2016-08-31

Rolling report on the final day of the transfer window

Premier League: transfer window summer 2016 – interactive

The Rumour Mill: PSG’s David Luiz to return to Chelsea?

Email rob.smyth@theguardian.com with any thoughts

1.30pm BST

A summary of Deadline Day so far

1.23pm BST

“Mesut Ozil’s transfer to Arsenal caught everyone by surprise,” says Ben McKenna. “In fact it’s safe to say several of North London’s bescarfed fans choked on their Roasted Quinoa with Olive Gremolata on that faithful deadline day back in 2013.”

I can’t remember that faithful day but I’ll take your word for it. My football memory stops at about 5.57pm on 5 April 2009.

1.20pm BST

Sky Sports News are suggesting that Newcastle will accept five instalments of £6m for Moussa Sissoko. It’s only a few weeks ago that he was rampaging through the first half of the Euro 2016 final; why does nobody want him?

1.16pm BST

Everton have already made their best signing of the summer: Ronald Koeman.

Related: How Ronald Koeman led Everton to their best start to a season for a decade

1.15pm BST

Sunderland and Hull, both in need of attacking reinforcements, are very keen on taking Jay Rodriguez on loan from Southampton - but they are not the only ones...

1.14pm BST

“I don’t know any books on Balkans football in the 80s/90s but I did enjoy James Moor’s Grobar,” says Richard Gibbon. “It’s the story of an Arsenal fan who is sent over there for work and has to pick and follow a team to get his footballing fix. Foreword by Jonathan Wilson too I think.”

Now you mention him, Wilson’s first book was on football in eastern Europe as well.

1.13pm BST

“I might be late to the party on this one,” says Darrien Bold, “but I’ve just spotted tenacious midfielder Vinny Samways tucking into a sandwich in the window of Pret a Manger in Liverpool city centre whilst rumours of a £2 million deal between Tottenham and Everton continue to do the rounds...”

Can’t be true, he’s never eaten at Pret in his life, honk honk.

1.11pm BST

“What was the last big transfer that caught us by surprise?” wonders Gareth Aherne. “Every transfer now seems to be mooted before it goes through so that nothing is surprising. I can’t for the life of me think of one that caught us all off guard.” Good question. Tevez and Mascherano to West Ham? Sol Campbell to Arsenal? Wilfried Bony to Stoke?

1.09pm BST

Albert Adomah has just swapped Middlesbrough for Aston Villa. Boro fans will be sad to see the popular winger leave but Adomah and Aitor Karanka did not always see eye to eye. A very good signing for Villa though.

1.08pm BST

“Polish winger Kamil Grosicki is on his way to England,” writes Tom P. “Which club? You tell us.”

What’s this, a game of Guess Which? Good player though, I’ll give you that information for free.

1.06pm BST

Didier Ndong - the Lorient and Gabon midfielder set to become Sunderland’s £17m record buy - is now in the north east, having a medical. If he ends up signing, Ndong will miss Sunderland’s next game at home to Everton as he is currently suspended.

Meanwhile Yann M’Vila - a success on loan at the Stadium of Light last season and a Sunderland target throughout a summer in which Rubin Kazan have placed a high price on his head - has been pictured at Heathrow after landing on a flight from Moscow. Sunderland fans will hope he is connecting to Newcastle airport en route to a return to Wearside.

1.05pm BST

Won’t somebody think of Mame Biram Diouf?

1.03pm BST

“Sorry to bother you during your live transfer update,” says Ed Webster, “but I just wondered, would you be able to point me in the direction of any good books on football in the Balkans during the 80s/90s. As an era it produced some astonishingly good footballers and sides, all set to the backdrop of political upheaval and bitter enmity between teammates. I imagine it must be a fascinating story. Any help you can give me would be much appreciated!”

I don’t know of any but would be similarly interested. Anyone?

1.00pm BST

Here’s more on Chelsea’s move for Valencia defender Aymen Abdennour

Related: Chelsea look to Valencia’s Aymen Abdennour to solve defensive problem

12.57pm BST

Chelsea are discussing Sissoko with Newcastle. Not sure how desperately serious they are - they are one of the few clubs not to have been linked with him. Newcastle still want £30m. Might this force Spurs to up their bid, or will he simply end up back at St James’ Park after all?

12.54pm BST

“If Sky want to be creative and/or satirical,” begins David Hopkins, “maybe they could get Monty Brewster to report from Aston Villa, or perhaps Viv Nicholson from almost any Premier League club?” But David, one of them is a fictional character and the other died last year.

12.54pm BST

Joe Hart has either been reading a lot of poetry in the last 24 hours, or his translator loves Serie A.

Related: Joe Hart joins Torino: ‘I’m very excited to test myself in the beautiful Serie A’

12.50pm BST

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12.49pm BST

I wish Brian Clough, Bill Shankly and especially Jock Wallace were around for Deadline Day. Imagine some poor wee gadge chasing after Big Jock to ask him whether he can confirm or deny reports on Twitter that he is interested in Steaua Bucharest’s left-back.

12.46pm BST

Chelsea’s pursuit of central-defensive reinforcements has prompted them to open talks with Valencia over the signing of Aymen Abdennour, initially on loan with an option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.

The London club have been frustrated in their pursuit of Kalidou Kouliably at Napoli and Milan’s Alessio Romagnoli, and had been linked heavily with an attempt to re-sign David Luiz from Paris Saint-Germain. Yet, with the left-back Marcos Alonso set to complete his £25m move from Fiorentina later today, Chelsea have opted to revive their long-standing interest in Abdennour as they seek cover at the back.

12.45pm BST

And this is a fine piece from Nick Ames on the unpopular mess that is the Checkatrade Trophy.

Related: Millwall struggle to see the benefits of revamped Checkatrade Trophy | Nick Ames

12.44pm BST

More lunchtime reading. Here’s Sid Lowe on why La Liga is literally laughing at the Premier League.

Related: Premier League is draining talent from Spain but not catching the very best

12.41pm BST

“On the subject of Brits in Italy, Lazio’s Ravel Morrison is rumoured to be keen on a move to Nottingham Forest,” says Nick Hughes. “Full credit to our chairman Fawaz Al-Hasawi if he manages to pull off the double coup of selling our most exciting young player in decades, Oliver Burke, to a soft drinks brand without a sell-on clause and replacing him with the man who wrote the book on how not to fulfil your potential.”

12.40pm BST

Marcus Rashford is not going on loan to Vitesse Arnhem, as the grapevine o’ banter suggested earlier in the summer. But if you want to hear me get very giddy about how good he could be, this is for you.

Marcus Rashford is ready to be England's next football genius...? We talk to Rob Smyth https://t.co/ALlMnsjYf1 pic.twitter.com/gJGGZXvrI9

12.38pm BST

“Despite acing their Brit rollcall with Souness, Francis & Platt (and, err Des Walker) it’s C4 matches of Sampdoria featuring Dichio & Lee Sharpe that live in the memory,” says Mike Murphy. “The surprise on my face gave me an affinity with the Samp fans in the lovely Luigi Ferraris stadium who were clearly similarly befuddled.”

Ah, Sampdoria in the 1980s and 1990s. Somebody should write a book on that era. Mind you, you could do a book on this game alone.

12.35pm BST

Jack Wilshere latest No news yet, but Sky are suggesting it’s not a three-horse race between Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Roma. It’s a no-brainer to go to Bournemouth, isn’t it?

12.31pm BST

Dominic Cork at Stoke is all well and good, but surely Sky can do even better. Any ideas? David Lloyd at Accrington? Wayne Mardle at Spurs? Kay Burley at Palace?

12.29pm BST

I know we’re not supposed to talk about actual football on a day like today, but your eyes might enjoy this.

Related: The best goals of the week: Xabi Alonso, Jonjo Shelvey and a Dirk Kuyt double

12.26pm BST

Everton have agreed a £1.4m deal with Sheffield United to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has just been called up to the England Under-20 squad. Calvert-Lewin joined Sheffield United at the age of eight and made his debut for the club in April last year. He enjoyed an impressive loan spell at Northampton Town last season and has attracted interest from Manchester United as well as Everton. The 19-year-old forward is a Sheffield boy and grew up a few streets away from where Jamie Vardy lived, near Hillsborough.

12.24pm BST

“Never mind looking at the clock, Rob,” says William Hargreaves. “Just make sure there’s no one behind you with a rubber phallus.”

I wouldn’t know about that sort of thing.

12.23pm BST

Make that four: Stoke have signed Derby keeper Lee Grant on loan

12.22pm BST

Three stars of world sport have arrived at Stoke: Wilfried Bony, Bruno Martins Indi and Dominic Cork, who is covering today’s activing for Sky Sports.

12.20pm BST

This could be bad news for lovers of David Luiz’s freestyle defending

A potential loan move for Aymen Abdennour from Valencia to #CFC. Might represent a more realistic target... https://t.co/951vI9GFah

12.18pm BST

The latest from Sky Sports’ Deadline Day ticker WILFRIED BONY TWEETS: IT’S A NEW DAY & I LOOK FORWARD TO A NEW CHALLENGE.

12.16pm BST

So, what’s your favourite Brit-in-Italy moment? Here are two that come to mind straight away: Paul Gascoigne’s Spectrum goal against Pescara and Mark Hateley’s immense header in the Milan derby.

12.15pm BST

Just to show we really do care about the Championship, there are rumours that Fulham are going to grant Emmanuel Adebayor entry into the 484th Chance Saloon.

12.09pm BST

Lunchtime reading/viewing if you’re into the whole Joe Hart thing

Related: Joe Hart heads for Torino but is not the first to seek Italian renaissance

12.03pm BST

It’s official: Joe Hart’s pass-completion stats have packed their bags and will spend the next nine months in Turin.

12.02pm BST

Hello. “It just keeps ticking, doesn’t it!” - a grown man on Sky Sports a moment ago, looking at a clock. Happy deadline day!

11.59am BST

Here’s where my stint comes to an end. Rob Smyth will be talking to you about Marcus Rashford for the next three hours.

11.58am BST

ICYMI Jim White reporting on a wedding fayre in 1985 is my new favourite thing https://t.co/eMJ27xmU9p #Wedding pic.twitter.com/QOYicrsDCx

11.52am BST

With Derby set to sell Jeff Hendrick, they might dip into the market. Huddersfield’s Sean Scannell is a potential target. Sheffield Wednesday are also interested.

11.49am BST

There are a few whispers about Chelsea looking at Angelo Ogbonna. But selling the Italy centre-back would leave West Ham with two senior centre-backs.

11.40am BST

Look at the shiny interactive! Coo!

Related: Premier League: transfer window summer 2016 – interactive

11.33am BST

11.13am BST

If Wilshere opts for #AFCB, expect #CPFC to make one last push for James McCarthy at #EFC (would need convincing) and Tomas Rincon at Genoa

11.01am BST

Jamie Jackson reports that Eliaquim Mangala is in Valencia for a medical. He also says that Samir Nasri’s move to Sevilla is almost done.

10.59am BST

The word at Swansea is that Saturday’s chastening defeat at Leicester – anyone that was at the King Power Stadium will know that it was a 2-1 hammering – prompted genuine concern within the club about the strength of the squad. Hence the move for Enner Valencia, who is in talks with Swansea about a season-long loan from WHU. Whether Valencia is the answer, is another matter. Over to you for the verdict on that one, Mr Steinberg. Leo Ulloa was on Swansea’s list of targets earlier in the summer but I was told yesterday that he’s not being considered now. Understand Ulloa’s representatives held talks with Leicester about his future first thing this morning. Seems certain to go and has options in the Premier League (Sunderland) and in Spain.

To answer your question, Stu, Enner Valencia had a promising start at West Ham, scoring that stunner at Hull and linking up well with Diafra Sakho. But he looked lost whenever he played without the more muscular Sakho and suffered a bad knee injury last summer. He’s not recovered his confidence since then and has struggled in a wide role under Slaven Bilic. He’s not scored since January and lacks nous on the ball. He often looks clumsy and has only scored 10 goals in all competitions since his move in 2014. The strange thing, though, is that he’s prolific for Ecuador. Maybe it’s all about confidence.

10.40am BST

Our Manchester correspondent, Jamie Jackson, has been in touch. “Valencia have moved ahead of Porto in the great Eliaquim Mangala chase,” he says. “Those high up and who should know say nothing occurring at Manchester United today but the usual this is the never-say-never trade caveat applies... And big J Hart is back on these shores Ahead of the deal to Torino being made official.”

10.37am BST

“Given the early hour, Sissoko should have time to get through both Dickens’ Great Expectations and Janyre Tromp’s That Sinking Feeling,” parps Toby Thatcher.

10.36am BST

Dominic Fifield says that Jack Wilshere is veering towards Bournemouth. Working with Eddie Howe could be beneficial.

10.32am BST

Ed Aarons reports that Everton are closing in on Porto’s Yacine Brahimi. They’ve quietly done some decent business.

Related: Everton close to club record £35m deal for Porto forward Yacine Brahimi

10.31am BST

Looks like Moussa Sissoko could be in serious need of that good book Dominic Fifield hopes accompanied him to London. Being given permission to leave his France team-mates and Clairefontaine behind is one thing but Newcastle actually agreeing a deal with Daniel Levy quite another. At the moment the Tynesiders are still holding out for £30m - a sum Spurs are extremely cool on.

10.31am BST

Besiktas have signed Leicester’s Gokhan Inler. It never really happened for him, did it?

10.30am BST

The word from our chief football correspondent, Danny Taylor, is that Micah Richards’s potential move to West Ham is likely to go to the wire. The two clubs are yet to reach an agreement.

10.26am BST

Derby County’s Jeff Hendrik is going to have a medical at Burnley. He’d be a good signing.

10.20am BST

Slaven Bilic hoping to get Micah Richards at West Ham today. Season-long loan from Aston Villa, with view to permanent deal #whufc #avfc

10.18am BST

“I’d like to suggest Imperial Bedrooms by Bret Easton Ellis for Moussa Sissoko,” says David John Knowles. “It’s full of bleached out LA bleakness and people who are unbelievably shallow and self centred. It should reflect the mood of the day for him and it’s short enough to get through in an extended sitting.”

10.14am BST

Stephen Bell has a book suggestion for Moussa Sissoko: Down and Out in Paris and London.

10.13am BST

Arsenal will have a say as to where Wilshere goes given that Palace don’t intend to pay his entire wage package, while Bournemouth are willing to pay it all.

10.12am BST

It’s not a deadline day with Harry Redknapp, it’s not a deadline day without Emmanuel Adebayor. The big man is reportedly in talks with Fulham.

10.10am BST

These negotiations between #thfc and #nufc over Moussa Sissoko should be fun. Hope he takes a good book to the training ground...

10.08am BST

Derby County goalkeeper Lee Grant is apparently having a medical at Stoke. Is this the end for Shay Given?

10.07am BST

More details on Didier N’Dong: a very defensive minded, extremely “physical” midfielder, N’Dong was on international duty with Gabon when Sunderland stepped up their interest on Tuesday. He met club officials in Paris late on Tuesday evening and underwent the first part of a medical to be concluded on Wearside later today. If he signs, Sunderland’s record transfer fee - the £13m paid for Asamoah Gyan – remember him? – will be eclipsed.

9.46am BST

As for Chelsea, Marcos Alonso is currently undergoing a medical at Cobham ahead of the completion of his 27m Euros move from Fiorentina. The former Bolton and Sunderland defender will offer competition at left-back and, if required, centre-half. Ideally the club would like to add another experienced defender, potentially on loan, before the window closes. Paris Saint-Germain, for what it’s worth, are insisting David Luiz will not be permitted to leave Parc des Princes this summer.

There will be exits from Stamford Bridge. Juan Cuadrado could finally complete his return to Juventus, where he spent last season on loan, in another temporary switch while the likes of Christian Atsu (Newcastle) and Kenneth Omeruo (Alanyaspor) should complete their respective loan moves. They may be followed by Matt Miazga, Nathaniel Chalobah, Dominic Solanke, Islam Feruz and Lucas Piazon out of the club on temporary deals.

9.41am BST

To think that we doubted Daniel Levy. There’s been a development in the Moussa Sissoko saga.

Louise Taylor reports: “Currently on international duty with France, Moussa Sissoko has left the France training camp after being given permission to fly to London for potential talks with Spurs.”

9.35am BST

Wilfried Bony to Stoke is close to getting done. The player is undergoing a medical at the training ground with a view to a season-long loan. Stoke made it clear that Manchester City would have to heavily subsidise the player’s wages for the deal to work for them. They have agreed to pay a £2m loan fee. Manchester City would have preferred to sell Bony, but Stoke were not prepared to take on the Ivorian’s salary.

Bony’s arrival at Stoke raises questions about their pursuit of Saido Berahino and whether they will now abandon hopes to sign the West Bromwich Albion forward. Any move for Berahino was always conditional on West Brom bringing in another striker in the first place.

9.33am BST

Alan Pardew’s attempts to refresh his Crystal Palace squad, and reinvent the team’s style of play, have already seen him given the leeway to shatter the club’s transfer record twice this summer, first to sign Andros Townsend and then Christian Benteke. Add Steve Mandanda, James Tomkins and Loic Remy to the recruitment drive and this is already arguably the strongest squad Palace have ever had.

Yet the club expect at least two more arrivals on deadline day, with Jack Wilshere’s potential loan move from Arsenal the most mouth-watering prospect. The England midfielder has offers from virtually half the Premier League to consider - Arsenal will not countenance him moving to a direct rival for a top four place - as well as Roma, Celtic and Valencia from abroad. But, with a young family, he may be more enticed by the prospect of moving to Palace, Bournemouth or Watford.

9.33am BST

Enner Valencia, who’s badly lost his way at West Ham, could be joining Swansea on loan. The Ecuadorian striker hasn’t scored since January and currently looks like he’ll never score again.

9.32am BST

L’Equipe are reporting that Nice are trying to convince Liverpool to let them have Mario Balotelli on a free transfer. It’s understood that Liverpool want to pay Nice to take him off their hands. I’m being facetious.

9.28am BST

Posted without comment.

Deadline Day is all about this Legendary Nutty Geezer ⚽️#DeadlineDay #JimWhite pic.twitter.com/jyu5QdtZdI

9.26am BST

Adama Traore, the Aston Villa winger, is booked in for a medical on Teeside today, thereby placing the Middlesbrough future of Albert Adomah in doubt. And will anyone bid for Jordan Rhodes, an expensive striker seemingly surplus to Aitor Karanka’s requirements? Calum Chambers is already signed and sealed as a Middlesbrough defender, having completed his season long loan deal on Tuesday night.

9.19am BST

Thwarted in various attempts to sign assorted midfielders David Moyes - rebuffed by Sevilla’s Vicente Iborra and Tottenham’s Ryan Mason (who joined Hull instead) yesterday - could be set to break Sunderland’s transfer record by paying France’s Lorient £17m for their 22-year-old midfielder Didier Ndong.

A Gabon international, Ndong was scouted last week by Sunderland only to be sent off after 30 minutes but with time fast running out they could be set to gamble on his potential.

9.16am BST

Harry Redknapp might not be managing anyone at the moment but that’s not going to stop him from getting involved today. He’s just been asked about Tottenham’s pursuit of Moussa Sissoko on Talksport. “If Newcastle are asking for £35million Daniel (Levy) will bid £5m,” he said.

9.13am BST

It’s being said that Wilfried Bony has turned up at Stoke’s training ground. No word on whether he’s brought his own stethoscope. It could be a busy day for the Stoke doctors. Porto’s Dutch defender Bruno Martins Indi is also supposed to be mooching around the place.

9.11am BST

“I get there’s escalation in price,” says Michael Hunt. “I do. And it’s distasteful and scandalous and undermines memories of (as a Chelsea fan) just how bad 13 mil on Sutton (and no doubt in time 50 mil on Torres) was. And goals aren’t everything in this post-post-Heskey world. But there’s escalation and then there’s throwing 35m at a 26 year old striker who hasn’t even threatened double figures for league goals in his two seasons at one of the 3 massive clubs in Portugal.”

Isn’t Brahimi more of a wide player? He was brilliant against Chelsea last season. Then again, who wasn’t?

9.10am BST

Emmanuel Riviere has finally found a new home. Unwanted at St James’ Park - where he was rarely seen - the French striker has joined Osasuna on a season long loan.

Meanwhile Tottenham’s £16m bid for Moussa Sissoko is way below Newcatle’s valuation. The possibility that the France midfielder may end up staying on Tyneside after all dictates that a move for West Brom’s Callum McMcManaman is on hold. But there will surely be improved offers for Sissoko – won’t there?.

9.06am BST

Has anyone seen Roll Up Man?

9.00am BST

Here’s today’s Rumour Mill. Enjoy!

Related: Rumours: PSG’s David Luiz set for Chelsea return on transfer deadline day?

8.56am BST

Not that this day has become a parody of itself, but Sky’s Andy Burton just spotted a bird flying around the Emirates Stadium and wondered if it was a sign that Jack Wilshere might be off to Crystal Palace. The Eagles, you see. One problem: it was a hawk. We did get an interview with the bird, though. A historic moment in television history.

8.54am BST

What’s Wilfried Bony hinting at here? Could a loan move to Stoke be in the offing?

It’s a new day and I look forward to a new exciting challenge

8.53am BST

Alex McLeish is on Sky Sports News. No surprise. He’s one of life’s great entertainers, after all.

8.48am BST

This is big.

| Shani Tarashaj has joined @eintracht on loan for the 2016/17 season. Good luck, Shani! #EFC pic.twitter.com/F2HUamevbD

8.45am BST

There are reports of Tottenham offering Newcastle £16m for Moussa Sissoko. Newcastle want £35m. Daniel Levy, you clever so and so.

8.44am BST

8.40am BST

One of the biggest issues today is where Jack Wilshere’s going to end up on loan. The Arsenal midfielder has agreed with Arsene Wenger that he needs to find a place where he can play regular first team football, having fallen down the pecking order. He’s a terrific talent and he’s only 24. But, well, he’s a terrific talent when he’s fit. Bournemouth and Crystal Palace look like the front runners at the moment.

Related: Crystal Palace join race for Jack Wilshere loan deal from Arsenal

8.34am BST

Everton are close to agreeing a club record deal to sign Yacine Brahimi from FC Porto, with the Algeria forward expected on Merseyside on Wednesday to complete a medical.

Despite signing Yannick Bolasie for an initial £25m from Crystal Palace, Ronald Koeman is still searching for more reinforcements to his attack and has targeted Brahimi and Napoli striker Manolo Gabbiadini.

8.34am BST

It’s early but one deal’s moving along smoothly, with Leicester closing in on Sporting Lisbon’s talented Algerian forward, Islam Slimani. Ed Aarons and Fabrizio Romano have the latest:

Leicester have agreed a club record fee of €35m (£30m) with Sporting Lisbon for Islam Slimani, with the Algeria striker due to fly to Italy today to complete his medical.

Negotiations appeared to have reached an impasse when the Portuguese side instead they would not sell last season’s top scorer for less than €40m.

6.09pm BST

Hello. What’s your favourite ever deadline day? Shut up, don’t be ridiculous.

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