There is barely 48 hours left until the transfer window slams shut for the year – so what can still happen?
All of the Premier League big hitters have made big money signings this summer – with Tottenham taking their time but splashing out a club record fee on Davinson Sanchez last week.
But if history tells us anything, it’s that some of the biggest deals are often saved for the tail end of the transfer window – remember Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United, Ashley Cole to Chelsea and Carlos Tevez to West Ham?
United have started the season strongly with three Premier League wins on the spin, but their rivals, including Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea are all being linked with big moves to bolster their squads.
On the list of deals that could happen at the last minute is the transfer of Dutch central defender, Virgil Van Dijk from Southampton to Liverpool for a reported fee in the region of £70 million with Premier League defending champion, Chelsea, also said to be interested in the former Celtic player. Though the fee being mooted is tempting, whether Southampton will allow their best defender quit the club at this stage of the season however remains to be seen.
French international, Bacary Sagna is another player that may find himself turning out for a new club after his release by Manchester City in the summer. The right-back, who is well above 30, is being courted by Crystal Palace and could join the Premier League club on a free before transfer deadline.
Other possible transfers that could happen before transfer deadline is; Alex Sanchez to Man City as the player has sounded it out to Arsenal hierarchy that he wants out of the club. He may be joined at the Emirates exit door by Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain, Shkodran Mustafi and Calum Chambers. While Chamberlain, who has one year to run on his contract may join London rivals, Chelsea for a transfer fee worth £35m, Mustafi is likely to go on a season long loan deal to Inter Milan with an option to buy him out rightly. For Chambers, Crystal Palace looks the most likely destination as he has found playing time at the Emirates scarce.
Chambers may have Liverpool defender, Mamadou Sakho for a teammate at his new club.
Another big move that could happen is that of Angel Di Maria to Barcelona as the Spanish club has continued to shell out the cash since they sold Neymar Junior to PSG in a deal worth €222million. Added to this is the long drawn transfer saga of Phillipe Coutinho as Barcelona is likely to make one final push to get ‘their man.’
Jonny Evans to Man City or Arsenal as the Gunners appeared determined to shore up their defence with the imminent departure of Mustafi and Chambers.
The 29-year-old Evans was the subject of interest from The Gunners last summer and after their poor start to the new campaign; boss Arsene Wenger is ready to make another move.
According to The Telegraph, current favourites to land the Northern Irish international, Manchester City, are ready to make a third offer of £30M for the former Manchester United man but with Arsenal making enquiries on Monday evening, it could be a two-horse race all the way up to Thursday’s deadline.
Another club recently linked with his services, Leicester City, now look to be out of the running having had a £21M rebuffed by Albion with the club from the Black Country holding out for £30M price-tag they have placed on Evans.
Danny Drinkwater to Chelsea for a fee worth over £30m is another deal that may happen as Antonio Conte is reportedly keen to reunite N’Golo Kante with his midfield partner.
Both formed such an instinctive and impressive partnership and the Italian manager could have an eye on those two repeating their performances again but this time in a Chelsea shirt.
Other notable deals that are imminent are; Fernando Llorente to Chelsea from Swansea, James McCarthy to Newcastle, Aaron Lennon to Watford, Ahmed Musa to Hull City, Divick Origi to Monaco from Liverpool and Riyad Mahrez to Arsenal from Leicester.
