Football Digest: Man Utd to be active ahead of transfer deadline
Premier League clubs took their spending well above £2billion on an enthralling deadline day packed with drama. Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea were among the busiest clubs as plenty of summer deals went right down to the 11pm deadline.
United ended up making four signings in a hectic end to the window, with Sofyan Amrabat and Sergio Reguilon joining on loan while Altay Bayindir and Jonny Evans also put pen to paper on Old Trafford moves.
Liverpool, meanwhile, got the signature of Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich over the line. He had been the subject of interest from Man Utd but Jurgen Klopp got his man. Furthermore, the Reds rejected an eye-watering £150m offer from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad for Mohamed Salah, and according to reports they are ready to go one step further and bid £200m for his services.
Earlier in the day, Chelsea grabbed the headlines by signing Cole Palmer from City in a deal worth £40m.
Take a look back at Express Sport's live deadline day blog below...
Man Utd landed four signings while Liverpool turned down a mammoth bid for Mohamed Salah (Image: GETTY)
Ryan Gravenberch has revealed he spoke to Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo before moving to Liverpool.
Asked about his Dutch team-mates, the midfielder said: "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Before the move I spoke a lot with the guys and they said we have a good team, everything is top here. Actually my decision was quick."
Tottenham have confirmed that 24-year-old defender Japhet Tanganga has joined Bundesliga side FC Augsburg on a season-long loan. The move is set to become permanent next summer.
Japhet Tanganga has joined Bundesliga side FC Augsburg on loan for the remainder of the 2023/24 season, with a conditional obligation to make the deal permanent next summer.
Sheffield United have completed their 10th signing of the summer transfer window by snapping-up James McAtee on loan from Manchester City for the rest of the season.
McAtee came through the Citizens academy and helped the Blades win promotion from the Championship last season during an initial loan spell. The 20-year-old midfielder bagged nine goals in 37 second tier appearances as United finished second to Burnley.
Return of the \ud835\udde0\ud835\uddf0. \ud83d\udc4b
United's tenth signing of the transfer window is a major capture with James McAtee returning to Bramall Lane on a season-long loan.#SUFC \ud83d\udd34
Lazio have reportedly been told they can sign Mason Greenwood on a free transfer from Manchester United. The Italian outfit remain in talks with the England international over a deadline day move and there is every chance it could materialise before the window closes later tonight.
According to Sky Italia, Lazio are making progress on a permanent deal for the 21-year-old. The report also adds that Lazio are looking at offering Greenwood a salary worth only £600,000 per year, which works out at around £11,500 per week.
Greenwood currently earns in excess of £75,000 per week - but there's an appreciation that he is unlikely to earn a salary as high as that again in the future.
Lazio have reportedly been told they can sign Man Utd ace Mason Greenwood for free (Image: GETTY)
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed his team are keen to sign out-of-favour Arsenal centre-back Rob Holding.
“Rob Holding’s a player who has interested us for a while,” the ex-England boss told reporters ahead of the Eagles’ Premier League clash with Wolves on Sunday. “We are working on the basis perhaps that you can’t have too many good quality players in your squad. So if he was available and it was a deal that was doable for the club as far as [chairman] Steve Parish and [sporting director] Doug Freedman are concerned, I can only say I’d be very, very happy to welcome him here.”
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed his team are keen to sign Rob Holding from Arsenal (Image: SKY SPORTS)
Former Everton playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson is finally back in football after securing a deadline-day deal with a new club. But the Icelandic midfielder won't be playing in the MLS after his reported link-up with Wayne Rooney failed to materialise.
The 33-year-old has been in the football wilderness since leaving Everton when his contract expired at the end of the 2021/22 season. But his absence from the game is now over after Sigurdsson agreed to join Danish club Lyngby on a one-year deal.
Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano has reported that Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah wants to join Bayern Munich. And the transfer expert says the player’s two options are to stay at Stamford Bridge or to link-up with his former manager Thomas Tuchel in Germany.
Chalobah has fallen out of favour under new Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino and has been the subject of a £25million bid from Nottingham Forest, according to the Daily Mail.
Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah reportedly wants to join Bayern Munich (Image: GETTY)
Brentford are closing in a deal to sign Neal Maupay on loan from Everton, according to Fabrizio Romano. The 27-year-old striker spent two years in west London between 2017 and 2019 before moving to Brighton and is now on his way to the capital for medical tests.
Maupay scored 41 goals in 95 appearances during his first spell with the Bees and also impressed for Brighton. But he has flopped since moving to Goodison Park last summer and has netted just once for the Toffees.
Tottenham’s deal for Conor Gallagher is in jeopardy as they have been unable to offload Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Hojbjerg has reportedly turned down a move to Premier League rivals Fulham, with the summer transfer window set to close at 11pm on Friday night.
According to the Daily Mail, Tottenham have made contact with Chelsea over a potential deal for Gallagher. But their pursuit of the 23-year-old could be affected by Hojbjerg’s reluctance to leave Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Tottenham’s deal for Chelsea ace Conor Gallagher is in jeopardy (Image: GETTY)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has insisted that his summer transfer business is now done.
“Let’s finish in the right way,” Arteta said as he spoke about Friday’s transfer deadline ahead of his side’s Premier League clash with Manchester United on Sunday. “For me it's serene. I don’t have to do much work. Edu and the board are trying to finalise a few things. I don’t expect anybody to come in.”
And when quizzed on why he didn’t bring in another defender to replace the injured Jurrien Timber, Arteta added: “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.”
Luton Town have opened talks with Arsenal over a possible loan move for Albert Sambi Lokonga, according to The Athletic.
Lokonga is yet to feature in a matchday squad for the Gunners this season and could reportedly make the switch to Kenilworth Road before tonight's 11pm deadline.
The Hatters have also been credited with an interest in Manchester United playmaker Donny van de Beek as Rob Edwards looks to add to his midfield ranks.
Fulham have given midfielder Joao Palhinha permission to fly to Germany to complete a move to Bayern Munich, according to ESPN.
A fee of around £55m has been agreed, with Fulham willing to let Palhinha leave if they can find a suitable replacement.
The report adds that Marco Silva is keen on bringing Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to Craven Cottage after the Dane was deemed surplus to requirements at Tottenham.
Brighton have officially confirmed the signing of Ansu Fati from Barcelona on loan until the end of the season.
Seagulls 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."
Mauricio Pochettino has defended Chelsea's aggressive spending habits after it emerged that the Blues have splashed more money on players this summer than the Argentine did in his five years at Tottenham.
"I think we need to explain the realities," said Pochettino in today's press conference. "In the same way we sign, we sell players.
"It is not fair to say anything wrong about my former club, it is more about net spend than the money you spend. That is the balance the club tries to get.
"I think it was a different project, different circumstance. We feel comfortable of course, we need to settle all of the players. We need to build this solid to perform after.
"We need to recover the injured players and those that arrived late. It is a matter of time and we have the quality and I think we are going to perform."
Odysseas Vlachodimos is preparing to fly to England to complete the formalities of his impending move to Nottingham Forest.
The Benfica goalkeeper is poised to join the Reds on a permanent deal on what is expected to be a frantic day at the City Ground.
Personal terms have already been agreed with the 29-year-old and the move is likely to be confirmed before tonight's deadline.
Benfica goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos about to fly to England imminently to complete permanent transfer to Nottingham Forest. Greek international sought assurances he will not be loaned to Olympiacos in future. Personal terms now in place. #NFFChttps://t.co/xHKQmI511R
Luton Town are plotting an audacious move for Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek, according to the MEN.
The Dutchman is said to have emerged as a surprise target for the Hatters, who are keen on adding extra midfield reinforcements before tonight's cut-off point.
Donny van de Beek has reportedly emerged as a surprise target for Luton Town (Image: GETTY)
Everton winger Alex Iwobi is close to joining Fulham on a permanent deal, according to the Evening Standard.
It is said that Iwobi will move to Craven Cottage for a transfer fee in the region of £20m.
It has been a busy transfer window for Fulham, who have also signed Raul Jimenez, Adama Traore, Calvin Bassey, Timothy Castagne and goalkeeper Steven Benda.
Alex Iwobi is reportedly closing in on a move to Fulham (Image: GETTY)
Bournemouth have rejected a bid from Tottenham for the services of defender Lloyd Kelly, according to The Athletic.
It is said that around £20m was offered by the north Londoners before the proposal was swiftly turned down.
Bournemouth are reportedly looking for more money in exchange for Kelly, who joined the Cherries from Bristol City four years ago in a deal worth close to £13m.
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Mohamed Salah is set to stay at Liverpool despite reports claiming that he has travelled to Saudi Arabia to complete a move to Al-Ittihad.
"The position remains the same absolutely," said the Reds manager at a press conference this morning.
"That's how it is. Nothing else to say. No offer as far as I know."
Reports in Saudi Arabia are sensationally claiming that Mohamed Salah has touched down in Jeddah ahead of a move to Al-Ittihad.
The Egyptian winger has agreed to join the Saudi heavyweights, according to Okaz, after it was reported that Al-Ittihad were planning a nine-figure bid for his signature.
Salah is said to have already flown out to Jeddah by private jet in order to complete the formalities of the move.
Aston Villa are nearing a deal to sign Clement Lenglet on loan from Barcelona, according to BBC Sport.
The Frenchman will serve as a temporary replacement for Tyrone Mings, who will be sidelined for much of the campaign with a long-term knee injury.
Lenglet spent last season on loan at Tottenham and had been linked with a return to north London but Villa have seemingly won the race for his signature.
Clement Lenglet is reportedly set to join Aston Villa on loan (Image: GETTY)
Mohamed Salah is a target for Saudi club Al-Ittihad but Liverpool are adamant that he will be going nowhere before tonight's deadline, according to The Athletic.
Al-Ittihad are reportedly weighing up a mammoth £150m bid for Salah, who would become the highest-paid player in the Saudi Pro League if the proposed move goes ahead.
There is no indication that Salah is pushing to leave Liverpool as things stand, but his situation will certainly be one to watch over the coming hours.
Mohamed Salah is believed to be a high-profile target for Al-Ittihad (Image: GETTY)
Tottenham are interested in a late move for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, according to the Daily Mail.
Ange Postecoglou is reportedly keen on adding to his options in the engine room and is said to have identified the Blues man as a player of interest.
However, any deal could hinge on on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's possible loan move to Atletico Madrid, with Spurs yet to make a formal approach for Gallagher as things stand.
Manchester United could be set to make as many as three signings today, with Fiorentina ace Sofyan Amrabat their top target.
Talks are underway over a move for the 27-year-old, according to Fabrizio Romano, with Fulham not expected to pose a threat despite being credited with an interest in his services.
Monaco playmaker Youssouf Fofana is also said to be on Erik ten Hag's list, while a loan move for Tottenham left-back Sergio Reguilon is set to be completed before the window closes.
It certainly looks set to be a busy day at Old Trafford!
Erik ten Hag will be hoping to add to his squad before tonight's deadline (Image: GETTY)
Hello and welcome to Express Sport's live coverage of what is expected to be a frantic deadline day.
Teams across the country will be scrambling to get deals done ahead of tonight's 11pm cut-off point and there might just be a few surprises thrown in along the way.
Stay with us to follow all the latest developments from across the Premier League and beyond...
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