January transfer deadline day is here. Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham have only today to finalise signings for their squads with 11pm GMT the official closing time for one of the most exciting windows ever. Enzo Fernandez and Pedro Porro are two of the big names potentially on the move in the coming hours.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners were desperate for a midfielder and after admitting defeat in their pursuit of Brighton’s Caicedo, Jorginho has joined in a deal worth £12million. Chelsea would use that fee to help fund a British record £115million deal for Fernandez after weeks of talks with Benfica, which are continuing today. Conor Gallagher will be staying at Stamford Bridge.
Spurs are close to announcing Porro’s £39m arrival having made a breakthrough with Sporting late last night, which would allow both Djed Spence and Matt Doherty to leave on loan. Manchester United are expected to sign Marcel Sabitzer from Bayern Munich on loan, with the midfielder now in the UK. Follow all the latest news, rumours and gossip on January transfer deadline day LIVE via Standard Sport’s blog below!
Live updates
Hutchinson set for West Brom move
Chelsea teenager Omari Hutchinson has agreed to join West Brom on a loan deal until the end of the season, writes Nizaar Kinsella.
The 19-year-old turned down an offer rock-bottom Championship side Wigan to join promotion-chasing West Brom.
Dutch giants PSV were also interested in a permanent deal for Hutchinson after selling Noni Madueke to Chelsea for £29million.
But Hutchinson has agreed on a move to West Brom, who are 10th in the Championship and two points outside the play-off places.
Read more on that here
Arsenal confirm Jorginho arrival
Arsenal have completed the deadline day signing of Chelsea midfielder Jorginho on an 18-month contract.
The Italian international emerged as a shock target after the failed pursuit of Brighton star Moises Caicedo, who was the subject of two offers.
Brighton, however, rejected both bids and duly forced the Premier League leaders into a short-term move for Jorginho.
A stalwart at Stamford Bridge following his arrival in the summer of 2018, the 31-year-old also had interest from Barcelona and former club Napoli.
Mikel Arteta had been keen to draft in midfielder and a £12m deal to bring the Italian to the Emirates Stadium was struck with only hours left in the window.
No Fernandez breakthrough
Disagreements still remain between Chelsea and Benfica over a potential Enzo Fernandez deal.
Sky Sports report that the Blues want to pay the buy-out clause in six instalments over the next five years, while Benfica want the fee in three payments within two years.
The structure of the deal remains a problem – Chelsea running out of time to fix that.
Man United finalising Sabitzer paperwork
Manchester United are on the verge of completing a loan move for Marcel Sabitzer.
The Athletic report that United are sorting the midfielder’s work permit and putting the finishing touches on the paperwork, before that move is made official.
The deal does not include an option to make the move a permanent one in the summer.
Charlton sign former Chelsea defender
Charlton have confirmed the signing of former Chelsea centre-back Michael Hector.
The 30-year-old, who signed for the Blues on deadline day in 2015, but was sent out on a number of loans before joining Fulham.
Hector has been out of contract since the summer, but has now joined Charlton until the end of the season.
“It feels great to be a Charlton player,” he said. “The boys seem like a good bunch and I’ve settled in nicely.
“I’ve always enjoyed playing at The Valley. Every time I’ve played at The Valley it has been at night and it feels like a European night. It’s always a decent atmosphere, obviously being a home player it will be a different experience and it’s one I’m really looking forward to.”
Gil confident he has improved
Tottenham‘s Bryan Gil believes he has returned to Sevilla a better player, despite his lack of minutes in English football.
Gil last night rejoined his former club on a straight loan for the rest of the season – without an option or obligation to buy – after another frustrating six months with Spurs.
The 21-year-old, who joined Spurs from the LaLiga club in a deal worth £21million plus Erik Lamela 18 months ago, finally earned a Premier League start under Antonio Conte in the 4-0 win over Crystal Palace earlier this month but was forced further down the pecking order by the arrival of Arnaut Danjuma on loan from Villarreal.
Conte has previously said the winger does not yet have the physique for English football but compared him in quality to Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva.
“In the Premier League the physical level is noticeable, the referees allow more, but the less physical players can also stand out if you adapt well,” Gil said at a press conference to announce his return to Seville.
Read his full comments here
Cedric agreement reached!
I’m told Arsenal and Fulham are working on the paperwork over a deal for Cedric, writes Simon Collings.
This one should finally get wrapped up.
Canos completes Olympiakos move
Sergi Canos has joined Olympiakos on loan from Brentford.
The Bees’ longest-serving player only has six months remaining on his contract, but the club do have an option to extend that by a further 12 months.
Phil Giles, the Brentford’s director of football, said: “We have the option to extend Sergi’s contract in the summer, so it is very possible that we will see him back with us.”
Sabitzer set for Man United loan
Marcel Sabitzer has been filmed boarding a flight ahead of his transfer deadline day move to Manchester United.
A loan deal, not including an option to buy, has reportedly been agreed to take the Austrian from Bayern Munich to Old Trafford.
United face a race against the clock to seal Sabitzer’s signature with the deadline set at 11pm GMT, although they can submit a deal sheet to gain a time extension if all the formalities have not been completed.
Sky Sports released footage of the 28-year-old passing through Munich airport on Tuesday evening.
Read more on that here
