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It’s much later than usual, but the transfer deadline is finally here in Europe’s top leagues.
October 5 has been circled on the calendar for some time as the temporary day for the window to close in this very abnormal year. The window has already seen many stars change direction, and the greatest of them all, Lionel Messi, stands still despite wishes to the contrary, but there is still time for another bombshell or two to happen and set the stage for the rest of the 2020-21 seasons.
The biggest names reported to still be in the showcase (even though some clubs claim otherwise) as time goes on include Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund); Ousmane Dembele and Jean Clair Todibo (Barcelona); Memphis Depay and Houssem Aouar (Lyon); Eric Garcia (Manchester City); Thomas Partey (Atlético de Madrid); Lucas Torreira (Arsenal); Alex Telles (Porto); Douglas Costa (Juventus); Federico Chiesa (Fiorentina); Milan Skriniar (Inter Milan); Amad Traore (Atalanta); Declan Rice (West Ham); Antonio Rudiger and Tiemoue Bakayoko (Chelsea); Theo Walcott (Everton); Gerard Deulofeu (Watford); and Luka Jovic (Real Madrid).
Getty Images (3)
As for some of the clubs that still have business to do, here are some of the biggest questions that need answered, followed by the latest rumors and competing deals when the window closes:
GREAT QUESTIONS
What is Manchester United’s plan?
United are reeling from a 6-1 loss to Tottenham and have not looked that good overall despite starting the season with aspirations to return to the top of the Premier League. It’s no secret why: the defense is a mess and more reinforcements are needed. Donny van de Beek’s signing was brilliant, and it looks like Edinson Cavani (free agent) will fill the need for another striker while left-back Alex Telles joins from Porto, but there will be some panic buying in light of the heavy lost? It all has to be a bit frustrating for United supporters seeing the needs elsewhere, having a window dedicated to courting but never getting close to signing Jadon Sancho and then staying in the final hours fighting.
How much will Arsenal commit financially?
Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing central midfielder Thomas Partey, but will need activation of his $ 58.8 million buyout clause, Atlético de Madrid will not budge for anything less for their 27-year-old Ghanaian international. That amount of spending is in direct conflict with the club’s current financial situation, which involved the elimination of 55 jobs in August and the elimination of its mascot, Gunnersaurus. Matteo Guendouzi is on his way to Hertha Berlin on loan, but if Arsenal are serious about hiring Partey, they will have to pay.
What else can Barcelona do to reorganize itself?
The rotation of the Barcelona squad has been significant, with Luis Suárez, Ivan Rakitic, Arturo Vidal and Nelson Semedo leaving the Camp Nou. The club is clearly looking to advance as it gets younger in multiple positions. It was done by adding the American Sergiño Dest and handing the keys to Ansu Fati, Trincão and others, but there is still work to be done. Since the club needs to sell to buy, the moves of Memphis Depay and Eric Garcia are on hold unless Ousmane Dembele and Jean Clair Todibo can be sold.
Will Lyon cling to its stars?
Memphis and Houssem Aouar have sparked a lot of interest, and for a time it seemed inevitable that both would leave after Lyon’s run to the semi-finals of the Champions League. Aouar, it seems, will stay, having said the same after Sunday’s draw against Marseille in which he scored from the penalty spot. Memphis, however, has long agreed to personal terms with Barcelona. It’s just a question of whether the Spanish powerhouse can raise the funds to make a move on time.
Is Real Madrid going to sit idly by?
It has been a sales season for Real Madrid, with Gareth Bale and James Rodríguez showing the door at last and Sergio Reguilon and Achraf Hakimi also unloaded. Martin Odegaard has been retired following his loan to Real Sociedad, but is otherwise strangely calm at the Bernabéu. Do Florentino Pérez and Zinedine Zidane think their squad is good enough? Or is the economic impacts of the pandemic affecting the most valuable club in the world? There’s a surprising amount of restraint coming from the Spanish capital, but it may all be the prelude to a major uproar next summer, when things, presumably and hopefully, are on more stable ground.
TOP RUMORS / REPORTS
• Arsenal has given an indication that it will pay for Partey’s buyout clause, launching a movement to bring him to the Emirates. The club has prioritized both Partey and Aouar, and with the latter out of the picture, the search for Partey has intensified. (Antonio Ruiz | David ornstein)
• Partey heads to London in a race against time to complete the deal. Lucas Torreira will head to Atlético de Madrid on loan in a separate deal as long as everyone passes the finish line. (Fabrizio Romano)
• Man United have turned their attention to meeting their winger needs to Atalanta’s Amad Traore, an 18-year-old with limited first-team experience, who won’t join until January. United is reportedly paying $ 35.3 million for it, plus add-ons. (The Guardian)
• United will sign Cavani and Telles, the former joining for free until June 2022 and the latter from Porto until June 2025. There are still talks about Ousmane Dembele, but Barcelona want to sell the player permanently, while that United prefers loan, complicating any last-day deal. (Fabrizio Romano)
• Dembélé will reportedly be staying in Barcelona after all. Barcelona had softened its stance on a permanent deal and welcomed the idea of a paid loan, but reportedly tried to extend Dembélé’s contract for a year in the process, which was evidently a deal breaker. (Guillem Balague)
• United are reported to be having a similar conversation with Watford regarding Ismaila Sarr, with the Red Devils awaiting a loan with a call option and Watford preferring a full sale. (GFFN)
• Another Man United move: Chris Smalling is in the process of being sold to AS Roma ahead of the Italian deadline. The fee will be $ 17.7 million plus add-ons. Smalling spent last season on loan with Roma. (Fabrizio Romano)
• Another possible Man United signing: Uruguayan teenage winger Facundo Pellistri could be en route to Old Trafford on an $ 11.7 million move from Peñarol. (Telegraph)
• Benfica are in talks to sign Jean Clair Todibo from Barcelona, which would pave the way for Barcelona to bring in Eric García from Man City. Fulham and Bologna are no longer options for Todibo. (Fabrizio Romano)
• It seems that Theo Walcott returns to the starting point and leaves Everton for Southampton on loan. (Sky sports)
• Tottenham had made a play for Inter central defender Milan Skriniar, but the deal is closed, and Inter did not sell after Spurs’ most lucrative offers were well below the asking price. (Fabrizio Romano)
• US right-back DeAndre Yedlin will stay in Newcastle and the club will reject multiple loan options for the player, whose contract expires at the end of the season. (Ives Galarcep)
DAY LIMIT OFFERS MADE
(Will be updated throughout the day as movements cross the finish line. Eastern time deadlines are:
– 12:00 h: Germany
– 2:00 pm: Italy
– 6 pm England, France, Spain)
• Manchester United have a new left-back following the signing of Alex Telles from Porto. (United manchester)
• Justin Kluivert has signed with RB Leipzig on loan from Roma for the remainder of the season. (Rome)
• Juventus have signed Federico Chiesa on loan for two years to Fiorentina with a purchase obligation. The reported fee is $ 58.8 million. (Fiorentina)
• Matteo Guendouzi has left Arsenal on loan from Hertha Berlin, where he will spend the rest of the season. (Hertha Berlin)
• Chelsea have loaned Tiemoue Bakayoko to Napoli, where the central midfielder will meet again with Gennaro Gattuso. Bakayoko was on loan to Gattuso at AC Milan during the 2018-19 season. (Chelsea)
• Everton sign Norwich City center back Ben Godfrey. (Everton)
• Tottenham send left-back Ryan Sessegnon on loan to Hoffenheim for the remainder of the season. Tottenham also sent central defender Juan Foyth on loan to Villarreal after signing him with an extension until 2023. (Tottenham | Tottenham)
• PSG sign midfielder Danilo Pereira on loan from Porto and forward Moise Kean on loan from Everton for the remainder of the season. (PSG | PSG)
• Veteran defender Matteo Darmian comes on loan to Inter Milan from Parma with a purchase obligation. (Inter de Milan)
• Juventus send a pair of defenders on loan to French clubs: Daniele Rugani heads to Rennes, while Mattia De Sciglio heads to Lyon. (Juventus | Juventus)
• Bayern Munich sign former PSG striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting until the end of the season for free. The triples have also brought in Douglas Costa on loan from Juventus, increasing his depth on the wing. (Bayern Munich | Bayern Munich)
• Bayern Munich have also gained strength on the defensive side, signing right-back Bouna Sarr from Marseille for $ 11 million (with Michael Cuisance going the other direction) and defensive midfielder Marc Roca from Espanyol (Bayern Munich | Bayern Munich)
• Davy Klaassen returns to where his career began, with Ajax signing the veteran Werder Bremen midfielder in a deal worth $ 12 million starting, but which could go as high as $ 16.5 million. (Ajax)
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