This summer’s transfer window has smashed records, including more than doubling the record for a transfer fee from £89m to £200m, with Neymar’s move to PSG. Club spending has gone through the roof, and the rumour mill has been in full production. But, finally, we are down to the last day, and, come eleven o’clock, it will all be over. Well, for another four months anyway.
Yet, with just hours remaining, there are still plenty of sagas that have not yet drawn to a conclusion. Barcelona’s summer-long pursuit of Liverpool forward Phillipe Coutinho will probably be less of a priority for the Catalan’s after their purchase of Borussia Dortmund’s winger, Ousmane Dembele, for a £135m fee. Alexis Sanchez is looking increasingly likely to be leaving Arsenal, after refusing to sign a new contract with the Gunners. Manchester City looks like the most probable destination for the Chilean, but don’t rule out Chelsea yet, the blues will be looking for a new winger after missing out on other Oxlade-Chamberlain, another Arsenal winger, to Liverpool.
It surprises me that Wenger would let Sanchez go to a premier league rival. Juventus and Barcelona had been linked earlier this summer, but are looking like less likely destinations. The winger scored 24 league goals last season and got ten assists, but is reportedly looking for trophy-winning football, and is unhappy at Arsenal.
Everton will also be looking to increase their spending even further, with a needs for a new striker to partner Wayne Rooney mounting. Spurs have only just started making signings and could do with a better striker to back up or partner Harry Kane. Swansea’s Fernando Llorente is looking likely.
Spurs have also just completed the signing of Serge Aurier from PSG, according to the BBC. I think this is a good signing, ass Keiran Trippier is good, but not quite good enough to replace Kyle Walker full-time yet. Serge Aurier will provide security at the back, and speed and skill going forwards.
Riyad Mahrez has, in recent days, been linked with a move away from former-champions Leicester, with Man United being linked, but I can’t really see where he would fit in alongside Lukaku, Martial, Rashford and Mkhitaryan. Squad depth is a good thing, but you don’t want too many players not getting game time. I think that he would fit in well at somewhere like Everton or Southampton.
West Brom have pulled off two very good signings with the purchase of Grzegorz Krychowiak from PSG and Keiran Gibbs from Arsenal. Maybe this year they won’t sink into obscurity again, and might even push for a European spot. Another great signing is Swansea getting Bayern Munich midfielder Renato Sanches on loan. The Portuguese man was heavily linked with Man United before sealing a move to Bayern and is a really talented and promising young player.
Most European deadlines are at eleven o’clock, however, the Bundesliga (Germany) closes at 5 PM, and the Spanish league doesn’t close until midnight tomorrow! Sorry Liverpool fans!
So, this transfer deadline day is shaping up to be one of the best in years. There are plenty of moves to keep an eye out for, and for once, it might be worth staying up until midnight for! If you want updates throughout the night, be sure to follow the twitter page (@_InTheDugout_) and follow the new Facebook page.
I just also wanted to say thanks for all the support recently, it’s really great to see people enjoying my content.
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Billy
In the dugout 