As It Happened: Transfer Deadline Day

Whether we'll get an announcement from Barcelona regarding Luuk De Jong tonight I'm not sure, but I'd expect so. 

It's getting very late over in Spain now though, so much later and we'll call it a night here.

In perhaps the most surprising move on Deadline Day, and undoubtedly one of the very, very latest, Atletico Madrid have confirmed that they have re-signed striker Antoine Griezmann.

After being sold for over £100 million back in 2019, he is now set to return on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy at the end of the season.

Barcelona's financial mess no doubt plays a part in their willingness to get players off the books, but it does still seem astounding that they would let such a huge name depart so late on in the window.

We've now officially left Deadline Day behind and gone into September here in the UK, but football journalist Fabrizio Romano has given hope that an announcement is imminent.

This really is the final countdown now.

So, now that Saul Niguez has finally been announced, just two potential deals (that we know of), remain in the works:

• Antoine Griezmann to Atletico Madrid
• Luuk De Jong to Barcelona

With it now approaching 1am local time in Spain, I'm not sure we'll be getting an announcement this evening, but stick with me for one last push...

Finally.

In the last few moments, Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Saul Niguez on a season-long loan from Atletico Madrid.

The deal also comes with an option to buy the midfielder for around £35 million next summer, should the club wish to exercise that clause.

At 26 years old, the Spaniard still has plenty of years left in him, so it's not at all out of the question that the transfer may be made permanent in June 2022 if he impresses during the upcoming campaign.

Nizaar Kinsella of Goal is reporting that Chelsea's deal sheet wasn't submitted until 22:58, just two minutes before the deadline.

Saul Niguez's loan move is now being reported by many as officially, officially done - just the announcement to go now.

Kaveh Solhekol on Sky Sports has just said that the Spanish Online  Transfer Registration System is temporarily down.

You genuinely couldn't write this.

If there were any updates to bring you I would, but as of now conflicting reports over the status of the deals mean there is nothing concrete to go on yet.

Deadline Day goes on...

After seeming to have been all but officially confirmed, doubts are now emerging over the move of Saul Niguez from Atletico Madrid to Chelsea.

The Spanish side have clearly also become preoccupied with a move of their own in the form of Antoine Griezmann, delaying proceedings.

However, Matt Law of The Telegraph has urged caution over panicking - even if it might be warranted quite soon for Chelsea fans...

With the announcement of Salomon Rondon, just three potential moves still remain possible across the world of football.

All of them revolve around Atletico Madrid: Saul Niguez to Chelsea, Antoine Griezmann to the Madrid side and Luuk de Jong to Barcelona to replace the aforementioned Griezmann.

Must be busy at Atletico HQ...

Salomon Rondon will return to link up with former manager Rafa Benitez after signing for Everton on a free in the last few moments.

His signing has been announced by the club, after reports emerged earlier today of the signing being in progress and the striker looking likely to come back to England.

At 31 years old, he won't have many years left in him, but for a short term option, if can get into form, it seems like a strong buy for the Toffees.

We might have passed the 11pm deadline but that doesn't mean there'll be no more transfers!

Here are the four final moves we at VAVEL think will still happen this evening, with it just being an announcement holding up the official confirmations...

1. Saul Niguez to Chelsea
2. Salomon Rondon to Everton
3. Antoine Griezmann to Atletico Madrid
4. Luuk De Jong to Barcelona

And there we have it! 

The summer transfer window for 2021 has now officially closed, with the 11pm deadline being reached after a hectic Deadline Day and various deals being reached at the last minute.

Tottenham have just announced that they have mutually agreed to terminate the contract of right back Serge Aurier following the arrival of Emerson Royal.

The recent signing would've meant Aurier having a huge lack of minutes in the Spurs side due to others being ahead of him in the pecking order.

News about the termination of the contract only surfaced in the last hour or so, but things appear to have moved quickly and the news has now been officially confirmed.

Arsenal have now finally announced that Japanese defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has joined the club for a fee of around £18 million.

Coming from Bologna, the 22-year-old should help Mikel Arteta improve what has been a rather weak defence at the start of this season.

He completed his medical earlier today and, while it took a while, he has now been officially announced by the Gunners and will join up with the squad soon.

Millwall have confirmed the signing of Sheyi Ojo from Liverpool on a season-long loan for the English winger who has spent most of his Liverpool career away from the club.

The 24-year-old will now join Gary Rowett's side for the upcoming campaign, though there doesn't appear to be any option to buy at the end of the loan.

Sheyi Ojo has never been able to force his way into the team, so his pattern loan after loan looks set to continue for the foreseeable future.

We've come this far, there's not much longer to go. It seems from all angles just announcements are being awaited, rather than any negotiations.

I'll still be here after 11pm, so stick around for the latest news on the final few transfers of this window!

As we approach that 11pm deadline, it's important to note that, for English transfers at least, a system is in place to allow clubs some extra time to finish off transfers.

This is done in the form of deal sheets, and here's the explanation of them from the Premier League themselves:

'The deal sheet allows a club to confirm that a deal has been reached in order to allow for additional time to submit the remaining documentation.

Once the sheet arrives, clubs have got another two hours, or until 01:00, in which to submit the full paperwork.'

There is just half an hour left on Deadline Day now, and we've bene bringing you the latest updates for almost 10 hours now.

With just a handful of transfers to go, it really is the final stretch now...

In the last few minutes, Real Betis have announced the signing of Arsenal right back Hector Bellerin on loan for a season, through the medium of a Twitter meme ... of course.

The Spaniard will return to his native country, having made 183 appearances for Arsenal since he arrived in 2011 from Barcelona's academy.

Recently, however, his chances have been more limited as he has returned from a serious knee injury suffered in 2019, so this loan move does appear to be one of the best options for the 26-year-old.

In more sudden news, Serge Aurier may leave Tottenham on a free transfer as he and the club potentially agree to cancel his contract.

With the signing of Emerson Royal, the right back's opportunities would be more limited but this does come as something of a surprise.

Sky Sports are the only media outlet to report this so far, though, so we'll keep you updated on how events roll out on this one.

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With less than 60 minutes remaining on Deadline Day, here are the seven transfers we're still waiting for confirmation on:

1. Saul Niguez to Chelsea
2. Hector Bellerin to Real Betis
3. Takehiro Tomiyasu to Arsenal
4. Sheyi Ojo to Millwall
5. Salomon Rondon to Everton
6. Antoine Griezmann to Atletico Madrid
7. Luuk de Jong to Barcelona

There is now just one hour remaining in this 2021 summer transfer window, and a few deals are still in the works.

It's been a very busy Deadline Day up to this point, so why not stick with me for another 60 minutes to soak up the last few bits of transfer-related action?

Crystal Palace have confirmed the signing of Odsonne Edouard from Celtic, for a fee believed to be in the region of £14 million.

The 23-year-old underwent a medical earlier today and the transfer has now been announced by the club, meaning he'll join Patrick Vieira's squad soon.

As a centre forward, he'll bolster Palace's attack and help them score more than the two goals they've managed in the league so far.

Sticking with that story from Spain, and there's news of who Barcelona are planning to replace Antoine Griezmann with, as he looks set to move to Atletico Madrid.

Luuk de Jong has been touted as the potential replacement, a 31-year-old former Newcastle striker from Sevilla.

There's not much time left in the window to complete the deal, but Fabrizio Romano has suggested the deal is almost done.

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Returning to that huge news in Spain now, and Sky Sports are reporting that a deal has been agreed between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

It's said to be an initial season-long loan, before an obligation to buy kicks in next summer for a fee of £34.4 million.

That would be a huge discount on the £100 million that Atletico sold Antoine Griezmann to their fellow La Liga for back in 2019.

We reported earlier that Liverpool winger Sheyi Ojo had interest from three different clubs, and it looks as though his destination has now been decided.

Millwall have emerged has the favourite to sign the 24-year-old on loan for a season, with the Championship club set to sign the Englishman.

He has been out on loan for most of his Liverpool career, failing to make enough of an impression to stay in the first team squad, and this pattern looks set to continue.

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In slightly unrelated news, but still relevant to transfers after the saga that unfolded over the potential move to Manchester City, Harry Kane has defended his reputation this afternoon.

The England captain spoke to TalkSport and claimed that by trying to force through a move he hadn't damaged his reputation at the club.

He also said that his conscience was clear, despite his actions, and insisted that 'there's always going to be noise' in the football industry.

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The potential deal for Hamza Choudhury to move on a season-long loan to Newcastle United from Leicester City has now broken down, according to Sky Sports.

Reports had emerged earlier this evening that the 23-year-old midfielder might join Steve Bruce at St James' Park but talk were to no avail.

This likely means no more business for Newcastle in this transfer window, something that will likely be frustrating for Steve Bruce and the fans of the club.

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There are now just two hours until the transfer window closes on this Deadline Day, and around seven potential deals still yet to be done.

Be sure to remain with me for any more confirmed deals!

It's becoming slightly more sparse in terms of new links appearing but there remain plenty of deals still yet to be officially completed.

Stick with our blog to make sure you hear about any updates, including the likes of a potentially huge move back to Atletico Madrid for Antoine Griezmann.

Also, there's the slightly odd speculation of Salomon Rondon meeting back up with Rafa Benitez at Everton, so ensure you stay tuned for any updates on that move!

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With less than two and a half hours remaining, let's run down the final few deals that could happen in the time we have left:

1. Saul Niguez to Chelsea
2. Hector Bellerin to Real Betis
3. Takehiro Tomiyasu to Arsenal
4. Odsonne Edouard to Crystal Palace
5. Sheyi Ojo to Three Unknown Clubs
6. Salomon Rondon to Everton
7. Antoine Griezmann to Atletico Madrid

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After being reported earlier as a virtually completed deal, West Ham United have officially announce Alex Kral as a new signing from Spartak Moscow.

The loan move has now been confirmed by the Hammers, meaning the 23-year-old defensive midfielder will join up with David Moyes' squad very soon.

West Ham also did business with another Russian club today in the form of CSKA Moscow, signing striker Nikola Vlasic for £25.7 million.

In a move that has seemingly appeared from absolutely nowhere, Antoine Griezmann looks set to make a spectacular return to Atletico Madrid in the last hours of the window.

It looks as though it will be a loan with an obligation to buy at the end of the season and could be completed very shortly, according to Fabrizio Romano.

There's not long left to finish up the deal, though it's suggested personal terms have already been agreed, meaning the transfer is in its latter stages...

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BBC Sport are reporting that Hamza Choudhury is a potential target for Newcastle United in the latter stages of this Deadline Day.

The Leicester City midfielder is potentially one that could go to St James' Park on loan if a deal is agreed before the 11pm deadline tonight.

Whether that's a board-sanctioned negotiation, or a solo Steve Bruce one is yet to be discovered though...

For context, see 19:18 post.

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After the news of Wolves potentially signing both Boubacar Kamara and Kieffer Moore emerged seemingly out of nowhere, attention became focused on them.

However, Sky Sports are now reporting that Wolves are refusing to pay the £12 million that Cardiff City are asking for Moore.

Additionally, Marseille have an asking price of more than £12 million themselves, which is evidently more than Wolves had been hoping for.

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We're getting very close to that 11pm deadline now, so I think it's time for a quick pitstop before the final home straight.

I'm off for some dinner, see you shortly!

Just to give a quick summary on what transfers we're still waiting to be confirmed, here are the players rumoured to be on the move:

1. Saul Niguez to Chelsea (see 18:21 post)
2. Hector Bellerin to Real Betis (see 17:23 post)
3. Takehiro Tomiyasu to Arsenal (see 12:19 post)
4. Odsonne Edouard to Crystal Palace (see 16:47 post)
5. Boubacar Kamara to Wolves (see 18:47 post)
6. Kieffer Moore to Wolves (see 19:15 post)
7. Sheyi Ojo to Three Unknown Clubs (19:30 post)

The Athletic are reporting that Liverpool's Sheyi Ojo, a 24-year-old winger, is a potential target of three different clubs.

Two of the interested parties are said to be Championship sides, while the other is from the Netherlands.

The Englishman has failed to ever make a material impact at Liverpool, instead being sent out on seven loans since being promoted to the first team in 2015.

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We're yet to venture north of the border today, so let's have a quick rundown of all the confirmed transfers today in Scotland:

1. Georgos Giakoumakis to Celtic (£2.5 million)
2. Leigh Griffiths to Dundee (Loan)
3. Sondre Solholm Johansen to Motherwell (Undisclosed)
4. Alex Samuel to Ross County (Undisclosed)
5. Ali Crawford to St Johnstone (Loan)
6. Oli Shaw to Kilmarnock (Undisclosed)
7. Nathan Wood to Hibernian (Loan)

Up in the North East, according to Craig Hope of the Daily Mail, things appear to have turned rather chaotic at Newcastle United.

Manager Steve Bruce is reportedly in such disagreement with the board that he is now attempting to organise transfers himself.

The Magpies have so far only brought in Joe Willock, so it will be interesting to see if Steve Bruce can be both manager and negotiator too.

We reported earlier that Wolves were in talks to sign Boubacar Kamara, and it seems they may have another signing yet to arrive, if talks are successful with Cardiff City.

Kieffer Moore, the Welsh striker, is the subject of negotiations between the two clubs, according to Sky Sports, though a fee is yet to be agreed.

There's not much time to complete the transfer, but we'll keep you up to date with any new information on that potential deal.

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With the rumour mill starting to slow down a little regarding the Premier League, let's take a look at the confirmed transfers across the football league today.

1. Jamal Lowe to Bournemouth (£1.5 million)
2. Reda Khadra to Blackburn Rovers (Loan)
3. Ollie Cooper to Newport County (Loan)
4. Dujon Sterling to Blackpool (Loan)
5. Bersant Celina to Ipswich (Loan)
6. Stephen Walker to Tranmere (Loan)
7. Jordan Gabriel to Blackpool (Undisclosed)
8. Tayo Edun to Blackburn Rovers (£500,000)
9. Nicky Maynard to Tranmere (Free)
10. Ben Davis to Oxford (Undisclosed)
11. Jovan Malcolm to Accrington Stanley (Loan)
12. Kyle Taylor to Exeter (Undisclosed)
13. Jamie Robson to Lincoln City (Undisclosed)
14. Rhys Williams to Swansea City (Loan)

We're getting into Fergie time here if any more transfers are going to be completed in this summer window, but that doesn't mean there's nothing left to follow.

Stick with me for another four hours to make sure you don't miss any of the latest moves in the footballing world today!

It's been a busy last couple of hours, so let's run through all the confirmed transfers in the Premier League today.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United (£12.9 million)
2. Daniel James to Leeds United (£25 million)
3. Nikola Vlasic to West Ham (£33.5 million)
4. Marc Cucurella to Brighton (£15.4 million)
5. Connor Roberts to Burnley (£2.5 million)
6. Santiago Munoz to Newcastle (Loan)
7. Ademola Lookman to Leicester (Loan)
8. Emerson Royal to Tottenham (£25.7 million)

Wolves are not yet done in the transfer window yet, with them still reportedly in talks to sign Marseille's Boubacar Kamara, according to The Athletic.

The defensive midfielder's contract expires next summer, so the club could get him for free if they wait, but it is suggested they want the 21-year-old sooner than that.

He has made 100 appearances for Marseille and has been there throughout his entire career, joining the youth academy at just six years old.

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Tottenham have confirmed that they have signed Barcelona right back Emerson Royal, for a fee understood to be in the region of £25.7 million.

The Brazilian spent most of his time on loan at Real Betis, where he made 74 appearances over the course of two seasons.

At 22 years old, the club will hope he becomes a bargain in the future, with him now set to compete for the same position as Matt Doherty and Serge Aurier.

Welsh midfielder Ethan Ampadu will reportedly move to Serie A side Venezia on loan for the upcoming season, in a sign again of the likelihood of a Saul Niguez deal going through. 

Yet again it's Fabrizio Romano with the news of the move, and he says the loan will be officially completed very soon.

Venezia were promoted to the top flight this season and currently sit bottom of the table, so much like at Sheffield United, this could be a tough season for Ampadu.

P.S. If you want to read more about Ampadu, read my article on him here. 

It's seemed more and more unlikely as the day has gone on, but there now appears to be total confirmation that Kylian Mbappe will not move to Real Madrid in this window.

Kaveh Solhekol has said on Sky Sports that, according to his source, Madrid were willing to pay nearly £190 million today but PSG did not get back.

Imagine that, not picking up the phone to £190 million?!

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Saul Niguez will move to Chelsea after much drama over the course of today, according to Fabrizio Romano, who has given the transfer his coveted 'Here We Go'.

Throughout the window there have been conflicting reports over the state of the deal, but it now seems set to go through, with the Spaniard joining on loan.

There is reportedly a fee of €5 million for the loan, but it doesn't appear to have an obligation to buy, which was allegedly the sticking point in negotiations.

It's being reported that Everton are looking to acquire former West Brom and Newcastle striker Salomon Rondon from Chinese club Dailan, where he previously worked with Rafa Benitez.

The desire to link up again with his former boss is said to be one factor for the move, according to Sky Sports, as is the Toffees' need to replace Moise Kean who has gone on loan to Juventus (see 17:27 post).

A deal is said to be 'close' and so keep a lookout on Everton's socials for an announcement later tonight, which of course we'll have on here as soon as it happens.

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West Ham United have been reported to be in talks with Alex Kral of Spartak Moscow, though Atalanta are also supposedly interested, according to BBC Sport.

The Hammers have already done business with one Russian side today, signing Nikola Vlasic from CSKA Moscow (see 15:50 post).

Kral, of the Czech Republic, is a midfielder who has three years remaining on his current contract, but the deal is reportedly a loan with an option to buy, according to Ryan Taylor of The Express.

Leicester have confirmed that they have completed the signing of Ademola Lookman from RB Leipzig, for a season-long loan.

The English winger first joined the German side on loan in 2018, before signing permanently a year later.

He spent last season on loan at Fulham, scoring four times in 34 appearances, with four assists also to his name during that same period.

We're heading into the evening now here in the UK, which can only mean one thing - the deadline is getting closer.

It's now just five hours away, meaning the time for any more deals is running out, and fast.

Stick with me here on VAVEL for what could be a thrilling final evening of this window!

Some wild news coming out of Spain now that Atletico Madrid are planning a stunning resigning of former striker Antoine Griezmann who was sold to Barcelona in 2019 for over £100 million.

The Athletic are reporting, however, that Diego Simeone would not want to do such a deal if it meant 21-year-old prodigy Joao Felix going the other way.

At 30 years old the Frenchman may prefer to return to the club where he made his reputation, scoring 94 goals in just 180 games. He has since struggled at Barcelona, netting 22 times in 74 appearances.

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After his apparent plea to help on Instagram yesterday, Ainsley Maitland-Niles is now set to stay at Arsenal, despite a loan move to Everton being his initial preferred option.

BBC Sport are reporting that the English midfielder spoke to manager Mikel Arteta today in order to iron out any internal problems, with them being carried out successfully.

The rogue message had appeared to show chaos ensuing with regards to internal discussions and players' frustrations leaking out publicly, but Arteta will be pleased to have closed the issue now.

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Apologies for being slightly late to the party with this one but worth mentioning now that the German transfer window has officially closed.

No more business will be done with any sides in the Bundesliga (or other leagues in the country for that matter), with the window officially having closed at 5pm UK time.

That means there will definitely be no chance of a loan move for Callum Hudson-Odoi, who had been touted as a possible target for Borussia Dortmund earlier today.

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As reported earlier by Fabrizio Romano (see 16:59 post), Eduardo Camavinga has joined Real Madrid for around £27 million.

The Frenchman is a highly rated defensive midfielder, who Carlo Ancelotti will hope can learn from the likes of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos when he joins up with the squad.

Back in Europe again, and there's news from the continent's most problematic financial club in Barcelona, though this should help the situation.

18-year-old Ilaix Moriba is set to join RB Leipzig for a fee of around £13.7 million, as well as an additional £5 million in add-ons.

The Guinean midfielder has been at Barcelona since he was just seven years old, but his time in Catalonia is now over, with Leipzig confirming the signing just 19 minutes ago.

It's been a busy day at Arsenal with plenty of news regarding incomings and outgoings, and one which just went under the radar was Reiss Nelson joining Feyenoord on loan for a season.

The English winger has spent time out on loan abroad previously, with a year at Hoffenheim, but has failed to force his way into Mikel Arteta's team.

Therefore, the 21-year-old has been sent out on loan again, this time to the Netherlands where he will join up with Feyenoord, who came 5th in the Dutch Eredivisie last season.

Everton striker Moise Kean has once again gone out on loan from the club, having spent last season with PSG.

The 21-year-old will return to the club he was at for nine years in Juventus, where he scored seven goals in 16 appearances when in the senior team.

He has failed to make much of an impact at the Toffees, with his most memorable moment being one he would like to forget, in which he was substituted on and then off again in the space of just 18 minutes, while interim coach Duncan Ferguson was in charge.

Arsenal right back Hector Bellerin is set to join Real Betis on loan, after the club agreed a fee for Takehiro Tomiyasu, a Japanese defender (see 12:19 post).

The 26-year-old Spaniard has been with the Gunners for eight years now, making 183 appearances in that time.

According to Sky Sports, the loan move also includes an option to buy, though Betis will wait to see if they want to exercise that clause later in the season.

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Leicester City midfielder Denis Praet has completed a loan move to Italian side Torino.

The 27-year-old has not made much of an impact for Brendan Rodgers, and he will instead be hoping that he can prove his worth abroad.

With it approaching the business end of the business end of the transfer window, let's run through some of the confirmed signings today.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United (£12.9 million)
2. Daniel James to Leeds United (£25 million)
3. Nikola Vlasic to West Ham (£33.5 million)
4. Marc Cucurella to Brighton (£15.4 million)
5. Connor Roberts to Burnley (£2.5 million)
6. Santiago Munoz to Newcastle (Loan)

Earlier today it had been reported that Wolves were potentially going to sign Lille midfielder Renato Sanches on loan, with just hours to spare.

However, that move no longer appears to be on the cards, with talks apparently breaking down between the clubs and no agreement being reached.

The Portuguese player has previously spent time in the Premier League at Swansea City, during the 2017/18 season, but he failed to make much of an impression, only making 12 appearances in that time.

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Chelsea youngster Tino Anjorin is reportedly having a medical currently, in preparation for the completion of a season-long loan to Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow.

The midfielder's deal also included the option for Lokomotiv to purchase the 19-year-old for £17 million in January, should they wish.

Additionally, as has become commonplace with the Blues and their departures this summer, a buyback clause has been implemented, worth £34 million, should Anjorin move to Russia for good.

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This is your six hour warning, repeat, your six hour warning.

Many, many deals are still on the cards so stick with me as we start progressing into the early evening and the tension really begins to ramp up!

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Flying out to the continent temporarily, and there's news on Eduardo Camavinga, the highly rated 18-year-old Rennes player who has been the subject of many a rumour over this transfer window.

Said speculation has come to an end now, however, with Real Madrid set to announce the midfielder soon, according to Fabrizio Romano, bringing to an end his eight year career at Rennes.

Last season, the Frenchman was renowned for his dribbling skill, completing 1.6 per 90 minutes, as well as having a pass accuracy of an astonishing 89%.

Things had been relatively quiet for Chelsea this Deadline Day, bar a few more outgoings to join the loan army from Cobham but news from The Athletic has changed all that.

They are reporting that a deal could still be agreed between Chelsea and Atletico Madrid over a loan for Saul Niguez, with an additional option to buy included in the deal.

It had seemed as though negotiations had ended after the Spanish side refused to budge on including an obligation to buy, but it seems they may now have changed their tune slightly, in a welcome boost for Thomas Tuchel and his squad.

At Crystal Palace now, and there's news of one final incoming to Patrick Vieira's squad, in 23-year-old Odsonne Edouard.

A fee of £14 million is being reported by Sky Sports, for the striker from Celtic who has two goals in four league games this season.

The official announcement could come at any moment now, with the player reportedly having his medical as this update is written.

Another interesting detail to note is that PSG are due a portion of the fee due to a sell-on clause they inserted when selling him to Celtic.

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As reported earlier, Daniel James has completed his move to Leeds United after it became clear that his opportunities at Manchester United would be far more limited with the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Welshman has moved to Leeds for a fee of £25 million and agreed personal terms with the club relatively quickly.

At 23 years old, the winger is now moving towards the prime of his career, so will want to be somewhere he can be sure he gets regular minutes at.

Therefore, a move to Marcelo Bielsa's side does seem to be the best option, especially considering one of his main attributes is his pace and Bielsa's system involves much running.

At 4pm here in the UK, we've now run through each Premier League club's transfer business this summer.

We'll now turn back to Deadline Day and look at the deals still yet to be done!

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Without wanting to sound as though I'm using a joke which has been said many times before, Wolves do have something of an obsession with the country of Portugal.

Despite bringing in a new manager (though he is also Portuguese), the pattern of signings with regards to nationalities has remained similar.

Jose Sa has been brought in to replace Rui Patricio in goal and Francisco Trincao has arrived from Barcelona to help out Raul Jimenez up front.

That said, however, the signing of Hee-chan Hwang on loan from RB Leipzig shows the willingness to venture out slightly, though the striker is yet to prove himself at his parent club.

Over in East London, West Ham United have been quietly strengthening their squad over the summer, in an attempt to build on the hugely impressive sixth place finish last season.

David Moyes has, primarily, managed to keep all of his key players, including the likes of Michail Antonio and Declan Rice, while also adding three names too.

The first of these is Alphonse Areola, from PSG who, while not bound to be a regular, will provide good cover on the bench for Lukasz Fabianski.

Next up is Nikola Vlasic, a 23-year-old attacking midfielder from CSKA Moscow, someone who has been suggested as an attempt to replace the gap left by the previously on-loan Jesse Lingard.

Finally, and the biggest transfer of their window, is Kurt Zouma from Chelsea for nearly £30 million, someone who, with such incredible experience in European competition, will be vital if the Hammers progress far in the Europa League.

For a newly-promoted side such as Watford, the first priority will understandably be remaining in the Premier League for at least another season.

Therefore, by acquiring experienced players from the top flight, it is clear the club are hoping that such familiarity from members of the squad will enable them to survive a relegation fight.

The main names to mention here are Moussa Sissoko and Danny Rose, both formerly of Tottenham, as well as Josh King, who has been in the top flight for six straight seasons now.

There have been some more youthful signings though, with the most expensive, Imran Louza, arriving from Nantes for a fee in the region of £9 million.

As always, question marks will remain over the cohesiveness of the squad but, until a few more weeks into the season, it's harsh to judge just yet.

Of all the clubs you would bet on to not spend much money in a transfer window, Tottenham would be very high up that list, especially with Daniel Levy in charge.

However, in a bid to support new manager Nuno Espirito Santo, Levy has splashed the cash on some big names from around Europe.

Cristian Romero is the most expensive of the four incomings, costing the club £47 million, but the centre back from Atalanta is highly rated and is still just 23 years old, so is definitely one for the future too.

Bryan Gil is another who has joined, also permanently, and other signings include Pierluigi Gollini and Papa Matar Sarr, both of whom are on loan.

The only relevant outgoing to mention would be that of Erik Lamela, who was part of the deal to bring 20-year-old Bryan Gil to North London, but bar some other minor loans, the squad remains mostly similar to last season, including the important retainment of Harry Kane.

After the departure of ever-prolific striker Danny Ings, it was always going to be difficult for Southampton to find a suitable replacement.

Instead, the Saints appear to have gone with a multitude of options, one of which is Adam Armstrong, signed for around £16 million.

Also on the incomings list is Theo Walcott, on a free transfer from Everton, with Armando Broja of Chelsea, a 19-year-old prospect, also arriving on loan.

Elsewhere in the squad, the defence has been improved, something that was bound to happen after some poor showings, including a now infamous 9-0 defeat.

The improvements include Tino Livramento, also formerly of Chelsea, Lyanco, a centre back from Torino and Romain Perraud, previously at Stade Brest.

If you look up the definition of 'panic buys' in the dictionary, you would see the list of incomings at Norwich City this summer.

OK, perhaps that's a little harsh, but the sheer number of signings does lead to the question of how they will all come together to form a cohesive unit and attempt to keep the Canaries  in the top flight.

Looking at the most notable of the incomings, Billy Gilmour arrives on loan from Chelsea and the young Scot showed his promise during Euro 2020 this summer, so will surely help Daniel Farke's side.

Also, USA international Josh Sargent, from Werder Bremen, signed for £8 million, is someone who Farke hopes can add to the attacking threat of his side.

As mentioned, though, with such a plethora of names coming into Carrow Road, it brings back memories of the failed 2019/20 season, in which Norwich ended propping up the Premier League table with just 21 points.

When moving between two clubs' transfer summaries, I'm not sure there is a greater divide than that of the difference between Manchester United and Newcastle United.

The Geordies have been frustrated to say the least with their owner, Mike Ashley, for the last few years now at his lack of investment in the club, both emotionally and financially.

Just one incoming signing this summer will once again be the talking point, but said incoming is at least someone every fan can get behind in Joe Willock.

The former Arsenal man was on loan at the Magpies last season and has now joined them on a permanent deal, something that will please all of those who saw him get eight goals in just 14 Premier League appearances last year.

We've hit the 3pm mark, which means there are just eight hours left of the 2021 summer transfer window.

Plenty of moves yet to be made, so stick with me as I guide you through the final countdown and continue running through each club's business...

Now it's the turn of Manchester United and, in all honesty, it's hard to argue that they haven't had the best window of all Premier League clubs on the face of it.

Jadon Sancho was the first major signing through the door, as United finally got their man they had been chasing for so long at a cost of £73 million.

Next up was world class defender Raphael Varane, which set the club back £41 million, though that does appear to be something of a bargain for the quality of player that he is.

The final piece of this incredible transfer jigsaw puzzle, while the cheapest, is almost certainly one of the greatest and most iconic in the club's history.

Ronaldo has returned and, regardless of fees, wages or any other factors, having one of the two greatest players to ever play the game in your team can never be a disadvantage. 

A 10/10 window, without a shadow of a doubt.

There's only one place to start with Manchester City's summer transfer window and that's with £100 million man Jack Grealish.

He is the only major signing for Pep Guardiola's side this summer, but if you had to pick just one player he wouldn't been far down the list of choices.

The Englishman has started the season well, but the one area City fans were hoping to also add to was in the striker position, which remains vacant following Sergio Aguero's departure.

Harry Kane, Robert Lewandoski and even Cristiano Ronaldo were linked at various points, but none of the moves every materialised.

While this may seem like a failure, however, it's clear they should be fine without an obvious No.9 - after all, they've scored 10 goals in three Premier League games, so how desperate can they be?!

And we're back. Moving on into the second half, we start with Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool and a summer in which only one new signing has arrived but plenty of long-term futures have been secured from within.

Ibrahim Konate, a French centre back, was signed for a reported £36 million and he will bolster a defence which suffered repeat injury setbacks last season.

On top of that, as mentioned, there have been new contracts for the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Fabinho, meaning those high profile players look set to remain at the club for years to come.

This will please Klopp who has already let go of Georginio Wijnaldum and Xherdan Shaquiri this summer, so would've been reluctant to lose any more squad members.

All this transfer talk is making me hungry, so I'll be off briefly to replenish by reserves before making my way back to talk through the remaining 10 clubs' transfer business.

For now, why not take a look through my live page so far?

When considering appropriate players to join Marcelo Bielsa's squad, there are likely two factors that every incoming must fulfil in order to be considered:

Young and energetic.

These do seem to fit the bill of the large majority of the current squad, including those who have arrived in Leeds this summer.

Junior Firpo is one example, having joined from Barcelona for a fee of around £13 million, and the Spanish left back will have to be on his toes to keep up with Bielsa's training regime.

With a ninth placed finish under their belts in their first season back in the top flight, not many adjustments were necessary, however, so the lack of action is not altogether surprising.

If anything, the most influential arrival at Everton wasn't even a player at all, and instead the appointment of new manager Rafa Benitez.

He replaced Carlo Ancelotti after his move to Real Madrid, and while not much business has been done, one name has stood out as the season has begun.

That name is Demarai Gray who, for just £1.5 million, has come from Bayer Leverkusen and has scored twice in just three Premier League games thus far.

For such a low fee, expectations were at a similar level, but the English winger has already surpassed them, and will now likely look to rebuild his reputation after departing from the Premier League with Leicester in 2021 with just 10 goals in 133 appearances.

This is your nine hour warning as the clock ticks over to 2pm in the UK!

Still plenty of transfer business to be done, especially in the Premier League.

Speaking of which, I'll be running through more clubs and their summer window summaries through the next hour so stick with me!

Just before the top of the hour arrives, a quick Kylian Mbappe update as promised and for PSG fans it will be a welcome one. 

The French winger now appears to be happy to remain in Paris and allow his contract to run out next summer, by which point he hopes a pre-contract agreement with Real Madrid will have been signed.

The Spanish giants had submitted two bids for the player, but these were both rejected by PSG who felt they didn't value the player correctly, so it now seems the super team of Messi, Neymar, Mbappe and more will be a reality, if only for one campaign.

There has been something of a renovation at Crystal Palace this summer, following the departure of many older members of the squad and manager Roy Hodgson.

In his place has arrived Patrick Vieira, who himself has signed many top quality young players, two of which come from the previously mentioned Chelsea.

They are Marc Guehi, on a permanent transfer, and Conor Gallagher, who scored both goals in a 2-2 draw against West Ham United at the weekend.

On top of that, the arrival of Joachim Andersen at centre back will be a welcome boost, particularly following the departure of the likes of Gary Cahill and Scott Dann.

It may take some time for the squad to gel together, but once it does Vieira will hope this will be a long-term project, rather than something that is shut off too quickly.

As Champions of Europe, many would expect that Chelsea would not need to strengthen their squad too much, with it evidently being one of the best in the world already.

However, after finishing 19 points adrift of Manchester City and with title ambitions this year, the Blues needed to strengthen, and they have done in one particular area.

Romelu Lukaku has returned to the club for a £97.5 million fee, though other arrivals have not come to fruition, with the likes of Jules Kounde and Saul Niguez rumoured but never concrete.

That said, one part of the window where Chelsea always do well is in selling fringe players, and they have done so on a huge scale, racking up an astonishing £100 million in estimate sales.

Sean Dyche is not one to moan about the lack of transfers at Burnley, where he manages, but there is evidently a disparity between the Clarets and other Premier League clubs in terms of funds.

Despite that, Dyche has consistently kept his side in the division, and has added to his squad this window in the form of Maxwel Cornet.

The Ivory Coast player can be utilised in a variety of positions on the left flank and, for a fee of just £13 million, it could end up being one of the bargains of the summer if successful.

Elsewhere, 25-year-old Connor Roberts, a Welsh right back, has joined the Clarets just minutes ago in an exciting addition to Dyche's squad.

Down on the South Coast, Graham Potter's most exciting moment of the window will have been when he heard that Arsenal were willing to pay £50 million for Ben White.

The English centre back, while a mainstay in the Brighton defence, is still relatively young at 23 years old, so to command such a large transfer fee is an achievement in itself.

Regarding new signings, the most notable is Enock Mwepu from RB Salzburg - a Zambian midfielder who can play across the pitch.

Also arrived is Marc Cucurella, signed only a few hours ago (see 12:14 post), a Spanish midfielder from Getafe.

Over at newly-promoted Brentford, there hasn't been too much activity going on, but the club are famous for finding obscure talent using their statistical analysts.

Therefore, it would be wise to keep an eye on both Frank Onyeka and Kristoffer Ajer, the two incomings for Thomas Frank's side.

While there have been few arrivals, this is also balanced by a distinct lack of departures too, meaning the squad which achieved promotion last season remains largely intact, something the club will hope will allow them to press on in the Premier League too.

It's been a window of mixed feelings for Aston Villa fans, with star player Jack Grealish departing the club, but plenty of exciting incomings too.

With £100 million to spend, there was plenty of options available to Dean Smith, and he hasn't disappointed with his selections.

Leon Bailey is arguably the most interesting of these, coming from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee reported to be around £30 million.

Another winger in the form of Emiliano Buendia is also one to watch, as is the prolific forward Danny Ings, who opened his Villa account with an acrobatic effort against Newcastle.

Overall, a bittersweet summer whereby one very, very special player went out, but multiple new ones came in.

We begin the summary of transfer business with Arsenal, and the business they've done this window.

On the pitch, the Gunners have had a miserable start, but with the amount of incomings you would be forgiven for wondering how that has happened.

Their marquee signing in Ben White has not had many opportunities to impress due to contracting Covid, Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga have also had limited chances, but seem promising.

Other arrivals include Aaron Ramsdale, who kept a clean sheet on his debut against West Bromwich Albion, but perhaps the best bit of business was permanently signing Martin Odegaard, who was on loan at the club last season.

Overall, a lot of players, for a lot of money, but it remains to be seen whether all of them will bring the quality needed for Arsenal to fight back against their tough start.

It's just turned 1pm here in the UK, meaning there are now less than 10 hours left in this summer's transfer window.

We've already had arguably the best window of all time with moves for both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo - could there be anymore late twists on the cards?

Coming up this hour:

• Every Premier League club's transfer business summarised
• Kylian Mbappe News
• And more!

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