The coronavirus pandemic made the summer transfer market unlike any before it. With the window closed across the top leagues in Europe, you can check out the major completed transfers across the globe, and here are the latest rumours.
TOP STORY: Juventus to reignite interest in Aouar
There was so much interest in Houssem Aouar during the transfer window, yet he remains in Lyon for now, despite the best efforts of Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus.
According to Calciomercato, the latter of those clubs will be reigniting their interest in the 22-year-old.
Arsenal were the closest to signing Aouar this summer, but their offer of €35m was not enough, sources told ESPN. The Gunners spent €50m to land Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid and now may not have the funds to return for the Frenchman in January.
Indeed, it is reported that Juventus have already asked about what the Ligue 1 outfit's demands will be for Aouar in 2021, as they work on a strategy to bring him in.
LIVE BLOG
22.00 BST: That will do it for the latest edition of our LIVE Transfer Talk blog. We hoped you enjoyed following along on domestic deadline day with us and remind you to check back shortly for the latest transfer rumours and reports ahead of the January window. Goodnight!
21.57 BST: And last but not least... Crystal Palace have signed goalkeeper Jack Butland from Stoke City.
🧤 Welcome to Palace, Jack Butland!#CPFC | https://t.co/utMcYSDkhb
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) October 16, 2020
The 27-year-old shot-stopper, who was considered England's future No.1, joins for an initial £1 million in a deal that could rise significantly with add-ons. Butland had been at Stoke since 2013 and will no compete with 33-year-old Vicente Guaita to be the Eagles' No. 1.
Stoke subsequently have signed Southampton goalkeeper Angus Gunn on loan to replace Butland.
21.45 BST: Fulham have added their third centre-back of the window, signing Terence Kongolo on a permanent transfer from Huddersfield Town.
The 26-year-old spent part of last season on loan at Fulham but was limited to two appearances due to injury. Kongolo has four caps for the Netherlands and was part of the Dutch team that finished third at the 2014 World Cup.
Fulham also signed Joachim Andersen and Tosin Adarabioyo this window, but Andersen is now out "weeks" due to injury.
21.16 BST: Another one from MLS... as Colombian striker Radamel Falcao is again being linked with a move to Inter Miami CF.
Turkish outlet Fanatik clams that Galatasaray could ship the expensive striker to MLS in January -- if he doesn't start to score more goals. El Tigre, who has three goals this season, has been criticised of late for his play, but did score for Colombia during the international break. In terms of Inter Miami, Falcao doesn't seem to fit, as the club already have three Designated Players, including new striker Gonzalo Higuain.
The Falcao to MLS rumours will seemingly never stop but we're not so sure about Inter Miami.
20.31 BST: Could Philadelphia Union centre-back Mark McKenzie be the next young American to make the move to Europe?
Speaking with ESPN's Jeff Carlisle, Philadelphia sporting director Ernst Tanner admitted there is some interest in the defender.
"Look, there's a lot of verbal interest in our players. But [for an offer] to be concrete, I need to have something on the table, and that is not the case in this moment. Of course, they are phoning us, and I already talked with one club. But if there is no offer, then you don't need to follow up. But Mark is doing sensational, that's without any question."
McKenzie, who scored a brilliant goal in midweek, was previously linked with a Celtic.
19.50 BST: They left it late but West Ham have finally landed Said Benrahma, one of the Championship's biggest stars.
And breathe! 😅 #WelcomeSaid pic.twitter.com/hyqaiwq0r4
— West Ham United (@WestHam) October 16, 2020
The 25-year-old will join the Hammers initially on loan, with West Ham having agreed to purchase the player on a permanent basis after the season (reportedly for up to £30 million). The Algeria international, who was also linked with Crystal Palace and Leeds, racked up 17 goals and nine assists last season in leading Brentford to the promotion play-off final.
19.33 BST: With Spurs having added a new centre-back in Joe Rodon, American Cameron Carter-Vickers has subsequently been loaned out to Bournemouth.
We've left it late 😉
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) October 16, 2020
A huge welcome to #afcb, @cameroncv2 ✍️
Bournemouth will be the sixth loan in two years for CCV, the United States international having previously had spells at Sheffield United, Ipswich Town, Swansea City, Stoke City and Luton Town. Now 22, Carter-Vickers seems to be at a crossroads in his career, as he not played for Tottenham since 2017.
19.10 BST: A day after bringing in striker Karlan Grant, West Bromwich Albion have shipped another out on loan.
Danish striker Kenneth Zohore is the man leaving the Hawthorns, the big man signing a loan deal until January with Championship outfit Millwall. The 26-year-old, who scored four goals in 17 appearances last campaign for the Baggies, also has spent time in England with Cardiff City (2015-19).
18.37 BST: It's official: Joe Rodon is a Spurs player.
Welcome to Spurs, Joe Rodon! 🏴#WelcomeRodon ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/dtDgj0Ju0b
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 16, 2020
The Wales centre-back joins on a contract until 2025 and will wear the #14 shirt. The 22-year-old has been a rock at the back for Swansea the past two seasons making 48 appearances and also has seven Wales caps to his name.
18.23 BST: Aston Villa will not be able to return for target Milot Rashica in January after all.
German outlet Bild is reporting that the Werder Bremen and Kosovo star has already signed a pre-contract to join Bayer Leverkusen in January. The 24-year-old, who was hotly linked with a move to Villa park during the summer window, looks as if he will be staying in the Bundesliga.
Villa signed Bertrand Traore from Lyon after falling to land Rashica but were thought to still have interest in returning for the Werder Bremen man in January.
17.55 BST: There it is! Tottenham have signed Joe Rodon from Swansea, reports our James Olley.
The Wales centre-back, 22, joins for an initial £11 million (potentially rising to £15 with add-ons) on a four-year contract. Rodon becomes Spurs' seventh addition of the window, emerging as a late centre-back target after the club failed to land Inter's Milan Skriniar or Chelsea's Antonio Rudiger.
17.48 BST: How about another Liverpool loan?
The club has confirmed that op talent Harvey Elliott will join Blackburn on a season-long loan. The 17-year-old, who became the youngest-ever player to debut in the Premier League with Fulham back in 2019, made eight first-team appearances for the Reds last seasons.
The England prodigy spending a year on loan in the Championship, where he should get plenty of game time, seems like the logical next step in his development.
17.35 BST: Swansea have made a move -- and it does not involve Joe Rodon.
The Swans have signed Bristol City midfielder Kasey Palmer on loan. The 23-year-old, who came through the ranks at Chelsea, is a former England Under-21 international.
17.27 BST: Nottingham Forest have signed French winger Anthony Knockaert on a short-term loan from Fulham.
The move reunites Knockaert with his former Brighton manager Chris Hughton, the manager with whom he has had his best years with. Under Hughton, Knockaert helped Brighton win promotion in 2017, winning the Championship Player of the Year that same season.
17.14 BST: Cardiff City have added a major piece to their promotion push, signing highly-rated winger Harry Wilson on loan from Liverpool.
#CardiffCity are delighted to confirm the loan signing of @harrywilson_! 💙
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) October 16, 2020
➡️ https://t.co/9ozBCkgLPv#CityAsOne pic.twitter.com/mw90RZJ85b
The 23-year-old, who has previously spent time on loan at Crewe Alexandra, Hull City, Derby County and Bournemouth. The Wales international, who has only made to senior Liverpool appearances to date, scored seven goals in 31 Premier League games last campaign for Bournemouth.
17.00 BST: Pens down! The 5:00pm deadline has come and gone but as you know, deals that were sent in ahead of the deadline can still filter through after 5:00pm. A couple major talking points left to resolve:
- Have West Ham landed Brentford's Said Benrahma?
- Is Bournemouth's Josh King staying or going?
- What's next for Watford's Ismaila Sarr?
- Did Palace get a deal for Stoke 'keeper Jack Butland over the line?
- Is Swansea's Joe Rodon bound for Tottenham?
16.55 BST: Blackpool have gotten a loan deal for Liverpool and Wales forward Ben Woodburn in just in the nick of time.
Blackpool will be the third loan spell for the 21-year-old, who has previously spent time at Oxford United and Sheffield United.
"Ben is a young player with lots of ability and can play in a number of different attacking positions," Blackpool boss and former Liverpool Under-23s manager Neil Critchley told the club website.
"In coming through the academy at Liverpool, he has gone on to play for the first team and gained full international caps for Wales.
"I know the quality he can bring to the team, having worked with him previously. I am delighted to welcome him to Blackpool and to be working with him once again."
16.27 BST: Paul Pogba's Manchester United contract runs out in the summer, but the club have opted to take up their option to extend it by a year, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Pogba, 27, is evidently now tied to the club until June 2022 after he expressed interest in joining Real Madrid last week when he said: "All the players would like to play for Real Madrid one day. It could be a dream. It is a dream for me. Why not? One day."
Sources told ESPN's Rob Dawson in July that United were relaxed about Pogba's long-term future and would exercise the one-year option in his contract this season if a new deal has not been agreed.
Top bosses at Old Trafford doubt whether Real Madrid or Juventus could afford the overall package -- a hefty transfer fee and lucrative wages -- to sign Pogba following the coronavirus pandemic that has hit every club's finances.
16.00 BST: Spain's La Liga kept Lionel Messi at Barcelona this summer, but the talent drain to the Premier League is a concern. Sid Lowe explains.
There were certainly some successes in the transfer market -- Villarreal, Sevilla, Granada, Osasuna, plus David Silva turning up at Real Sociedad -- but this has been a difficult window. And a concerning one, too. Valencia lost almost half of their typical starting XI: Ezequiel Garay didn't get an offer to renew, Dani Parejo and Francis Coquelin went to Villarreal, Rodrigo joined Leeds and Ferran Torres signed for Manchester City in return for €23m. They didn't sign one player to replace them, prompting manager Javi Gracia to offer his resignation.
Spanish clubs spent €409m on transfers, making €405m back in sales. Compare that to last summer: €1.3 billion in purchases, €992m in sales. As [Ronald] Koeman said: the financial situation is difficult, and not just at Barcelona. In part, it's a temporary issue, provoked by a coronavirus crisis that had already enforced emergency measures on every top-flight team.
15.41 BST: Watford don't expect to let forward Ismaila Sarr go before the domestic deadline today, sources have told ESPN's James Olley.
Manchester United had been linked with Sarr earlier this summer, but Crystal Palace are the ones interested and could come back with another offer after their opening bid of £25m was rejected.
Watford -- who have already allowed Abdoulaye Doucoure to join Everton, while Gerard Deulofeu went to Udinese -- want around £40m, sources told ESPN's Tom Hamilton, while Sarr is not pushing for a move away.
14.52 BST: Barcelona's first-team has reportedly rejected a proposal to cut their salary by 30%, according to Catalan radio station RAC1.
The Barcelona players will send a burofax (now that everyone knows what that is after Lionel Messi's failed transfer attempt) to outline their formal opposition. And of course that could have some bearing if we end up in court.
Barcelona's debt more than doubled during the 2019-20 campaign -- rising from €217m in June 2019 to €488m in June 2020.
14.40 BST: Former Argentina, Manchester City and West Ham defender Pablo Zabaleta is retiring.
— Pablo Zabaleta (@pablo_zabaleta) October 16, 2020
14.00 BST: Midfielder Brenden Aaronson has been transferred from the Philadelphia Union to FC Salzburg, the clubs announced on Friday.
Aaronson, 19, will finish the ongoing campaign with Philadelphia and then join up with Salzburg when the transfer window reopens in January.
Sources have told ESPN's Jeff Carlisle that the initial fee is $6m with an additional $3m paid to the Union if certain incentives are met. One source characterized the add-ons as "very realistic." The Union will also receive between 10%-20% of any future transfer, depending on how long Aaronson plays for Salzburg.
The deal marks the first time that one of the Union's homegrown players has been transferred to a European club, and the fee is the highest for a United States-based homegrown player in MLS history.
Aaronson is an energetic and busy central midfielder whose development has been very steady over the past couple of seasons. Though he's still defined loosely as an all-round attacking midfielder, his roaming and industrious style might eventually see him settle in a box-to-box role. Technically sound and with fan favourite potential, he's got a fine touch on the ball plus a powerful shot from distance and with time should add to his goal scoring statistics by making deep, late runs into the box. Also happy to help out defensively, he is just as committed in his pressing game. Another young, exciting American player to keep track of in Europe. -- Tor Kristian-Karlsen
13.55 BST: The Times says that Blackburn are interested in taking Liverpool forward Harvey Elliott on loan. The club are reportedly open to the idea as it would give the 17-year-old a chance to play regular games.
The Daily Mail reports that Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland will sign for Crystal Palace.
And Tottenham are willing to pay £10m to sign Swansea defender Joe Rodon, but the Welsh club want £15m, according to the Athletic.
13.42 BST: Relax, Man United fans. £80m January signing Bruno Fernandes and his manager are fine.
13.15 BST: Real Madrid are tracking the progress of Borussia Dortmund's Giovanni Reyna, club sources confirmed to ESPN, with the club aware of his potential as a gifted playmaker, and off the pitch as a marketable, USMNT star-in-waiting.
Reyna, 17, has caught the eye for Dortmund this season, recording a hat trick of assists in a 4-0 Bundesliga win over Freiburg earlier this month.
Sources said Madrid are actively monitoring Reyna -- and will watch how he develops for club and country over the 2020-21 season -- and the same goes for a large number of talented youngsters of the same age as part of the club's extensive scouting department.
While Madrid are casting an eye over Reyna, Barcelona are stepping up their scouting operation in the U.S. and Canada, with Brenden Aaronson, Gianluca Busio and Cade Cowell all under consideration.
12.56 BST: Chelsea will look to sign Declan Rice in January if West Ham show signs of softening their stance in negotiations, sources told ESPN's James Olley.
ESPN reported on July 7 that the Hammers were determined to keep Rice this summer despite the Blues registering their interest in the 21-year-old, and that position never changed throughout the summer window. Chelsea chose not to make any formal bid for Rice, with West Ham demanding around £80m. They instead opted to commit £220m on strengthening other areas of their squad.
However, sources said Rice remains a top target for Frank Lampard and Chelsea would be willing to make a move in January if conditions allow.
12.30 BST: Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has been speaking, or rather avoiding speaking, about transfers.
Will they replace Thomas Partey after he joined Arsenal for €50m? Simeone replied: "The club manage all situations and possibilities if they arise and if it's to improve the squad, it would be welcome. Now I'll leave that topic to one side because we have seven games in 22 days from tomorrow with Celta."
On swapping Lucas Torreira (brought in on loan from Arsenal) for Partey, he said: "I won't talk about what we gain or lose with Thomas, because he isn't here. What Lucas will bring the team is vitality, dynamism in the midfield. He hasn't played for a while and he plays with a lot of enthusiasm."
And on a possible move for Valencia's Geoffrey Kondogbia: "I haven't spoken to Kondogbia and I don't talk about players who aren't with us."
Thanks for that.
12.21 BST: Brentford forward Said Benrahma was closing on a £30m move to West Ham, but evidently there have been "issues" with his medical.
However, Sky Sports News reports that the club are still working on doing a deal before the deadline closes.
12.01 BST: Abraham to Plymouth on loan; Kane to Barnsley for £1.25m. Deadline day is hotting up.
OK, just to be clear, that's Fulham's Timmy Abraham and Liverpool's Herbie Kane. Not Chelsea's Tammy and Tottenham's Harry.
11.34 BST: A deal remains in place for Lyon striker Memphis Depay to move to Barcelona in January, according to a report in Diario SPORT.
Depay, 26, saw a deadline day move to Camp Nou collapse two weeks ago as Barca could not fit him within their La Liga-imposed salary limit. However, with just over two months until the transfer window re-opens in January, a transfer to Spain remains on the table.
SPORT reports that the personal terms agreed with the Dutch striker remain in place, while Lyon are happy to do a deal in the winter rather than lose him for free next summer when his contract expires. The story doesn't mention if Barca will look to re-negotiate the price, though. The initial agreement with Lyon was worth around €20m plus add-ons.
To ensure the transfer doesn't collapse again, Barca will have to make room on their wage bill. Ousmane Dembele and Martin Braithwaite are named as the two forwards who could leave in January.
11.00 BST: Reminder that the domestic transfer deadline is at 5 p.m. BST/12 ET, and there could be some late big-money deals bringing players to the Premier League.
- Liverpool could boost their goalkeeper ranks by signing one-time England international Jack Butland from Stoke City, adding additional backup to Alisson and Adrian, but will face competition from Crystal Palace.
- Watford forward Ismaila Sarr was linked with a loan move to Manchester United last week, but now seems set for a permanent switch to Crystal Palace.
- Brentford winger Said Benrahma is on the verge of joining West Ham United for £30m, while Leeds United have been trying to get a deal for Norwich City striker Todd Cantwell over the line.
- Tottenham Hotspur should sign Swansea defender Joe Rodon, but Spurs may have to beat off competition from Everton to get Bournemouth midfielder David Brooks.
- Liverpool forward Harry Wilson is set to move on loan to Cardiff City, while Reds midfielder Herbie Kane to Barnsley will be a £1.25m permanent deal.
10.13 BST: Atletico Madrid made a late €50m offer to sign Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz at the end of the transfer window, according to reports in Gazzetta dello Sport.
Paris Saint-Germain also made a move for the Spain midfielder, with both bids being turned down by Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis.
Fabian, who joined the Serie A club from Real Betis in 2018 and has a contract until 2023, has previously been a target for Real Madrid, as reported by ESPN last November.
Atletico were given a month to replace Thomas Partey under Spanish federation rules, after Arsenal paid his €50m buyout clause on deadline day -- but Marca reports that they can't afford a €30m move for Levante midfielder Jose Campana.
Campana, 27, made his Spain debut this month and is rated as one of La Liga's top creative midfielders. But according to Marca, Atletico are unable to invest the Partey money due to La Liga's spending restrictions and other financial commitments.
Another Atletico target -- Valencia's Geoffrey Kondogbia -- lashed out at his club and president Anil Murthy in an Instagram post on Thursday night over their apparent refusal to let the midfielder leave Mestalla.
"After destroying an ambitious project, you had to mislead the coach and, finally, me. Thank you, Anil Murthy," Kondogbia said.
Valencia sold a series of key players, including captain Dani Parejo, Francis Coquelin, Rodrigo Moreno and Ferran Torres this summer, and coach Javi Gracia revealed last week that he had offered his resignation over broken transfer promises.
09.35 BST: Real Madrid remain favourites to land Kylian Mbappe next summer, Diario AS reports, despite competition from Barcelona and Liverpool.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward -- whose contract expires in 2022 -- has been a long-term target for both president Florentino Perez and coach Zinedine Zidane.
AS claims that Barca presidential candidate Victor Font would like to bring Mbappe to Camp Nou as part of his proposed project for the club, while Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is also keen, but both accept that Madrid lead the race for the €200m-rated France international.
09.00 BST: The transfer window across Europe closed on Oct. 5 but there is an additional, domestic window that continues through to Oct. 16 when clubs will only be able to trade (either loans or permanent registrations) with EFL teams (so not internationally or with other Premier League clubs).
That's today. So hang on to your hats until to 5 p.m. BST/12 ET.
08.39 BST: Rob Dawson reports on Man United's transfer window: no Jadon Sancho and no new central defender arriving have fans expecting the worst
It was meant to be a summer of possibilities for Manchester United, but as they prepare for their first game since transfer deadline day, there are again more questions than answers. Top targets missed, holes in the squad not filled, forgotten players still in the squad and growing fan frustration has become a familiar storyline at Old Trafford.
Saturday's trip to Newcastle was supposed to be the next step of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's new dawn after a largely successful first full season in charge, but instead the future looks more stormy than it should.
08.00 BST: Brazilian orthodontics franchise Orthopride has announced it has unilaterally ended its sponsorship deal with Santos "out of respect for women" after the club signed Robinho this week.
Robinho, 36, rejoined Santos for a third stint this week as a free agent, signing a five-month contract with the Sao Paulo side.
In 2017, the former Manchester City forward was sentenced by an Italian court to nine years in prison for his involvement in the rape of a 22-year-old woman at a nightclub in 2013. Robinho appealed the ruling and no definite sentence has been given, but his signing with Santos this time around has been met with outrage in Brazil.
PAPER TALK (by Danny Lewis)
Chelsea may deal out Kante for Rice
Chelsea were linked with West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice throughout the transfer window, but were eventually forced to give up on him, due to the Hammers' £80m demands.
However, The Daily Star has suggested that is only in the short-term, as they may look at the England international again in January.
If they do that, they may look to move on from N'Golo Kante in order to help raise funds, as he has not completely seen eye-to-eye with Frank Lampard.
The World Cup winner has been linked with Real Madrid, Barcelona and, most heavily throughout the summer, Internazionale.
AC Milan, Juventus to battle for Sucic
Italian giants AC Milan and Juventus will battle it out to sign RB Leipzig's Luka Sucic, according to Calciomercato.
The midfielder has only made two Bundesliga appearances for the team, having been at feeder club Liefering last term, but he is already catching the eye.
Milan had been heavily linked with FC Salzburg's Dominik Szoboszlai during the recent transfer window, indicating that they are keeping a keen eye out for young talents.
There have not yet been any negotiations, but it has been suggested they could begin in a matter of weeks.
Tap-ins
- Norwich City expect Todd Cantwell to stay at the club past the deadline for the domestic window, reports Sky Sports. There had been plenty of interest throughout the summer, with Leeds United among those who had been looking at him. However, the Canaries have not received any concrete offers, so the England U21 international is set to stay at Carrow Road.
- Middlesbrough are in talks with Everton over a loan deal for Yannick Bolasie, reports Sky Sports. The 31-year-old is reported to be keen on a move to the Riverside, having made no competitive appearances under Carlo Ancelotti this term. He has spent the last two seasons out on loan, representing Aston Villa, Anderlecht and Sporting CP.