Transfer deadline day has arrived with two of the biggest sagas of the summer still to be resolved: will Arsenal sign Julian Alvarez and could Enzo Fernandez be swapping Chelsea for Manchester City before tonight’s 11pm deadline?
Premier League champions Arsenal have pursued Alvarez all window but are running out of time to submit an offer to Atletico Madrid, despite selling Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus to free up space for the 26-year-old forward. It means the Gunners could be left short in attack if they do not meet Atletico’s €150m asking price and so have explored alternatives, with Lyon’s Malick Fofana emerging as a late option.
Manchester City, meanwhile, will need to submit a bid that is higher than £120m to sign Fernandez from Chelsea and complete their midfield rebuild. Fernandez has been left out of Chelsea’s last two squads and Xabi Alonso’s side will not sell the Argentina international without a suitable replacement, with Monaco’s Lamine Camara, Roma’s Manu Kone and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott all on their radar.
Manchester United have still not signed a left back, while Liverpool’s business appears done after signing Bradley Barcola and rejecting Manchester City’s approach for Cody Gakpo. City have agreed a £60m deal with Everton to buy Iliman Ndiaye. That could have an impact on Everton’s pursuit of Richarlison, with Tottenham still wanting to sign a new forward too.
Follow all of the latest news, rumours and done deals below
Everton set for busy deadline day?
Iliman Ndiaye rejected multiple offers for a new contract from Everton, who were keen to extend his stay on Merseyside.
But his sale could allow Everton to spend on deadline day. They have advanced in talks with City to bring back Jack Grealish, who was on loan at Hill Dickinson Stadium last season.
They are also closing in on Kenny Tete from Fulham, as they look to end their long search for a right-back.
Everton have also agreed a deal with Monaco to sign United States striker Folarin Balogun for around £40m as David Moyes looks set to overhaul his attack before the transfer deadline.
Balogun, who came through Arsenal’s youth system, scored 19 goals for Monaco last season but looked unlikely to sign a new deal with the Ligue 1 club.
The 25-year-old was at the centre of major controversy at the World Cup this summer when his ban was suspended after United States president Donald Trump lobbied his Fifa counterpart Gianni Infantino.
Man City set to complete £60m move for Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye
Manchester City have agreed a £60m deal with Everton to buy Iliman Ndiaye.
City put in a bid for the Senegal international after Liverpool rebuffed an approach for Cody Gakpo, deciding it gave them too little time to find a replacement.
And they look set to land the Tottenham target with an offer that could rise by another £5m in add-ons.
Ndiaye is set to become the second winger signed by City in the last two days of the transfer window, after Allan Elias completed his £32m move from Palmeiras.
His arrival would take City’s summer spending past £300m in a window when they have paid a club record £116m for Elliot Anderson and £85m for Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Can Arsenal reach a last-minute deal for Julian Alvarez?
Arsenal are against the clock to sign Julian Alvarez. Alvarez still has his heart set on a move to Barcelona but did return to training on Sunday after missing Atletico Madrid’s win over Sevilla.
Mikel Arteta is said to have been in contact with Alvarez in the last week and understands that Barcelona was the 26-year-old’s first choice. Atletico are refusing to sell to Barcelona, however.
Atletico are close to signing Juventus forward Jonathan David on loan but still want to keep Alvarez beyond the deadline, while Arsenal have turned to potential alternatives.
The Gunners will weigh up a late move for Lyon winger Malick Fofana, who they have held interest in for over a year, and it would take a club-record bid to sign Alvarez before 11pm tonight.
Man City open talks with Chelsea over Enzo Fernandez
Manchester City reached a breakthrough last night in their pursuit of Enzo Fernandez, but Chelsea are still set to demand more than £120m for the midfielder. This one could go right down to the wire and could depend on Chelsea’s own search for a replacement, as well as whether City ultimately meet Chelsea’s valuation.
Enzo Maresca wants to be reunited with Fernandez, who was left out of the Chelsea squad by Xabi Alonso for Sunday’s 4-3 win over Brighton and has already been booed by his own fans this season. It would take an enormous transfer fee to bring the World Cup winner to Manchester, but with Fernandez seemingly eager to leave, the west London club might not have a choice but to lower their demands.
