mad dash to reveal all if he was heading to a country that wasn’t England. As we know, Spain have until tomorrow ....

Updated

In light of this andthose words from Lemar, could we see some last-gasp madness? I mean, I’m tired, you’re tired, but how fun that would be! Or could another party, perhaps, have shown their hand for Lemar ... ?

Confirmation from Dominic Fifield that Barkley’s move broke down even though a fee in excess of £30m had been agreed, with add-ons.

He couldn’t be ... could he?

That Ross Barkley move, which flickered back into life from nowhere really, is off! He has apparently rejected a move to Chelsea from Everton! What now for him?

By the way, another of Arsenal’s fringe players to depart today was Joel Campbell – off to Real Betis on loan for a second time. It is his sixth loan in as many years; he is now 25. Is this a way to be handling the careers of players who once held genuine promise? It’s becoming increasingly apparent that young prospects should be advised to pick their clubs very carefully.

Done deal for Celtic! They have signed the young PSG striker Odsonne Edouard on loan. He’s a good prospect, could do well there.

Dominic Fifield has also told me that Palace, while seeking to conclude Niasse and Sakho, are also attempting to sign a goalkeeper, most likely on loan from abroad.

Could yet be some movement on Barkley – here's Dom ...

Chelsea are talking to Barkley, apparently, in a bid to persuade him he should come, but no indication as to whether a fee has been agreed with Everton.

Also receiving a few queries about Ross Barkley. We’re ticking into the last hour of the window now and, as with Mahrez, there’s nothing to report here. If anything it’s even quieter. There is at least the sense that Mahrez is undertaking a sort of Odemwingie-inspired Grand Embassy around clubs he might like to join.

Any pointers from Toffees fans would be welcome for entirely selfish reasons.

Updated

Many questions coming my way about Riyad Mahrez – usually in the form of “Mahrez?” My answer can only be “What?” – there really isn’t a lot of noise there, although there is still the thought that he didn’t head off from the Algeria camp for nothing. He must have thought something was happening, surely ... but there is no indication from the Leicester end, the Chelsea end or any other end that he will be on the move.

Danny Drinkwater, Sky tell us, is waiting at Chelsea’s training ground – he’s all ready to sign, but the clubs still need to shake on the fee.

No, should have added that below. That one still seems to be on.

Nuno Antonio says, as per our earlier chat about the influx of players from Sporting: “Sporting is indeed keeping things going tonight... Shame it’s one way traffic as there are no new signings on the horizon to help alleviate the severe loss of midfielders Adrién Silva and potentially the excellent William Carvalho, rumour mill stalwart of many a campaign. With Barcelona and Juventus due at the Alvalade stadium in the CL this season, I fear the worst later on in the year despite a promising start. Oh well at least we got shot of two dodgy full-backs...”

So, between now and the deadline, I think we can reasonably expect news on Llorente, Bony, Drinkwater, Adrien Silva and perhaps Andre Gomes. I think those are, realistically, the big ones that can still get done. But there’s often a surprise ...

Just to remind you, the deadline is at 11pm UK time, which is around an hour and 23 minutes from now. But deals are often not formalised til a bit later, so we can keep this part going a tad longer that that if necessary.

It’s more than OK with me, Anna, now that we’ve got to the bottom of it in the service of responsible, accurate and trustworthy journalism.

Things have escalated in those World Cup games. Now France 4-0 Holland, and I really can’t see the Dutch playing in Russia now. Belgium, 10-man Belgium of course, are now 9-0 up over Gibraltar. I think Romelu Lukaku has scored three of them.

Wolves’ £10m move for PSV striker Jurgen Locadia has fallen through. They’re just going to have to muddle through on scant resources now, no idea how they’ll cope.

Well, let’s all be friends, this is quite a journey we’re taking together here. A few people backing up Alix’s tweet from earlier though.

“Andre Gomes is no longer on the bench. He has replaced Joao Moutinho!” reports David Correia.

Not sure what kind of signature this is going to have to be now.

“I live in the US and no American has ever used the phrase ‘wet signature’,” preaches ‘The Reverend Eric Biddy’.

Where is this from?

From Charles Robinson: “If you’re genuinely concerned about Ipswich’s search for a new centre-back - and let’s face it, who isn’t - the Derby Telegraph reported earlier today that they’re after the Mighty Rams defender Jason Shackell. There’s also a whisper that Ikechi Anya might be off on loan to Reading. As for incomings at Pride Park, Derby had a bid for Brum midfielder David Davis rejected. At this point, Nick, I was going to crowbar in a wretched Brexit joke, but have decided against it.”

Presumably Davis would have arrived with no idea what he wanted from the contract negotiations anyway.

As for Ipswich, could this face lie? Connor Goldson was meant to be coming in from Brighton but that’s on the rocks because of their own problems getting a defender in. I’d take Shackell but, as is a common theme, expect a deal may be too rich for Ipswich.

Thomas Lemar news! He has just scored a SUPERB goal for France, who are now 2-0 up over Holland. Lovely, clean left-foot hit.

What might have been, eh?

Fairly certain it needs to be done the American way.

Updated

Our own Jamie Jackson explains the whole City/Palace/Evans merry-go-round: "As Sakho looks to be heading to Crystal Palace the view at City now is that Mangala will stay, which means no Evans to City.”

Not sure if this was covered earlier in the day but Jason Denayer has joined Galatasaray for a second loan spell from Manchester City. He was there in 2015-16 and has also had loans at Celtic and Sunderland. Something tells me he might as well leave permanently.

On Andre Gomes: would you like to know where he is at the moment? He’s in Porto, on the bench for Portugal’s World Cup qualifier against Faroe Islands (4-1 up). The match ends in 25 minutes. The window closes in 115 minutes. Tottenham are trying to sign him from Barcelona. This is all absolutely ridiculous.

“Gutted to see Jota leave Brentford,” weeps Jack Lee. “A player who seemed to have an extra second on the ball every time it came to him, and it often ended up in the back of the net.”

This picture of Llorente has, as is the way nowadays, been doing the rounds on the ol’ Twitter, I think courtesy of his brother - so I think we can assume that an announcement is a matter of time:

“Pickles, is it?” asks Adam Griffiths. “Any news on whether Ipswich keeper Dean Gherkin is on the move tonight?”

No, but I’m fretting like mad over their chase for a centre-back.

Now Llorente’s move to Spurs is imminent, the same appears to be true for Wilfried Bony’s return to Swansea. I’m not sure about the latter, I’m really not.

Also – Sky say Jonny Evans won’t be going to Man City, but I wouldn’t say that has looked particularly strong all day.

Increasingly I’m of the view they should have let him go.

From Jerry Parks: “I have absolutely nothing of value to add to your discussion, but I would like to note that Everton’s new signing shares his name with an American pickle company that has a ridiculous ad campaign/mascot.”

It’s been a good couple of hours since we dwelled obscurely upon foodstuffs, Jerry, so don’t you worry. Everybody: this might be the best thing you watch all day.

Still waiting to see if Spurs can agree a deal for Andre Gomes with Barcelona. In the meantime, the Llorente move would appear to be close.

What Diego Costa? That’s the question a few of you are asking. No movement from Chelsea at the moment *but* the Spanish deadline isn’t until tomorrow – so if Atletico Madrid come up with the right fee by then, he could still be off this week. In theory, of course, the same would apply to Philippe Coutinho’s Barcelona transfer. I think we can hold tight on these for tonight but tomorrow’s another day ...

Suggestions that Alex Song to Birmingham may be off. I for one find that to be a shame.

If I were PSG I’d be getting my head down for a bit.

I’m reliably informed there is nothing in it – was a fleeting bit of Twitter excitement.

News coming in that Leicester have their replacement for Danny Drinkwater – if Chelsea come up with the readies to sign him, that is. They would be ready to sign Adrien Silva of Sporting, who are really keeping things going for us tonight ...

Couple more wingers on the move, this time in the Championship. Fulham have taken Jordan Graham on loan from Wolves, while Craig Noone has left Cardiff to sign a permanent deal at Bolton.

Done deal at Liverpool!

Liverpool winger Ryan Kent has become the latest young British player to move abroad - joining Bundesliga side Freiburg on a season-long loan. The 20-year-old enjoyed a fine pre-season with Jurgen Klopp’s first team but needs more regular experience and the thought at Liverpool is that a year in Germany can only benefit his development. Germany’s transfer window closed at 5pm GMT but all the paperwork was completed and registered in time.

If you like a thrashing, by the way, Belgium are 6-0 up against Gibraltar at half-time in the WCQs – and Axel Witsel has managed to get himself sent off!

I believe they are still at the very least, trying for a centre-back. It was bad luck for them earlier today when Stefano Denswil, who was in the building and about to sign from Club Brugge, was called back at the last minute due to injury problems at his club. And pretty bad luck last week when striker Raphael Dwamena’s move fell through after his own medical went wrong. Think it could be a busy couple of hours down there yet ...

Tonci Kokan thinks Everton fans should be *very* excited: “As a Hajduk Split fan, I’m really sad to see Vlasic leave. If I were an Everton fan, I’d be really excited. He’s a great prospect, better then Modric and Rakitic at that age.”

Apparently in mid-medical at Spurs, the last we heard ...

Callum McManaman and Marc Wilson on the way to Sunderland

Callum McManaman, latterly West Brom’s invisible winger, is a forgotten man no longer – he’s having a medical at Sunderland, as is the Bournemouth defender Marc Wilson. Looks like Lamine Kone’s mooted move to Palace is off and he’s staying on Wearside.

Simon Grayson will be particularly happy that he has managed to keep hold of his midfielder Didier Ndong but will be desperately unhappy at the club’s failure to sign the extra striker they so badly need.

Nonetheless Grayson is probably a bit more cheerful than Rafa Benitez – Newcastle have concluded their transfer dealings leaving him short of the goalkeeper, left-back, winger and striker that loomed large on his shopping list.

The last I heard, this was a goer. Seems a little similar to John Swift for me, I must say.

Done deal! Nikola Vlasic to Everton

The Hajduk Split forward, a really exciting prospect at just 19, has put pen to paper as expected. Now all they need is an experienced striker to go into the team now – is it too late to get another one through the door?

One or two of you have been asking for Manchester United news, so I should let you know that there is none. And well done to them for that. I was covering the game on Saturday and, while there is work to do, they have a clarity about them now that they’ve lacked for a few years. So why clutter it up at the last?

The second of these points could be a crippling blow for a haphazard Hammers side, couldn’t it?

“If Chris Baugh steals Mahrez’s passport at Paris CDG, then how will Mahrez get back to the UK to play for Leicester. He really hasn’t though this one through,” worries Peter Byrne. Logic, today of all days?

France have scored, it’s Griezmann. Who, of course, ruled himself out of the transfer market for the next year nice and early. Sensible lad.

Mat Ryan may be needing a new club soon if Brighton sign Tim Krul, too.

Porto fan João Melo has an interesting take on Marco Silva and Watford:


“The thing that set apart Marco Silva from other managers here in Portugal was always the improved performances he got from some players, who were otherwise rather limited prospects.

“Particularly at Estoril, a team of very limited means, even by Watford’s standard, Silva momentarily turned a bunch of 2nd Portuguese tier players into outstanding Primeira Liga performers. Players like Licá, Evandro, Steven Vitória, Carlos Eduardo or Jefferson were hired by the big Portuguese clubs solely on the backs of their performances under Marco Silva. Later, for their new clubs, their limitations were almost immediately apparent.

“So my point is that Carrillo or Zeegelaar aren’t, on the face of it, up to the Premier League’s standard. Marco Silva, however is the sort of manager that can take flawed players and turn them into diamonds. Personally, I’m still pissed off Porto never managed to hire him.”

In the really important World Cup qualifiers that are being farcically overshadowed by this talking shop, France and Holland remain goalless.

I’m not sure this is a rabbit hole we can afford to go down at this stage of proceedings.

I’m just nipping downstairs for some food so hold tight for five minutes, a boy has to eat and none of the fish restaurants you’ve put my way are within a couple of minutes’ walk from King’s Cross.

Another done deal at Watford! They have signed Molla Wague, the Mali defender who had a brief spell at Leicester last season, on loan from ... can you possibly guess? It’s an Italian club based in Udine; I believe they’ve met for the first time.

Done deal by Brighton!

He’s a right-back. Sporting fans, is he as – according to some of you – iffy as the left-back you’ve just sent Watford?

I should probably recap from earlier for the evening crowd – Alexis Sanchez will be staying at Arsenal, news brought to you from our very own Dave Hytner. And Thomas Lemar will be going nowhere either despite talk of a huge Arsenal bid. France kick off against Holland shortly! It really is ridiculous that today’s circus has to happen on the same night as some very big World Cup qualifiers.

A small note on that Bojan move is that Mark Hughes, of course, also moved out Giannelli Imbula – who I thought would do well there – on loan earlier today. Why haven’t those deals worked out? Poor planning? Poor research?

Done deal! A big-name departure from Stoke as Bojan has joined Alaves on loan. Didn’t quite happen there in the end, did it, despite some promising moments. Will Jese go the same way?

Now this is a good signing, from Brentford. Jota is a lovely little player. ‘Arry is really getting them through the door now ...

I said there wasn't much Chelsea news; how wrong that was ...

Danny Drinkwater to Chelsea is edging towards agreement between the clubs. Chelsea are basically having to push their offers up and up nearer the original £35m asking price. But the likelihood is they will reach an agreement.

“I’m at CDG airport and haven’t seen Mahrez,” confirms Chris Baugh. “My plan was to steal his passport if I found him (I’m a Leicester fan). But I’ve had to give up searching because my flight is boarding in a minute. So all I can confirm is that (if he’s still here) he’s not flying to Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Berlin, Zurich or Munich with Eurowings.”

This is exactly the kind of groundwork we expect you, the reader, to be putting in.

“I wonder how some of PSG’s players will react to the signings of Neymar and Mbappe,” chin-strokes Konstantin Sauer. “Particularly for Julian Draxler, this must be an uncomfortable situation. With the World Cup coming up next year, he desperately needs playing time to secure a spot in Germany’s quality-filled midfield. Any chances for a late move? Arsenal might be the right team for him, their attacking style suits him well and he’d team up with fellow internationals Ozil, Mustafi and Mertesacker.”

Draxler is in danger of being a nearly-but-not-quite, isn’t he? Cue the jokes about him being a perfect fit for Arsenal ... but doesn’t he need to be the main man somewhere, even if not there?

No fresh news from Chelsea, for those asking, although they have of course agreed a fee for Davide Zappacosta of Torino. You’d think that will go through later – but they need more, don’t they?

Ed knows.

Done Deal: another Arsenal forward departs! But it’s the under-used Lucas Perez, whose return to Deportivo on loan has been rubber-stamped. So much not to understand about Arsenal’s dealings in the last year or two.

More fresh news from the north-east – doesn't sound great

Rafa Benitez has been described as “frustrated” by the day’s events – with Lazaar departing and Paul Dummett injured he is without a fit specialist left back. One man who can play there – in an emergency – is left footed midfielder Jack Colback. But Colback will almost certainly be out of the 25 man squad and training with the Under-23s after declining to leave on loan this window. He will miss his Brighton bound pal Tim Krul, who has also been consigned to the academy this summer ...

Here is the full lowdown on Mbappe from Ed Aarons:

That Sakho news has been firmed up by the Press Association, who also state he is undergoing a medical at Palace.

“Can you explain why Monaco would be willing to loan arguably their best player to arguably their biggest domestic rival, and to help that rival avoid FFP repercussions? I mean, aside from the boatload of money they’ll get this time next year,” asks (a different) David Sullivan.

Probably the money, largely, as it could reach a princely £166m next year. And I imagine the player’s camp were pushing hard for it. It could be a brilliant deal for them – we still don’t know how good Mbappe is going to be, really, and if you think the transfer market can only go so much further then guaranteeing themselves the cash now is actually pretty smart.

More not-especially promising thoughts on Zeegelaar for Watford fans, this time from João Fernandes:

“Selling Marvin for 3mil euros is a great deal for Sporting Portugal. Marvin never proved to be very reliable either defensively or on offensive terms. Marco Silva is getting him because he worked him for a year in Sporting, but I can’t really understand how Watford agreed to pay so much for him. I am more than glad to see him go, but hey… he might prove me wrong, but if I was a Watford supporter I would be very sceptical of playing with him at such level as the Premier League.

“Same thing applies for Andre Carrillo, also a familiar player for Sporting, which I don’t see how he can survive the high work ethic required for the Premier League. I would be aware of these strange signings from Marco Silva, just because he already worked with them, doesn’t mean that they have what it takes.”

Updated

Sky are reporting that Palace may yet get their man – and have agreed a fee with Liverpool for Mamadou Sakho ...

Done deal – Fulham sign ex-Zenit St Petersburg winger Yohan Mollo on a free transfer.

As a bonus, we have some input from Alexey Khitrov about the player:

“Mancini never gave Mollo a chance at Zenit. As a Zenit supporter, I’m a bit sad to see him go. Mollo showed some promise last season, but was first relegated to the youth team and then released yesterday. I see him playing in the Premier League next year. He is a smart, speedy attacking midfielder. with a good pass and decent shot.”

Oh no.

“Are we covering academy movement? If so then Liverpool academy forward Toni Gomes is going on loan to Forest Green,” asks – and then informs – Maximilian Cuello-Wolffe.

I’m happy for this to be as wild and eccentric a ride as you all like.

Sporting fan Tiago Marques has been kind enough to answer the call for infos about Marvin Zeegelaar:

“Can’t believe he’s been taken off our hands! Showed some promise at Rio Ave but doesn’t have what it takes for a club of Sporting’s level. Marco Silva has done us a favour here for the Ajax graduate. He is physically strong but defensively suspect and not great going forward. Might do well at a more defensive minded team such as Watford.”

Oooof. I’ve heard more glowing reviews.

Movement at Newcastle ...

Mike Ashley will be even happier at the prospect of another one off the wage bill - Achraf Lazaar, Newcastle’s fringe left back, looks set to move to Serie A Benvento on loan. It’s a long way to Campania and no direct flights to Naples from Tyneside so all seems a bit late but Lazaar is getting round this by having his medical in Newcastle.

There is talk of Fulham upping their Gayle bid but the striker is believed to have told Benitez he wants to stay in the north east.

Just to clarify – Mbappe is on a season-long loan with option to buy (they pretty much have to buy). Your move, Uefa ...

Mbappe's move to PSG confirmed!

Which is good because France play Holland in an hour or so.

Updated

Highly-rated West Brom midfielder Sam Field looks likely to move on loan to Reading. Wrote a quick bit on him here at the start of the season:

One snippet involving a new Premier League signing: Naby Keita has just scored a brilliant solo goal for Guinea in their World Cup qualifier against Libya. Make sure you find it – particularly you, Liverpool fans!

Lamine Kone must be some way down Palace’s list, no? I’d worry for them, I really would. For me, they have a squad full of players – bar Zaha and Benteke perhaps – who suit a manager like Pulis/Sam/Pardew who can motivate a team to overperform. Might have made this point yesterday but it’s worth reinforcing. Going to be a rocky ride under De Boer unless he can (a) get the right men in or (b) do something similar while (c) slowly introducing the style he wants in the process.

I’m a bit concerned this is all going to Turnus off the important matter of transfers.

Do we think the clubs actually find themselves swept away in the deadline day narrative to some extent? Could there even be some sort of commercial sense in being part of the late trolley dash – hits/tweets/engagement etc? Or am I in danger of falling off the side of the earth?

Interesting update from Louise – Lamine Kone to Palace?

Crystal Palace have made a late move for Lamine Kone, the latterly under-achieving Sunderland centre half and Simon Grayson is lining up Bournemouth’s Marc Wilson as a replacement.

Meanwhile there are suggestions that Newcastle tried to broker a deal with Fulham whereby Dwight Gayle was swapped for Tom Cairney – a longstanding Rafa target – but the Londoners refused to let the midfielder go ...

Updated

I see what’s happened here.

By all means tell us more about Zeegelaar if you watched him regularly at Sporting. So many players pass through Watford that it can be hard to keep on top of all the movement – but is he there to stay?

Done deal at Watford! They have a new left-back!

In France, Bordeaux have signed forward Nicolas de Préville from Lille for €10m.

“Mixed reports on VVD and Lemar to Liverpool, some claim the deals are finished and they will be joining, others claiming the clubs were unwilling to sell, the truth is most likely somewhere in the middle for both,” contorts Maximilian Cuello-Wolffe.

Virgil’s been in high demand, hasn’t he – so many clubs have Aeneid for him.

Just to show I’m not ignoring them. I’ve been to Dotori actually, how could I forget – it’s great.

One that may not be dead ...

Hope not yet killed on Jonny Evans’ transfer from West Brom to Man City. Still depends on Mangala leaving and as it is now 6pm the next hours may be crucial. Understanding is that Evans being away with Northern Ireland for San Marino game is no hinderance to any move.

With thanks again to Matt Loten for the heads-up, Pompey are indeed keeping busy:

If you’d like to keep an eye on every deal in the major leagues as it happens, here’s our interactive transfer tool. I would say this, but it’s genuinely excellent:

Aha ... a few people confirming this.

“Most footballers’ Twitter accounts” would be a good start, as the majority have next to no use.

Forward leaves Arsenal!!! But it’s youngster Donyell Malen, who has joined PSV Eindhoven. They have also loaned Kelechi Nwakali to VVV Venlo.

“I *think* I’m right in saying that the singer Lemar is in fact a Spurs fan. I have a recollection of him being introduced on the pitch at half time during a game at WHL,” recalls Simon Pennington, a little fuzzily. Can anyone firm that up?

From Italy: looks as if Watford old boy M’Baye Niang is heading on loan to Torino from AC Milan. There’s a €20m obligation to buy attached to it, too.

A couple of murmurs on Twitter suggesting Arsenal might be in for Adrien Rabiot of PSG at the last ... I’ll let you know if that gathers any traction.

How about I merge the two by spotting Lemar dining in a swanky joint along Blackstock Road.

Missed that! Perhaps he’s safer with Sandwell ... or is that Sandbanks?

My inbox is currently a quite pleasing mixture of seafood recommendations for the Highbury/Finsbury Park area and hot transfer debate. On the former, they are all greatly appreciated. All this live blogging is making me very hungry.

I’d be very surprised if Mahrez, despite his evident hopefulness, went anywhere as things stand.

“Wow. If Spurs manage to complete both the Llorente and Gomes transfers, with the business they’ve already done, maybe that will teach Danny Rose to have a little faith,” writes Gareth Beale. That’s Beale.

Find the shirt online and let us decide for you.

Again, sounds fair. But can he handle a Wembley Hoodoo?!

Could Alex Song be joining ‘Arry’s rapidly-increasing bunch at Birmingham? It seems to be getting closer ...

Yeah, fair point on Alcacer too, I rate him highly.

Andre Gomes, then. Any good? Never really impressed me – or anyone – at Barca last season and I find it hard to work out what his *thing* is. Can someone tell me how he’d enhance Tottenham? Seems as if that one might be a goer ...

As David Bolam reminds me, this recently-featured joint is excellent. Bit of a black hole north of there though, that’s my worry!

Niasse is fine, I think, but in my opinion Palace are genuinely in trouble.

“With reports coming out now that the Lemar transfer won’t go ahead, I reckon the chances that he signs for Arsenal tonight are about 50/50. If the joke needs explaining it’s funnier ... Lemar was the name of a British R&B star from the 00s who had a top 5 hit with a song called 50/50. Thomas Lemar might go to Arsenal. It works! It totally works.”

Thanks for breaking that one down for us, Jack Gooding. No, really, thanks.

“Western’s Laundry in Drayton Park is worth a shout, if you’re into trendy sardines and that,” offers Ryan Smith. I am. Thank you.

Worrying news from Joe Cross: “Transfer deadline day spanner in the works: Whatsapp is currently experiencing an outage. We all know the popular messaging app is vital to football transfers.”

Seems to be working for me, so I’m happy to be a go-between.

Somebody, somewhere is making the important decisions of the day.

“Gail’s in Crouch End used to be the site of a seafood restaurant called Roger’s, named after a local chef who won the Lottery in 1996,” says Alex Kouzarides. “He bagged roughly £6m - a fortune back then but now just enough to get Divock Origi on loan for a year. Makes you think.”

Didn’t know that. Dearth of good seafood restaurants between there and Highbury nowadays, so a shame in some ways.

And a quick Fabian Delph update from Jamie Jackson – the midfielder’s proposed move to Stoke City became distant on Wednesday night so may not now happen.

Update from Louise in the north-east

All a bit slow in the north east; way things are going Mike Ashley will end the day having reduced Newcastle’s wage bill - almost certainly leaving it lower than last season in the Championship – and spending only around £11.5m net this summer. Do not expect Rafa Benitez to be impressed ...

Meanwhile at Sunderland, Palace’s Jonny Williams is undergoing a medical ahead of that loan move but the proposed signing of Ross McCormack – on another loan – from Villa looks off at present. It could be revived but that seems a faint possibility as the clubs cannot agree on the division of wages ... then there is the need for McCormack to be sure his electronic gates will open every morning in time for training ...

That appears to be the day’s biggest saga over right there. Happy, Arsenal fans? You keep your talisman, and there’s minimal disruption for Atom and Humber too. But mightn’t it have been best, in some ways, to get shot of a player who is clearly not happy?

Just in – Alexis Sanchez stays at Arsenal!

Alexis Sanchez is staying at Arsenal. That is the message from the club and it would now be a shock if there were to be any late turns to this infernal saga (it takes a toll, you know!). Manchester City came in earlier today with a second offer for the Chile striker – of £55m, plus £5m in add-ons – but it has come down to Arsenal being able to sign a new attacking player. Quite simply, they look to have run out of time on that front. They wanted Monaco’s Thomas Lemar and the French club demanded that they pay 100m euros for him. Which Arsenal indicated they were willing to do. But there appears to be insufficient time for Arsenal to now agree a package with Lemar, particularly as he is in the France squad for this evening’s game against Holland – which kicks off in about three hours. Were Arsenal able to get Lemar, they would have been inclined to take the £60m from City for Sanchez. But it is unlikely to happen now.

Done deal! This is Jadon Sancho, a very talented young player indeed, leaving Manchester City for Borussia Dortmund. And given the way most of the Premier League’s bigger clubs handle their young talent, who can blame him?

Gail’s – I’m the other end of the Broadway and the extra 200m is a dealbreaker. Should I try a Dunn’s one?

Tom Osborne writes:

“As a Fulham fan I am torn. We have had a splendid window retaining Cairney, Sessegnon and others. Ok we sold Aluko but for £7.5million(?!?) Seven and a half million pounds for Sone Aluko. Incredible.

“That being said, I went to bed last night thinking we had signed Brentford’s best player (Jota) as a replacement only to wake up and see Harry leaning out of his Range Rover telling everyone he’s gone to Birmingham. Pah! Hopefully we can get Forestieri over the line and Jordan Graham from Wolves. But if not, we still play the best football in the league that’s what its all about right? RIGHT?”

You play lovely football and you are lucky to have a very smart manager too. That fee for Aluko was absolutely mindboggling, I agree. Think you need another striker but otherwise, well set for another strong play-off push at least.

A done deal in the Championship! Middlesbrough have signed the Oxford United winger Marvin Johnson, who is not the former Luton centre-back Marvin Johnson. Very good player, actually.

Well? And is Lemar the player Arsenal need? Sky reckon they’ve gone up to £92m for him, which to me sounds utterly, remarkably fantastical. But who’s to say?

Matt Loten does the work so I don’t have to:

“If anyone out there is after some red-hot League One transfer news (and I know they are), Portsmouth are moving and shaking. Having flogged Michael Doyle and Liam O’Brien to Coventry earlier in the window, Pompey have convinced the Sky Blues that no squad is complete without centre-half Tom Davies (no confirmation as to whether they received a three-for-two discount), who has moved between the two clubs for an undisclosed fee. Carl Baker’s contract has also been cancelled by mutual consent, and word on the journalistic-grapevine-nexus is that he’s off to...Coventry! You couldn’t make it up. Kenny Jackett has moved quickly to plug the gaps that these departures have created by signing towering non-league hotshot, Ollie Hawkins, from Dagenham and Redbridge. And if that has somehow failed to satisfy, Jackett has hinted there could be at least one more signing through the doors at Fratton Park before Jim White calls an end to another summer of transfer madness.”

That’s quite a lot of activity at Fratton Park.

On that note, Palace latest from Mr Fifield

Crystal Palace are still spinning plates at the club’s office in Soho, with talks having taken place with up to seven potential new arrivals and decisions to be made over which three, most likely, are to be finalised. Finances are tight, largely due to the club’s onerous wage bill and with no high earners expected to leave, but the priority remains striking a deal with Liverpool for Mamadou Sakho. There is still hope that move can be concluded. However, if they cannot reach a compromise then progress has also been made on Eliaquim Mangala, with an initial fee of £18m agreed with Manchester City for the Frenchman.

The Turkey forward Cenk Tosun apppears the likeliest of the forwards under consideration to be signed, with the player due to join from Besiktas, which would see interest in Everton’s Oumar Niasse dropped despite talks with the player today. The sporting director, Dougie Freedman, is also seeking to offload squad players, either on permanent on loan deals, to free up funds for arrivals. Jonathan Williams could go to Sunderland, while Jordon Mutch and Chung-yong Lee could also move to Championship clubs.

Updated

Looks as if Crystal Palace schemer Johnny Williams, such a talented player who just needs a run free of injury, is off on loan to Sunderland. The shock there is that he didn’t head for a fifth stint at Ipswich.

Shaun Wilkinson asks: “What’s your opinion of Dwight Gayle? He always gets lumped in with that ‘too good for the Championship, not good enough for the Premier League’ group of players, and I have always thought that was unfair and that he could score goals in the Premier League if given the chance. However, many managers in the game seem to disagree. Couldn’t he do a job for Newcastle if (big if) he gets the service?”

Looks like we’re about to see, as he’s staying. I think there are question marks about his link-up play and perhaps his strength. Certainly a livewire and a fine finisher; you always fancy he will get a chance or two and he’s a guy I’d keep around for this season if I were Benitez.

How’s it been for you so far then, deadline dayers? I’ve been juggling Sky Sports News, the Qatar v Syria World Cup qualifier, my predecessors’ excellent work on this blog and a beautiful mozzarella, pesto and tomato ciabatta from my local bakery in Crouch End. As far as I can see it’s been hectic enough without any of the really *big* deals that have been trailed dropping. I think we’ll see a lot happening in the next seven or eight hours – but will it be the key signing your club wants? Let me know.

Hello! Let’s start with a deal that looks sure to be announced imminently ...

The Guardian understands that Chelsea’s move for Leicester’s Danny Drinkwater is a goer, but only if Leicester can get a replacement.

My two hours are up, so I’ll hand over to the man sat opposite from me, Nick Ames, who is a picture of enthusiasm and excitement. See ya!

#DontRiskIt

Newcastle have disappointed Fulham by deciding to keep Dwight Gayle after all. The London side had offered £15m for the striker but it seemed Rafa Benítez could not get a suitable replacement. How though will Gayle react now, knowing his manager was willing to offload him?

This proves absolutely nothing – and it may be that he just ‘likes’ the video – but Alexis Sánchez has just liked a tweet that reads: “#BREAKING @Alexis_Sanchez is staying at @Arsenal.”

Alexis Sanchez twitter
Make of this what you will … Photograph: Alexis Sanchez/Twitter

Confirmed: Nani has joined Lazio on loan from Valencia, with the Italian club retaining an option to buy the Portuguese at the end of the season. He replaces Keita Baldé, who left Lazio for Monaco yesterday for around €30m.

Oooof! This is a brilliant signing from Leeds. Even without Chris Wood, they are fast becoming my favourites for promotion. Lasogga went off the boil last season but he has 34 Bundesliga goals in 85 starts – he’s big, burly and knows where the goal is.

Some more news from the north-east:

Papy Djilobodji has completed a season long loan move to Ligue One Djion from Sunderland . The Senegal centre half moves to Burgundy in the wake of an, er, underwhelming campaign on Wearside last season. David Moyes signed Djilobodji from Chelsea for £8m last summer and it is understood Sunderland are still paying that fee in instalments. Simon Grayson has consistently overlooked him this season.

In the Championship, Norwich have signed Grant Hanley from Newcastle on a four-year deal. He’s an excellent defender in the second tier, and probably not quite good enough to cut it in the Premier League. “As a defender, I’m a bit of an old-fashioned no-nonsense centre-half and you pride yourself on clean sheets,” says the Scot. Norwich have shipped eight goals in the last two league games.

Evidently, he’s absolutely delighted to move to East Anglia …

Grant Hanley
Smile! Photograph: Jasonpix/Rex/Shutterstock
Grant Hanley
Smile! Photograph: Jasonpix/Rex/Shutterstock

As a permanent transfer, that should free up more money (and wages) for Rafa Benítez, but time will tell if he will get the chance to spend it today.

Updated

Sky are reporting that Swansea will not allow Fernando Llorente to leave the club for Tottenham until Wilfried Bony has passed his medical, which he is due to complete early evening. Seems like a smart play from the Welsh club, who simply cannot afford not to have one of those players at the club comes the window’s close.

Andy did this excellent interview with Origi back in May, which is worth another read.

Deal done! Liverpool's Origi moves to Wolfsburg on a season-long loan!

Divock Origi has completed his move from Liverpool to Wolfsburg, with the Bundesliga club paying an eye-catching £6m fee to take the striker on a season-long loan. That’s £4m fewer than Liverpool paid to sign the Belgium international permanently in 2014. Tottenham and Newcastle were both interested in Origi but Liverpool would only consider a loan to a European club and have got their wish.

Origi
Gazing. Photograph: Jon Super for the Guardian

Updated

Arsenal fans, relax! No news to bring you re signings, but rest assured, Arsène Wenger woke up early this morning (!), according to this timely interview on Arsenal’s website.

I wake up very early every day, transfer deadline day or not. You’re on alert and you look around Europe. The phone is red-hot most of the time. It depends whether you’re a buyer or a seller, or whether you’re both. If you’re a buyer, you have to put pressure on a club very early because you know you need some time for administration, for regulations, to get approval from the Premier League, to finalise their contracts.

More on that breaking story soon.

Here is a bit more on that extroadinary loan deal for Renato Sanches, which includes this statement from Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. He confirms there is no option to make the transfer permanent, which suggests that Sanches does still have a future at the Allianz Arena.

We’re delighted we’ve been able to conclude the load deal with Swansea City. Our goal was for Renato to gain regular match practice at club level in a strong league such as the Premier League. We remain convinced he has the potential to become an important player for FC Bayern in the future. For this reason the agreement states that the player will return to FC Bayern on 1 July 2018 with no option to make the transfer permanent.

If you see the move from Bayern to Swansea as a bit of a fall from prominence, you might want to revisit this blog from Barney Ronay:

Updated

Done deal! Burnley sign Nakhi Wells from fellow Premier League club Huddersfield, the Lancashire club’s seventh signing of the summer. Wells has got wheels and represents a slightly different option to what Sean Dyche has got up front with Sam Vokes, Chris Wood, Ashley Barnes and Jonathan Walters.

The new signing says he’s “probably two of three weeks” from match fitness. He’s got a ankle problem.

Updated

Jonny Evans has just touched down at … San Marino airport, prior to Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifier tomorrow evening. That move from West Brom to Manchester City looks dead in the water.

Remember you can keep up to date with all of the confirmed movers and shakers in Europe’s top five leagues in our all-singing/dancing transfer interactive, wilfully manned today by Marcus Christenson.

This is a tidy little signing by RB Leipzig. The reported fee is €18m, and he is seen as the long-term replacement for Naby Keïta but of course will play alongside the Guinean this year. I’m pretty sure in saying that Kampl is the first player over the age of 25 RB Leipzig have signed in over three years. But at 26, he’s got plenty to give – an all-action box-to-box midfielder.

Updated

Not sure what Tim Krul’s impending loan move to Brighton says about Chris Hughton’s confidence in Mat Ryan, Brighton’s current No1 who became the club’s record signing only in June. Ryan has started all three of Brighton’s league matches this season but has looked a little shaky: he gifted Leicester a first-minute lead – parrying a Mahrez shot straight to the feet of Okazaki …

… and also had this howler in pre-season against Atlético …

In the interests of balanced arguments, John Davidson wrote this about Ryan back in March.

“Someone’s having fun re the Zappacosta transfer,” notes William Cooper.

Wikipedia
Banter, earlier. Photograph: Wikipedia

Updated

Dwight Gayle has arrived for training at Newcastle this afternoon - (it was postponed from this morning as Rafa Benitez has just arrived back from Nyon, Swizerland where he attended a coaching conference yesterday) – so the chances of him leaving for Fulham look to be receding. Gayle of course turned up early this morning only to drive off after remembering the start time had been put back.
Confirmation of Tim Krul’s loan to Brighton is expected shortly …

Chelsea looks like they have moved quickly after missing out on Oxlade-Chamberlain, then. Zappacosta is a right-back that has made four international appearances – according to Fabrizio, he will sign a contract until 2021.

Chelsea are in advanced talks to sign the Torino full-back Davide Zappacosta for €25m. A deal to be concluded soon.

The signing of the summer? Renato Sanches signs on a season-long loan. He’s been linked with Chelsea, Juventus – among others – this summer but it goes to show how important the Paul Clement link is here – Swansea’s manager was Carlo Ancelloti’s assistant manager at the Alliana Arena last year.

Remember only last summer Bayern spent £27m on him and Sanches went on to be one of the stars of Euro 2016, winning the best young player of the tournament. It’s also worth remembering that that deal includes a clause that Bayern must pay more if he wins the Ballon D’Or. Now, he’s some way off doing that and won’t achieve that in south Wales, but shows how high he has been regarded in the recent past.

Updated

Swansea have confirmed the loan signing of Renato Sanches from Bayern!

The afternoon session starts with a bang!

Email your scoops, hopes and dreams to michael.butler@theguardian.com or tweet me @michaelbutler18.

Updated

Time for me to go and do something less exciting than this. Michael Butler’s your man for the next two hours.

Could Jack Wilshere be heading to West Ham on the loan? It could be the perfect match, although not for the right reasons.

Watford have signed Greece goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis on a season-long loan from Serie A side Udinese. The 32-year-old is is the Hornets’ 11th signing this summer. A statement on the club’s official website said: “Watford FC is delighted to announce the signing of goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis on a season-long loan from Udinese. The experienced Greece cap will join up with Marco Silva’s squad on his return from international duty, providing competition for the number one jersey. The 32-year-old has made over 100 appearances for Udinese since joining the Italian outfit from Panathinaikos in 2013.”

Tim Krul has all but agreed a loan from Newcastle to Brighton where he will rejoin his old St James’ park manager Chris Hughton. The former Holland goalkeeper had been frozen out by Rafa Benitez and was also the subject of an inquiry from Nottingham Forest earlier today.

Meanwhile Krul’s friend Jack Colback has been informed he will be sent to train with the academy players if he does not agree a move away from St James’. Unwanted by Benitez the midfielder saw a loan move to Wolves break down last night. Colback wants to stay in the north east and has been offered to Sunderland, his old club and Middlesbrough. Sunderland have said they do not want him, Middlesbrough appear lukewarm. Hull would like him on loan but Colback would prefer to stay closer to home.

Oh and Newcastle have abandoned interest in signing Lucas Perez from Arsenal as realised not feasible. That my increase the chances of Dwight Gayle staying, rather than joining Fulham.

Jamie Jackson has his ear to the ground and hears that Manchester City’s bid for Alexis Sanchez is in the region of £55m. In other news, City have agreed to sell Jadon Sancho to Borussia Dortmund.

Sky are reporting that Manchester City have made a second bid for Alexis Sanchez. Over to you, Arsenal.

It will be interesting to see how Diafra Sakho plans to hold talks with West Ham’s co-owners about his desire to join Rennes. One of them, David Sullivan, is on a family holiday in Spain.

Video! Video! Video!

“Of all Premier League clubs, Palace have some serious reconstructive surgery to do today,” says Matt Pearce. “Realistically we need a goalkeeper, a right back, a centre back and a striker to salvage this window. And so far we seem to be close to landing... Oumar Niasse. Yeah, I know, but it’s good news about Townsend staying. Fingers crossed on Mamadou Sakho.”

Andros Townsend was linked with a £27m move to Leicester City earlier in the week – your guess is as good as mine - but he’s told Sky Sports that he isn’t leaving Crystal Palace. Cheer up, Frank de Boer.

The Riyad Mahrez saga has taken a new twist.

Pretty carefully worded statement this, from the controversial Serge Aurier, on the Tottenham website, after the announcement of his move from PSG. Determined to prove himself as a professional on and off the pitch; a fresh start; wants to show fans the real Serge. Also, references the ‘diverse’ nature of the club’s fanbase.
Aurier said: “This is a huge and exciting opportunity at a massive football club and I am determined to prove myself as a professional both on and off the pitch. This is a fresh start for me and I will do everything to make the Spurs fanbase, which is huge and diverse, proud of me. The fans are the most important people at any club and I am looking forward to showing them and everyone at Spurs the real Serge Aurier.”

Updated

Tottenham might not be finished there. Now there are links with Barcelona midfielder, Andre Gomes, who’s available on loan. West Ham and Juventus are also looking at a player who’s had a troubled time at Camp Nou. Spot the odd one out.

Tottenham sign Serge Aurier

It’s finally happened! Good old Daniel Levy.

Swansea are closing in on Wilfried Bony. The Ivorian is theirs for £12m, two and a half years after leaving them for Manchester City.

Robert Lowery isn’t happy. “Overmars, anelka, Henry even van persie ( maybe...but what the hell were they doing handing title to united to solve robins “kid inside”) have not bitten as hard as reading the words below “for significantly less than he would have got if he said a new deal at arsenal”...he’s not as good, nor ever will be, as the aforementioned but if the ox has left up to 60 grand sterling a week on the table to move to a club that’s not exactly assured silverware it’s about as damning an indictment of Arsenal as I can recall.....don’t remember a first team/ heavily rotated player ever leaving in such a scenario before....”

In non-transfer news, Kieran Trippier has withdrawn from the England squad because of an ankle problem.

A lot was said by influential voices about the poor mentality of Arsenal players after the Liverpool game, so why do top managers want them? If it was one bad apple, you could write it off, but constant collective meltdowns is too much of a coincidence. Who picks those players? Who buys them? Who organises them? Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has come in for a lot of criticism, but he was a target for Antonio Conte and Jurgen Klopp. They must have seen qualities that they think they can work with and mould into something more substantial than anything we’ve seen at Arsenal. Whose fault is it that Oxlade-Chamberlain hasn’t produced his best at the Emirates?

Liverpool sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Liverpool is officially done. The former Arsenal midfielder has signed a five-year contract with Jurgen Klopp’s club on £120,000-a-week, significantly less than he would have earned by signing a new deal at the Emirates Stadium. Liverpool are paying £35m for the 24-year-old with another £5m in add-ons.

But that, seemingly, may well be that for incomings at Anfield today. Liverpool are still keen to sign Thomas Lemar from Monaco and Virgil van Dijk from Southampton but, with only a few hours of the window remaining and Lemar having the small matter of a World Cup qualifier for France tonight, they have received no encouragement that a deal can be struck for either player.

Southampton have made their position - and their unhappiness with Liverpool - clear on van Dijk all summer. Monaco’s stance on Lemar looks firm too.

The rest of Liverpool’s business today looks likely to be outgoings. Divock Origi, Mamadou Sakho and Lazar Markovic are the men involved.

Updated

As an add to Paul Doyle’s PSG update below, perhaps the most romantic side in Europe could tempt Nice into selling Seri by offering them Hatem Ben Arfa in exchange.

PSG’s fascinating interpretation of financial fair play regulations looks set to deepen: L’Equipe are saying the club is plotting a move for Nice’s Jean-Michaël Seri (previously linked to Liverpool, Arsenal and Barcelona among others) because they can’t prise Fabinho from Monaco.

Southampton’s position over Virgil Van Dijk remains unequivocal. He is going nowhere today – not to Liverpool and not to any other top club. Liverpool have been unable to initiate any talks with Southampton in recent weeks, after the warning they got from the Premier League for tapping up Van Dijk earlier in the summer, and Southampton have certainly not gone to them. There has been zero contact between the clubs and that will remain the case today – it has to, in light of the sensitivity over the tapping-up – and it means that there is zero chance of a deal. Southampton remain confident of reintegrating Van Dijk into the team after the window shuts.

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“No new stories, I’m afraid – but can confirm it was a Brighton winger that Mike Newell was sent off for tripping,” says Daniel Coomber. “It was so good that it later made it onto Question of Sport as a “What Happened Next” question. Thanks for all the work today – we (Brighton) desperately need a striker so please do post anything you hear or the day will seem even longer…”

Matt Loten arrives with news of occurrences at Fratton Park: “Just to keep you apprised of some of the most significant transfer business on deadline day: Carl Baker, Michael Smith and Tom Davies (the centre-half, not your fellow Guardian MBM-er) are negotiating their exits from Portsmouth. It appears that Baker and and Davies are likely to pitch up at Coventry, a club whose transfer policy is seemingly to sign all of last season’s League Two title winners, having already taken Michael Doyle and Liam O’Brien from Fratton Park. If and when the trio are signed, sealed and delivered, Kenny Jackett is expected to utilise the extra cash to bring in at least one or two replacements, with the left-back and defensive-midfield positions lacking decent cover. Cardiff fringe player Stuart O’Keefe has been mooted.”

Diafra Sakho is said to be flying back to London from France in an attempt to persuade West Ham to let him join Rennes, where he surreptitiously passed a medical yesterday. West Ham continue to insist he isn’t for sale, though I’m not sure what they’re going to get out of forcing him to stay at this point. It’s been clear for a long time that Sakho wants to leave. Fit and focused, he’s a cracking striker – but he’s largely been West Ham’s forgotten man since the autumn of 2015. “Indisputably the high point of Mike Newell’s career was as a manager, when he got himself sent off for tripping up an opposition (Brighton I think) winger who was flying down the wing past him,” says Patrick Brennan. “I’m a Luton fan and couldn’t stop laughing at it.”

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“As a Baggies fan I’d be ecstatic if the Llorente-Chadli-Janssen/ Spurs-Swansea-West Brom transfer triangle comes off,” says Joe Brookes. “The prerequisite for a Pulis side is hard work which Chadli just does not provide, whereas Janssen is exactly what I think we need to get the best out of Rondon or to do all the leg work for Jay Rodriguez. Will sign off on an excellent window for us if this comes off.”

West Brom have completed some impressive business and look good for a top-half finish. A lot of Premier League clubs have looked bereft of a plan this summer. Not West Brom, though. They’re flying under the radar, but it’s working for them.

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Arsenal have informed Leicester that Calum Chambers is not for sale after rejecting a bid worth a potential £20m for the England Under-21 defender. Chambers, who is recovering from a minor groin injury that has kept him out of action so far this season, was also interesting Crystal Palace earlier in the window but now appears likely to stay at the Emirates. One player that could be on his way is Spanish striker Lucas Perez, who is wanted by Everton and Newcastle. They are both in talks with Arsenal over a loan move for the 28-year-old, although he is reported to prefer to return to Deportivo La Coruna, where he left last summer for £17m.

Steve Sidwell Scott Parker Danny Drinkwater could well be heading to Chelsea today. The champions are ready to make an offer Leicester City can’t refuse (more money)!

Arsenal’s business last summer continues to look better and better. It’s emerging that Lucas Perez, signed for a fee believed to be around £17m, could be on his way to Everton or Newcastle. Perez started two league games for Arsenal last season. In Wenger we trust.

Aw, I’m just kidding. Don’t worry, it’s transfers, transfers, transfers here. And Louise Taylor, our north-east correspondent, has just checked in with news for Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough fans.

Newcastle: The big question is whether Dwight Gayle stays or goes. Fulham’s £15m offer for the striker has not been rejected but much depends on whether Rafa Benitez can secure a suitable replacement. Gayle turned up for training on Tyneside this morning only to immediately turn his car round when he remembered, today’s session is scheduled for the afternoon……..will he return then or might he instead head to Newcastle airport for a Heathrow flight? Meanwhile Benitez is also exploring the possibility of taking Southampton’s left back Matt Targett on loan….

Middlesbrough: Will Ben Gibson and Adama Traore still be Boro players tonight? Garry Monk is adamant they will be and it would represent a big coup for the Teessiders were Gibson, a centre half who attracted considerable Premier League interest this summer, to stick around for the Championship campaign.

Sunderland: Ross McCormack is Simon Grayson’s principal target today. He wants to take the Villa forward on loan but the sticking point is that Sunderland cannot afford McCormack’s wages and are demanding Villa pick up a percentage. Should he arrive, the Wearsiders had better find McCormack a home with fully functioning electric gates!

Meanwhile Wahbi Khazri has joined Rennes from Sunderland on a season long loan and the big interest centres on whether the centre half Lamine Konemight finally be sold. Some sub-standard performances have ensured that Kone’s value has depreciated sharply since David Moyes rejected Everton’s £18m offer for him last summer.With hindsight Sunderland made a huge mistake in opting not to cash in then.

Treats? That’s a lie. The next three hours are going to feature nothing but hard-core chat about Mike “The Jewel” Newell’s career. Let’s get going! Don’t be shy!

There’s something for everyone at the Guardian. Here, for example, comes Jacob Steinberg. He’ll have treats, just you wait and see.

There’s something for everyone at the Guardian. Here, for example, is minute-by-minute of the big Australia-Japan match, in Japanese.

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As if to punish Arsenal fans for grumbling about Mesut Ozil, Germany’s manager, Jogi Löw, won’t even let Gooners dream a little today: “I know for a fact that Paris don’t want to sell [Julian Draxler],” Low has just said about Julian Draxler. “They are convinced of his outstanding qualities. He made such a big step forward there. I am convinced that he will come out on top at Paris. By now, he’s already playing a big role for us.” But perhaps financial fair play regulations will help make Arsenal’s dream come true even if PSG would rather not sell? With the French club possibly needing to recoup some funds, couldn’t Arsenal could make the transfer happen with a bit of wit and lolly?

Here’s the Guardian’s man on Merseyside, Andy Hunter, with some honest-to-goodness facts: “West Ham’s offer for Kevin Mirallas was for a season-long loan - which is why Everton rejected the approach. Everton will allow the Belgium international to leave today but only on a permanent basis. The 29-year-old’s former club Olympiakos are also interested. Ross Barkley and Oumar Niasse are also possible departures today but it will take more than £25m - Chelsea’s opening offer for the England international - for Everton to part with their homegrown midfielder, even though he has entered the final year of contract. An exchange deal involving Barkley and Michy Batshuayi would be complicated, and even more so if Tottenham do beat Chelsea to Fernando Llorente.”

There are claims on Twitter - yes, that is the worst possible way to start a sentence - that West Brom have offered around £23m for Vincent Janssen, which would mean that Spurs stand to make a profit on the striker they signed last summer. If someone said Daniel Levy was putting that rumour about, I’d understand.

“Pawel Cibicki is Polish-Swedish but opted to play for Sweden, his place of birth, in the U21 Euros this year so he Swedish rather than just Polish,” storms Andreas B of Leeds latest recruit. Andreas is quite right. Cibicki represented Poland at U-19 level so that’s where initial confusion arose.

“Crystal Palace have agreed a fee with Everton for the permanent transfer of Oumar Niasse,” reveals David Hytner. “The Senegal striker will now discuss personal terms with the London club. Brighton have also been interested in him and they have tried to take him on loan. But Palace, who do continue to explore other centre-forward options, are in the driving seat.”

Here’s more on Tottenham’s bid for Fernando Llorente, which has been accepted, putting them ahead of Chelsea in the race for the striker’s services.

By the way, in case all these transfer thrills have got you in the mood to make an exciting purchase of your own, permit me to offer a recommendation: Scott Murray’s latest book is out and it’s a corker! If amusing and deeply learned accounts of English football’s rich history are your thing, then this is the book for you. And, er, what are you doing here?

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"Jonny Evans is at Manchester airport ...

... to fly with Northern Ireland to San Marino,” writes Jamie Jackson. What do the tea leaves say about this vis-a-vis a potential switch to Man City (or anywhere else)? Not much, as a medical and so on could probably be done there.

Luis Nani, formerly of Manchester United, is in Rome to put the finishing touches to a transfer from Valencia to Lazio.

That announcement that Leeds told us to get excited about has now been made: the club have signed Pawel Cibicki from Malmo FF. Cibicki is a 23-year-old Polish forward who can play centrally or wide and scored 12 goals in 30 starts for his previous club.

Updated

That reported Barcelona bid for Dybala (around £140m, apparently) rather suggests they’re no longer son confident of getting Coutinho, doesn’t it? On the other hand, if Liverpool are still pursuing Thomas Lemar, that would seemingly indicate Coutinho is on his bike. Mind you, they’re not quite the same sort of player so perhaps Liverpool do intend deploying both ... and Mané, Salah and Firmino (and Lallana and Sturridge). Attack, attack, attack is the best form of defence if Southampton keep saying no, no no about Van Dijk.

Updated

Sky Sports say that Everton have turned down an offer from West Ham for Kevin Mirallas.

Updated

What are Manchester City and Manchester United up to today? Jamie Jackson has his ear to the ground, his finger on the pulse and your best interests at heart. Here’s what he’s saying right now: “City have received a £23m bid from Crystal Palace for Eliaquim Mangala. The understanding is this is acceptable so it’s now about whether he wants to move to south London. Mangala did not want to consider going to West Bromwich Albion - if Jonny Evans was to go the other way - so whether he will go to Palace may depend on the Frenchman’s options as the day ages. He prefers Inter but Inter want loan at moment and City permanent. Evans-to-City will only have a chance of happening if Mangala leaves. Meanwhile, there is still optimism at City that the Sanchez deal can be done. The sense is City will up their bid to around £60m-plus. Also, Wilfried Bony to Swansea City will happen if bid is increased to around £12/13m. As for United ... nothing to see here, is the understanding, not even a cheeky Mahrez bid. But this is Transfer Deadline Day so never say never.”

Updated

Leeds, who’ll be a Premier League club next year I fancy, are amusing themselves by teasing their fans. What might this portend?

Here’s Dominic Fifield to give you the lay of the Chelsea land.

True to form given the tense summer they have endured, Chelsea’s final day scramble for reinforcements could be further complicated by Tottenham Hotspur’s late dart to steal Fernando Llorente from under their noses. The champions must now trump that interest - Spurs are understood to have outbid their £15m offer at present - to secure the striker while also trying to strike a compromise with Leicester City and Everton for Danny Drinkwater and Ross Barkley respectively. They have been well short of matching either club’s valuation of their player up to now.

It does seem vaguely ridiculous that Chelsea have left it so late in attempting to add the bodies Antonio Conte had long insisted would be required if they were to compete in both Premier League and Champions League this term. The club will also probably add to the number of loan departures - the tally currently stands at 28, some of whom could surely have added to the options at Stamford Bridge - before the day is out, and have another 24 hours to smooth Diego Costa’s departure to Atletico Madrid. All of which begs the question: will Conte’s squad actually be stronger tomorrow morning than it was at the end of last season? Unless they have an eye catching final day, and maybe pluck a stellar name from the ether, the answer is probably ‘no’.

Reports in Spain claim that the Chelsea striker Loic Rémy (yes, he’s still a Chelsea striker) is on the verge of joining Las Palmas.

Our man Stuart James has some answers and also some pertinent questions. Here’s what he’s saying right now: Spurs now appear to be the favourites to get Fernando Llorente ahead of Chelsea. Swansea have a deal lined up to bring back Wilfried Bony from Manchester City to replace Llorente and the Ivorian is the striker they are most likely to sign, although they are considering alternatives. If Llorente does join Spurs, where would that leave Vincent Janssen? Swansea also want West Brom’s Nacer Chadli but will that desire go unfulfilled because of the Baggies’ price demands?

Dear Claudio Ranieri had a tough start as Nantes manager, losing 3-0 at Lille in his first match and then going down at home to Marseille. In addition, firm truths have been exchanged between him and striker Préjuce Nakoulma, who has not played since the opening day and informed the club’s hierarchy that he wanted to work under a new manager elsewhere. But Nantes have said today that the Burkina Faso international, who made a big impact after arriving at the club in January, will not be allowed to leave and has worked out his differences with Ranieiri.

Barcelona seem to be having a heck of a lot of trouble getting rid of their money: not only are Liverpool still refusing to accept a mountain of cash for Coutinho but now - according to Corriere dello Sport - Juventus have rejected a bid of around £140m for Paulo Dybala.

Fans of Scottish football have an extra hour of fun ahead, as the transfer window does not close yonder until an hour after the English one (which closes at 11pm Berwick time). And there’s some fascinating murmurs on that front: how about the one linking Shane Long with a move to Celtic? The Scottish champions for the foreseeable future are also said to be eyeing up PSG’s little-used teenage frontman Odsonne Edouard. And Brendan Rodgers is also checking out new centrehalf targets after Jason Denayer opted to move to Galatasary instead.

In an interesting twist, and a little bit of vengeance for past gazumpings, Spurs are reportedly trying to thwart Fernando Llorente’s mooted move to Chelsea and direct the Swansea striker to Tottenham instead. He’s going to be back-up at either club so you’ve to think the decision will come down to money. Nice try, Spurs!

On your marks ... get set ... do the deal!

Hello, welcome and brace yourselves: mighty scrambling ahoy! Today we’re going to attempt to keep pace with clubs as they hurtle hither and thither in search of last-gasp solutions to critical problems, their zeal intensified by the realisation they should probably have sorted all this stuff out ages ago. Will Everton land the striker they desperately need (Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi is the latest to be linked)? The Algerian FA have told us that Riyad Mahrez will be joining a new club but they’re not saying who, the big teases. Barcelona? Chelsea? Liverpool? Arsenal? Will Arsène Wenger reverse Arsenal’s seemingly inevitable dwindling and end the day with a stronger squad rather than a more depleted and deflated one? Part of the answer to that will depend on what becomes of Alexei Sanchez, of course. And how are all those other standoffs going to play out? Philippe Coutinho, Virgil Van Dijk, Jonny Evans, Ross Barkley, Mamadou Sakho ... there’s going to be larks and intrigue aplenty today, and ludicrous expenditure. Hurray!

Speaking of ludicrous, here’s today’s Rumour Mill.

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