Chelsea complete Enzo Fernandez signing on deadline day, Man Utd confirm Marcel Sabitzer loan
Chelsea’s pursuit of Argentina World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez went down to the wire on deadline day, after Arsenal completed the signing of Blues midfielder Jorginho
Chelsea have completed the signing of Enzo Fernandez for £106m, in what is a British transfer record. The Blues met Benfica’s release clause for the Argentina midfielder shortly before Tuesday’s 11pm transfer deadline.
A statement from the Portuguese side confirmed the deal past midnight after Chelsea rushed to complete the transfer.
It came after Manchester United signed Marcel Sabitzer on loan from Bayern Munich until the end of the season. The Austria international adds to United’s midfield options after Christian Eriksen was ruled out for three months with an ankle injury.
Brighton held on to midfielder Moises Caicedo, but Arsenal turned their attention to another target and signed Jorginho from Premier League rivals Chelsea in a £13m deal.
Elsewhere, Tottenham confirmed the signing of right back Pedro Porro, with Matt Doherty joining Atletico Madrid on a free transfer after his contract with Spurs was terminated by mutual agreement.
Follow all the latest transfer news and rumours, below:
Jorginho linked with Arsenal switch
The midfield merry-go-round seems set to dominate the final hours of a busy Premier League transfer window, and we’ll have all the latest updates on the movements of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo throughout the day. But might Jorginho also be in the midfield move mix? Brighton have been firm in saying that they do not wish to part with Caicedo, which could force Arsenal to look elsewhere in order to deepen Mikel Arteta’s title-chasing squad.
Rumours overnight suggest the league leaders are mulling a move for the Chelsea controller, whose contract is up in the summer.
Could Conor Gallagher join Sean Dyche at Everton?
A new manager on Monday; a shiny new midfield signing on Tuesday? Sean Dyche was officially confirmed as the new Everton manager yesterday and the club are now being strongly linked with Conor Gallagher, who could be pushed further down the list of Graham Potter’s midfield options if Chelsea do conclude a move for Enzo Fernandez.
It is suggested that Gallagher is keen to remain at the club he joined at the age of eight - but the sale of Anthony Gordon to Newcastle means Everton have the funds to re-invest, with a bid in the region of £45 million reportedly tabled.
Second-choice Sean Dyche must prove he’s no anachronism
Sean Dyche has been appointed Everton boss and now enters a desperate realm of dysfunction
Tottenham set to conclude Pedro Porro deal
It was on, and then it was off, but it does at last appear that Tottenham might have secured the right back that Antonio Conte covets. Reports last night suggested that Spurs had finally agreed the terms of a deal that will allow them to sign Pedro Porro permanently from Sporting Lisbon, with the Spanish full back said to be set for a medical this morning.
Should Porro be confirmed, it should open a route to an exit for the little-sighted Djed Spence - such a standout at Nottingham Forest last year, Spence could be bound for Rennes on loan until the end of season.
Juventus rival Fulham for Roma defender Rick Karsdorp
Juventus have contacted Roma about a loan deal for Rick Karsdorp, who has barely featured after a fall-out with manager Jose Mourinho.
The Turin club are looking to revitalise their season after a 15-point deduction in the so-called “plusvalenza” case, with that also causing uncertainty about what next, especially given the near-certainty they won’t be returning to the Champions League next season.
That has consequently necessitated looking at other options in the market as they may also be forced to sell key assets, and Karsdorp has emerged as a potential option at full-back due to his own circumstances.
Juventus rival Fulham for Roma defender Rick Karsdorp
The Dutch defender had a falling-out with Jose Mourinho and could depart before the deadline
Nathan Jones responds to reports Southampton will sell Che Adams to Everton
Southampton boss Nathan Jones has given short shrift to reports striker Che Adams could be sold to relegation rivals Everton.
Adams, Saints’ top scorer with eight goals this term, has been linked with a move to Goodison Park before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.
Everton and Southampton are joint-bottom of the Premier League table with just 15 points and, while both clubs are keen to strengthen their squads, Jones insists there is no chance of his side helping the Toffees.
“Let’s be honest, that’s not going to happen,” said Jones, bluntly, at a press conference to preview the second leg of his side’s Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle.
Nathan Jones responds to reports of Che Adams leaving for Everton
Adams is Saints’ top scorer with eight goals this term
Transfer deadline day 2023: The biggest deals to be done
Enzo Fernandez is the biggest deal left that could occur on deadline day, with a possible £105 million deal lined up with Benfica for the Argentina midfielder.
Moises Caicedo wants to leave Brighton, but Arsenal have seen three bids, the latest of which at £70m rejected, and it looks like the Seagulls will stand firm over the Ecuadorian.
Joao Cancelo has fallen out with Pep Guardiola it seems, with his minutes diminishing at Manchester City this term, so a surprise move to Bayern Munich is imminent. It’ll be a loan deal and an option to buy set at more than £60m.
Other names to watch include Pedro Porro from Sporting to Tottenham, Jonjo Shelvey to Nottingham Forest and Naouirou Ahamada from Stuttgart to Crystal Palace.
Moises Caicedo price tag set by Brighton after rejecting Arsenal and Chelsea bids
Arsenal and Chelsea need to go to £90m to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton, with the player’s rebellious actions leaving the club’s stance unchanged.
Brighton were deeply unimpressed with the Ecuadorian international’s social media post where he declared he wanted to leave, but the belief within the club is that he has been poorly advised by new representatives.
Part of that is their experience in such situations, notably with players like Marc Cucurella, Dale Stephens and Lewis Dunk, as well as the lack of a need to sell.
The only way they sell is if purchasing clubs meet their price.
Harry Maguire rejects Inter Milan loan move
Manchester United captain and England defender Harry Maguire has rejected a loan move to Inter Milan.
Maguire is fighting for his career at Old Trafford with Erik ten Hag relegating him to the bench in recent weeks.
But Maguire is keen to battle it out with the Red Devils, rather than seek an easier path to first team football, report the Star.
Inter have also been linked with Chris Smalling, whose deal at Roma is winding down.
Alessia Russo: Arsenal make world record bid for Manchester United and England star
Arsenal have submitted a world record bid for Manchester United and England striker Alessia Russo, the PA news agency understands.
The 23-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and United have so far been unsuccessful in securing her services beyond the summer.
It is understood Russo could fetch over the £350,000-£400,000 fee initially thought to have been paid by Barcelona to sign England midfielder Keira Walsh from Manchester City in September.
Arsenal make world record bid for Manchester United and England star Alessia Russo
Russo is out of contract at the end of the season as Arsenal look to make a move before the transfer deadline
Benfica set Chelsea fee for Enzo Fernandez
Chelsea have been told to pay Enzo Fernandez’s £106m release clause in order to sign the Benfica midfielder, as they seek to sign a central player in the last two days of this window.
The London club, who have already spent over £220m this month, have been speaking to Benfica about a £112m deal with the fee spread over a number of instalments in the manner they have constructed a number of recent purchases.
Benfica are doggedly sticking to their valuation, though, and have even attempted to raise the release clause. Chelsea purchasing Fernandez through that avenue would involve an up-front fee as well as also additional tax.
Benfica set Chelsea fee for Enzo Fernandez as deadline looms
Benfica are doggedly sticking to their valuation
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