Premier League transfer deadline day: All the news and rumours as they happened

Matt Law with the exclusive story on Ross Barkley's eventful evening - he's not going to Chelsea or Spurs tonight.

Here's James Ducker on the fallout from the collapse of Alexis Sanchez's move to Manchester City.

Here's John Percy's full report on Riyad Mahrez, who has failed to find himself an escape route out of Leicester.

Here's Matt Law's report on how Spurs gazumped Chelsea for the services of Fernando Llorente...

The Italian will join Chelsea, Torino have confirmed

And that's it...except for the extra two hours that clubs have to complete their paperwork.

 Can't have it all your own way, Spurs.

More on Barkley: Everton's majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri is on Sky Sports News, and has confirmed that the midfielder agreed personal terms with Chelsea, only to change his mind after the medical. Barkley, he says, will reassess his situation when the window re-opens in January!

Matt Law's on the case

Uh-oh...Chelsea's deadline-day business is not going well

 Much better like this, I say.

 Go on Ross, it'll be fun. Here's more from Matt Law:

Chelsea have been talking to Ross Barkley about a move from Everton in  the final hours of the transfer window.  Having seen an initial £25million bid rejected by Everton, Chelsea  made a new offer for Barkley on Thursday and opened talks with the  midfielder. 

But Barkley, who is in the final 12 months of his Everton contract and  is out with a hamstring injury, was said to be unsure about the  switch. 

Chelsea are closing in on a £35million transfer deadline deal for midfielder Danny Drinkwater after taking their summer business right down to the wire.

With just hours of the transfer window remaining, Chelsea sre still working on three signings, including Drinkwater from Leicester City and right-back Davide Zappacosta from Torino.

The Premier League champions were also in talks with Ross Barkley  after agreeing a fee with Everton, but the midfielder was unsure about making the switch. 

Having already seen two bids, of £15m and £25m, rejected by  Leicester, Chelsea made a new offer worth over £30m for Drinkwater,  inclusive of add-ons, on Thursday morning. 

It is understood Chelsea needed to increase that third bid slightly to get their man, but confidence is growing through the evening that Drinkwater will be a Blues player by the time the transfer window shuts.

Key to the Drinkwater move was Leicester agreeing a deal to sign Sporting Lisbon’s Adrien Silva, who was reported to have left the Portugal camp, as a replacement.

Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on a transfer deadline day coup after hijacking Chelsea’s bid to sign Swansea City striker Fernando Llorente.

Chelsea started the day confident they would land Llorente, who head coach Antonio Conte wanted as a back-up to Alvaro Morata.

But Spurs outflanked their London rivals by agreeing a fee of around £14million early on Thursday morning and putting Llorente through a medical.

Tottenham were then forced to wait for Swansea to secure the signing of a replacement, but were boosted by the news that Wilfried Bony had undergone a medical with the Welsh club in the early evening.

The Bony deal was seen as the last big sticking point to be resolved before final agreement on Llorente could be reached and Spurs are confident of getting their man as the hours count down towards the transfer window shutting.

And as if by magic, pictures emerge on Twitter of Llorente in a Spurs shirt.

 One for the future, perhaps, but that's another positive move to round off a busy Everton summer.

More detail from Chris Bascombe:

Everton have signed Nikola Vlasic from Hajduk Split. Five year deal.  Another young striker for at Goodison. 

Manager Ronald Koeman said: “We are very happy to bring Nikola to the club  as he is one of the big young talents in Europe. 

“He showed that quality when we played Hajduk in the Europa League and he  is only 19, so he will develop. 

“Nikola is one of those players who can play a big part in Everton’s future  and in what we want to achieve as a club.” 

 Nope, me neither. 

James Ducker reports:

City's hopes of signing Evans from West Bromwich Albion  hinged on the club offloading Eliaquim Mangala and West Brom finding a  replacement. But the France defender rejected moves to West Brom and  Crystal Palace leaving City unable to make a third offer for Evans  because they first needed Mangala off the wage bill. 

Arsenal were also interested in Evans but with Shkodran Mustafi's  proposed move to Inter Milan falling through the West Brom centre  half, currently away in San Marino on Northern Ireland duty, is likely  to remain at the Hawthorns for now. 

 Shame, really - started well, did his knee, and now he's off back to Spain. 

Luke Edwards reports on the business done at the Stadium of Light:

Simon Grayson is set to sign three players before the deadline, with Marc  Wilson joining from Bournemouth, Jonny Williams arriving from Crystal  Palace and Calum McManaman signing from West Bromwich Albion. 

Although they missed out on Aston Villa's Ross McCormack, the fact Lamine  Kone and Didier Ndong also remain on Wearside means there is some cause for  optimism about their promotion chances. 

Matt Law's info is that Mahrez to Chelsea is a non-starter...

...probably...

Aaron Ramsey has bid farewell to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and appeared to have expressed some concern about the goings-on (or lack of) at Arsenal in the process. The full story is right here.

A three-year deal for this chap, who has a great name.

John Percy reports:

Potentially a big development in Chelsea's pursuit of Danny Drinkwater -  Sporting Lisbon midfielder Adrien Silva is flying into England for talks  with Leicester. 

Silva, a Portugal international, is being targeted as a potential  replacement for Drinkwater and Leicester are now in advanced talks over a  £22m deal.  Chelsea want to sign Drinkwater before the deadline and Leicester's pursuit  of Silva suggests they are now prepared to sell the midfielder.

However,  sources say there is still a lot of work to do on Silva and nothing is  agreed at this stage.  Silva came close to joining Leicester last summer in a double deal with  Islam Slimani.  Could be a late one... 

 Chelsea, it seems, will have to struggle on until January without another proven goalscorer among their ranks.

Chelsea edging (slowly) closer to getting their unlikely lad...

 ...because Leicester have brought in a new signing themselves:

Here's Matt Law with the full story on Diafra Sakho's curious day at the races, as he tries to secure his escape from West Ham to Ligue 1 outfit Rennes.

Kiran Kulkarni writes:

I am astonished to see the whole of UK completely tied up with the Football transfers today.. 

India is often labelled an underdeveloped & lazy nation but surely we wind up our Indian Premier League cricket auctioning in a day.. 

And surely we are more industrious than a certain EPL French manager who cannot transfer in or out players of decent footballing qualities & becomes a centre of transfer sagas every transfer window...

That's it, then - outsource Transfer Deadline Day to India. 

Luke Edwards reports from the eternal crisis club Newcastle United:

There are rumours that Matt Targett move from Southampton to Newcastle  is off... this is turning into a disastrous day for Newcastle and  manager Rafa Benitez. Squad is weaker not stronger than it was a week  ago and the Spaniard was expecting at least two signings this week.  Second window in a row he has left letdown and, dare is say it,  betrayed. Doesn't bode well 

Chris Bascombe has news of an Anfield departure. Good deal all round, this.

Mamadou Sakho is heading to Crystal Palace after a £26m fee agreed  with Liverpool. Sakho is now in London for a medical. 

 Ignore what I said earlier - it is indeed a loan deal, initially.

The Hornets have signed Dutch defender Marvin Zeegelaar from Lisbon giants Sporting

 The former Ajax man has signed a four-year deal at Vicarage Road.

The Sun, via the Qatar-based Sky Sports wannabes BeIN Sports, are reporting a £45m bid from Chelsea for the Algerian, who left his national team's training camp to resolve his future. Leicester, however, have claimed no knowledge of it. Hmm.

 They've signed Bournemouth youngster Matthew Worthington on loan, by the way.

You know who's been busy? Birmingham, that's who. Here's John Percy:

Harry Redknapp is set to sign Maxime Colin from Brentford in his third raid  on the Bees this week.  Colin, the right-back, is en route to the Midlands for a medical after a  £2m bid was accepted.  The Frenchman will join up with Jota, who is expected to have his £6m  signing officially confirmed shortly, and Harlee Dean.  

 James has filed a full report into our dedicated Arsenal liveblog - read it here!

This was going to be a loan, but apparently it's now a bank-busting, Financial Fair Play-taunting permanent deal. Stay tuned for the final figure.

Or Luke Edwards' words, anyway:

Some good news for Sunderland manager Simon Grayson. Promise of more  first team football appears to have persuaded the defender to drop  down to the Championship. Expected to head to north east for a medical  soon. 

...are vastly outnumbered by the close-to-completeds, the trying-to-get-over-the-lines and the dead-in-the-waters so far.

James Ducker has the latest - head on over to the Arsenal liveblog for that...

 The deal, however, is not in jeopardy.

Jadon Sancho is officially a Borussia Dortmund player:

Prediction: he'll be back in the Premier League within 18 months. 

Yes, he's still playing, astonishingly. He's 42!

John Percy has the latest "developments" at Aston Villa:

All very quiet at Aston Villa, with Sunderland also frustrated in their  pursuit of defender Tommy Elphick.  The only deal likely to happen at this stage is midfielder Gary Gardner's  loan move to Barnsley, but little drama is expected in the final six hours  or so.  Indeed, Steve Bruce has apparently got his feet up in Portugal. Lucky swine. 

or a precariously balanced house of cards?

Head on over to our dedicated Arsenal liveblog, manned by JJ Bull, for the full story...

Luke Edwards reports:

Sunderland's pursuit of Ross McCormack looks as though it is over as Villa  are reluctant to let him leave for a "promotion rival." Hmmmm, that's  probably generous towards Sunderland but I can see there is a vague point  there.  The Black Cats also fear they will lose out to West Bromwich Albion in  their attempt to sign Marc Wilson from Bournemouth, but they are still trying.

for the rest of the day. Cheers!

Feels like the Title favourites have been very quiet - why not check in with Rob Bagchi on our Manchester United transfer blog though?

Vanity? 

Manchester City are hopeful of a breakthrough in their pursuit of Jonny Evans with West Bromwich Albion battling Sunderland to sign Marc Wilson and Eliaquim Mangala leaning towards joining Crystal Palace.

City need to offload Mangala if they are to stand any chance of signing Evans but, by the same token, West Brom must find a replacement for the Northern Ireland centre-half.

Palace have had a bid worth £18 million rising to £23 million accepted by City for Mangala, who had asked for a little time to consider the potential transfer after rebuffing the chance of a loan move to West Brom.

If the France defender joins Palace, which would free up space on the wage bill, City are expected to make a third bid worth up to £30 million for Evans and hope West Brom will sign a replacement in time to sanction the former Manchester United defender's sale.

Evans is currently in San Marino with Northern Ireland ahead of their World Cup qualifier tomorrow.

Wilson, who spent the second half of last season on loan at the Hawthorns, is surplus to requirements at Bournemouth, who are convinced he will leave before the close of the transfer window tonight.

Sunderland are also interested in signing the Ireland defender, who also played under West Brom manager Tony Pulis at Stoke City.  West Brom are also reported to be signing young Chelsea defender Kyle Jameson.

Glorious, an absolute TDD classic.

So you know Diafra Sakho? Plays for West Ham, took himself off to Rennes yesterday for a medical... then the East London club were all, mate, you're not for sale, get yourself back here.

Well, according to Sky Sports News, the player is currently sat in the carpark at Chelmsford races, where his "advisors" have got a horse running.

And... Seige Of Boston has just won the 3.20! Landing his owner Mark McKay the princely sum of £5,175. Surely the boy Sakho would make that in about 20 minutes? Anyhow, maybe a good omen. Certainly you have to give max respect to McKay for making that stop.

This being TDD, this could all obviously be total nonsense, but that's how it was presented on the television just now.

Here is Matt Law with the story.

Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on the loan signing of midfielder Andre Gomes from Barcelona.

There is growing confidence at Spurs that they will beat West Ham United to the season-long loan signature of Gomes today, following more talks.

Gomes only joined Barcelona from Valencia last summer, but has suffered a difficult time at the Nou Camp and wants to play regular football. Prior to his switch to Barca, Gomes was rated as one of the best midfield prospects in Europe which is why Tottenham are keen to try to kick-start his career.

West Ham have not given up on Gomes yet, but privately believe he is likely to join their London rivals.

Spurs remain interested in Ross Barkley and have held fresh talks with Everton over the midfielder, who has been the subject of a bid from Chelsea. Arsenal have also considered a late move for Barkley, but the injured 23-year-old could yet stay at Goodison Park and run down his contract.

It's all happening over on the Liverpool blog.

Just one letter away from being totally perfect, what a dreamboat.

He says that it's all much ado about nothing at LCFC right now.

Chelsea have moved quickly to find an alternative to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain by agreeing a fee for Torino right-back Davide Zappacosta.

Having been rejected by Oxlade-Chamberlain, who head coach Antonio Conte had earmarked to play at right wing-back, Chelsea switched their attention to Italy international Zappacosta.

The Blues have agreed an initial fee of £21million with Torino, plus add-ons, and the 25-year-old is travelling to England for a medical.

Like Oxlade-Chamberlain, Zappacosta can play right wing-back or in midfield and he has been compared in Italy to Gianluca Zambrotta.

Reportedly Arsenal have said thanks but no thanks. Is he just going to have to stay in Charles De Gaulle airport for good?

That's their seventh signing of the summer. The player is currently out with a niggle but should be ready to play soon. 

but those ITK reckon he could be just the ticket for Chelsea.

will be in hog heaven here.

And it involves a certain much-injured, much-touted Arsenal midfielder who doesn't mind a cheeky smoke.

Rob Bagchi will be your guide through it over on the Arsenal blog.

John Percy marked Telegraph Sport readers' cards about this the other day, and said that Swansea were "serious" about getting the player.

While a move from the Bundesliga giants to humble Swansea might seem an odd one on the face of it, do not forget that the Swansea manager Paul Clement was previously number two to Carlo Ancelotti at Bayern Munich.

Here's one of those memegifs that you people all seem to like so much. I hope it chokes you.

Only joking. You cannot choke on an internets.

Anyhow, we'll have some of the now terribly unfashionable "written facts" about it to "read" ASAP. 

could be this window's Peter Odemiwingie. Good old Wingers. When he turned up at Loftus Road that time! Tremendous work.

John Percy, give us the story.

Leicester are ready to send £13m midfielder Nampalys Mendy to Nice on loan.

Mendy was one of the signings made during Leicester's much maligned summer recruitment drive last season but is heading out after barely a year. Ahmed Musa, the £16m attacker, is wanted on loan by Hull City but negotiations have slowed down over the past 48 hours.

Leicester, meanwhile, insist there have been no offers for Riyad Mahrez and there is a sense of bemusement around the club at the winger's decision to leave the Algeria national team to pursue a move.

"A sense of bemusement" is excellent. We'll be following this eagerly.

Brighton and Hove Albion have agreed a deal to sign Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul on loan. The Holland international has been completely frozen out by Rafa Benitez and made to train with the youth team.

He previously worked with Brighton manager, Chris Hughton, at Newcastle. Still no fresh news on incomings for Benitez though. I fear he'll be fuming this time tomorrow.

Arsenal have rejected their bid for Calum Chambers.

1) City have made a second cash bid for Sanchez

2) Borussia Dortmund have agreed a deal with Manchester City for the permanent transfer of highly regarded England Under 17 winger Jadon Sancho. Sancho is in Germany having a medical and finalising personal terms with Dortmund ahead of expected move.

That, and other Arsenal news, over on our Arsenal blog.

Everton have signed eight so far, broken their transfer record, and may yet add a 19-year-old winger from Hadjuk Split later today: Nikola Vlasic.

Or anti news, really. They've...

refused a 25 million bid for Damari Gray, it sez ere.

Mahrez, as far as I know, is still in Charles De Gaulle airport wondering why they don't have a branch of Accesorize.

Fernando Llorente is having a medical at Tottenham.

Llorente is at Spurs' training ground after a £15m fee was agreed, though Chelsea are still battling to hijack the Spain international's move. 

Swansea are also trying to sort out a deadline day deal for Barnsley full-back Andy Yiadom.

A Vincent Janssen loan to Swansea was discussed yesterday as part of a Llorente deal but is now unlikely due to the Wilfried Bony signing

Tottenham Hotspur have announced the signing of Ivory Coast international Serge Aurier after the right-back has penned a deal with the club until 2022.

In a statement on the club's website, Aurier said: “This is a huge and exciting opportunity at a massive football club and I am determined to prove myself as a professional both on and off the pitch.

"This is a fresh start for me and I will do everything to make the Spurs fanbase, which is huge and diverse, proud of me.

"The fans are the most important people at any club and I am looking forward to showing them and everyone at Spurs the real Serge Aurier.”

Swansea have agreed a £12 million fee with Manchester City for Wilfried Bony.

A deal should go through now with City removing the striker's £128,000 a week salary from their wage bill. If Mangala agrees to a £23 million Crystal Palace move (and he is thought to be wavering at the moment as he was with a potential loan move to West Bromwich Albion) City will have brought in around £105 million in sales this summer.

Mangala is still hanging in the balance, though, and his exit could be crucial to Jonny Evans' hopes of joining City. The disappointment for City is that they failed to get a substantial fee for Samir Nasri, who was allowed to leave for nothing initially just to rid of his £185,000 a week wages.

They similarly could not sell Joe Hart permanently. They wanted £25 million originally for the England goalkeeper but he ended up joining West Ham on loan with the £2 million 'loan' fee City got going back to Hart to cover the shortfall in his wages.

James wrote in April that City were keen to divest themselves of a few players with a view to clearing space on their wage bill.

This is really fun. You put in your age, physical attributes and all the rest of it and the machine tells you how much you'd be worth. Even in today's hyper-inflated transfer market, if any clubs are looking to give Alan Tyers the chance of a fresh start... well, let's just say that "a bag of balls" should just about cover it.

will be well advised to check our Rob Bagchi's Arsenal blog, where it seems that the frustrating midfielder may be getting a new stage on which to strut his stuff...

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur could face competition from Arsenal for Ross Barkley today.

Everton have already turned down a £25million bid from Chelsea for Barkley and Spurs have now stepped up talks with the Toffees over the midfielder.

But Arsenal are also considering a late move as they look at potential deals with both Alexis Sanchez and Jack Wilshere possibly heading out.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Julian Draxler is Arsenal’s first-choice replacement for Sanchez and the Gunners are in talks with the French club.

More in the unhappy story of Stoke and Giannelli Imbula. Have at it, John Percy:

Stoke’s record signing Giannelli Imbula is on the verge of joining Toulouse on loan. 

Imbula was signed for £18.3m from Porto but has endured a nightmare spell in the Potteries and is ready to move back to France.

Stoke are waiting for the paperwork and though they favoured a permanent deal, the club believes they have nothing Toulouse by sending him there for the season.

Bojan is also expected to leave on Thursday with a loan move to Alaves. Philipp Wollscheid, the defender, has signed for Metz.

Stoke could still revive their bid to sign Manchester City's Fabian Delph but it feels like this deal is unlikely now.

About 650 grand per appearance for Stoke (28), and that's to say nothing of the wages. Madonna mi!

Here are the full details of that over on our Liverpool blog.

Well, it's a days work, innit.

Their loan offer for Kevin Mirallas was rejected but Everton have reportedly stated that they would consider a permanent move for the player, who came to widespread attention after making an absolute chop of himself over a penalty kick.

"has not turned up for training today", according to Sky Sports News.

Well, he has had a lot of injury problems. Perhaps he's fallen over in the shower.

Chelsea have made a third bid for Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater, worth over £30million.

Having had offers of £15m and £25m rejected, Chelsea increased their bid to around £27m, plus add-ons that could see the fee rise over £30m.

Chelsea are now waiting on Leicester’s response and may have to hope the Foxes can line up a replacement.

James Ducker: "Verona did enquire about taking Wilfried Bony on loan but City have told them they will only entertain a permanent sale. City want to get the Ivory Coast striker, who earns £128,000 a week, off the wage bill and get a fee for him. Swansea remain interested despite also looking at Burnley's Ashley Barnes and will meet City's £13 million asking price but Bony needs to take a pay cut. " 

They've put in a 20 million pound bid for Calum Chambers, Arsenal rejected it.

Chambers is still only 22, I just found out. Feels like he has been around for ages. He was on loan at Boro last season. Arsenal certainly getting some chances to swell the coffers, if not the squad, this month.

If you are interested in the career progress of Liverpool defender Jon Flanagan, and frankly why would you not be, then you want to get yourself over to the Liverpool transfer blog of Rob Bagchi. There, you will finds news about the career progress of Liverpool defender Jon Flanagan. I cannot say any more.

Before I even had a chance to know about it.

Farewell, Mahrez to Roma rumour, we hardly knew ye.

I'm not sure if this is a sign, but I've just trodden in cat poo under my desk, with only my socks on and spread it around the carpet before realising. 

In other news, Lucas Perez still favours a move back to Spain, despite renewed interest from Newcastle, and Deportivo La Coruna are pushing hard for a loan deal. Arsenal would rather sell, but the player obviously has a say...

Or not?

says my colleague John MacLeary, and he is not kidding.

Surely one of those "Diana" moments, as in "where were you when you heard the news about Bojan Krkic going to Deportivo Alavés on loan for a year?"

Over on our Arsenal blog. Hurry there for more from Matt Law.

Everton are interested in Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi, but any deal rests on the future of Fernando Llorente.

Batshuayi has come up in talks between Everton and Chelsea regarding Ross Barkley, who could still leave Goodison Park today.

Chelsea have had a £25million bid rejected for Barkley and Spurs are still interested. But Tottenham have moved to try to hijack Chelsea’s bid for Swansea City striker Llorente, which could prevent Batshuayi from being allowed to leave Stamford Bridge.

Should Chelsea sign Llorente or another striker, then Batshuayi could be allowed to join Everton – either in a deal that sees Barkley join the Premier League champions or as a separate loan.

This increasingly has the feel of a telenovela, doesn't it? Does Michy Batshuayi know that Llorente is actually his long-lost twin sister who didn't actually die in the boutique inferno but was in fact playing for Swansea all along???? Stay tuned.

Luke Edwards coming atcha and he's got news involving an Arsenal player. To find out which one, check out our Arsenal transfer blog.

"Jadon Sancho is in talks with Borussia Dortmund," says James Ducker. If you want to know a bit more about the lad (Sancho, not Ducker), check this out.

Jadon Sancho, the Manchester City teenage prodigy, who has barely been at the club since the first team squad returned from their pre-season tour of the US a month ago, has left his club baffled after failing to turn up for training. 

Telegraph Sport reported last month how the England Under-17 winger, who is coveted by a host of leading clubs, had failed to turn up for numerous training sessions in Manchester after being omitted from Pep Guardiola’s tour squad.

But the situation has escalated in the weeks since with Sancho on a collision course with City after failing to turn up for training for much of August.

Manchester City left baffled as teenage winger Jadon Sancho goes walkabout

Luke Edwards, you have the floor.

Hallelujah, rejoice, rejoice, I've been told the Kenedy to Newcastle deal is not dead. It's very much alive, not quite kicking, but it's still breathing at least. Chelsea have not ruled out sending him on loan to the North East. Not yet anyway. Newcastle are still waiting for an update but they still believe it will happen, eventually. Fingers crossed.

M'coll Rob Bagchi, currently doing double doody on the Liverpool Transfer blog and the Arsenal Transfer blog brings news of his beloved Leeds United, who have only been and signed a Malmo 'Ace'.

It's like a well-oiled machine, a ballet, a Swiss watch as our man in the North East Luke Edwards confirms what Sam Wallace was just saying about the boy Matt Targett. A TRANSFER TARGETT, you might say. Or a loan Targett, at any rate. Over to you, Luke:

Newcastle have asked about signing Southampton left-back Matt Targett on loan. They are, however, making a lot of these enquiries. You know, I think they might even be successful with one of them. Watch this space.

James Ducker: "Jonny Evans still due to fly with Northern Ireland squad to San Marino in roughly an hour as things stand. Intriguing to see how that one pans out."

And it's a quickfire double for Sam Wallace!

The club's view on Virgil Van Dijk has not changed from their summer-long policy that the Dutch defender will not be permitted to leave. Van Dijk is yet to play this season and it is hoped at the club that he can be reintegrated into the squad once the transfer window closes.

There is interest in a loan deal for left-back Matt Targett from clubs including Newcastle United. Southampton see him as a major asset. Any loan deal for Targett would require a competitive fee.

Here is Sam:

Nahki Wells' transfer to Burnley will be announced later today. The Bermuda striker, who had one year left on his deal at Huddersfield Town, joins for £5 million with a potential for £2 million in add-ons.

Niko Kranjčar has moved on Transfer Deadline Day on FOUR occasions! Oh, Arry. Never change.

And what's more, there is a suggestion that he might be going for five: Birmingham City the destination.

Manchester United midfielder Matty Willock is joining FC Utrecht on a season-long loan. 

The Willocks are obviously an adventurous family: brother Chris is at Benfica. Good luck to them both, nice to see English youngsters trying something a bit different.

It's not all rosy in the Willock garden, though.

Disappointing for Chelsea fans. More on that coming up.

could surely be this idea that Riyad Mahrez has eschewed a trip to Zambia with his country, Algeria, and is kicking his heels in Paris airport while he waits for a call.

Over to you, John Percy.

Watford are poised to sign Udinese defender Molla Wague on loan.

Wague spent the second half of last season at Leicester without making a league appearance and is returning to England to link up with Marco Silva.

Watford are also believed to be in talks with Udinese over another signing, goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis.

Molla's from Mali. Meanwhile, here's Molly.

"Away from the UK, the desperation of Barcelona to spend the Neymar money could be one the most fascinating/hilarious/tragic sights over the next few days," writes Chris.

If you want to know how and why, please check in with our Liverpool Transfer Blog.

Been told that Newcastle are making a lot of loan enquiries to Premier League clubs. Still have two slots available to fill in that regard....

It's Harry through the car window.

And here is John Percy on everyone's favourite window shopper:

Harry Redknapp is battling to sign two more players from Brentford, after already completing the capture of Harlee Dean.

The Birmingham manager has agreed a £6m deal for playmaker Jota, who will have a medical at the club's Wast Hills training ground this morning.

And Redknapp is also in for Brentford right-back Maxime Colin, with an offer understood to have already been rejected. 

Another transfer deadline day and another anti-climax for Newcastle United supporters. I was, rather depressingly told, 48 hours ago, that Newcastle were rapidly losing confidence that they would be able to bring anyone else in during this transfer window and, if anything, things look even bleaker this morning.

A loan move for Chelsea winger Kenedy has been in place for several days, but the deal is in danger of collapsing because Alex Oxlade Chamberlain is heading to Liverpool rather than Stamford Bridge and Antonio Conte is now reluctant to sanction the Brazilian's departure.

Newcastle are still mulling over whether to sell last season's top goalscorer Dwight Gayle, but although a bid from Fulham has made a lot of noise, it seems highly unlikely Magpies manager, Rafa Benitez, will sell the striker unless he is confident he has a better replacement lined up to move today as well. 

I fear the big story at Newcastle will not occur today, but given Benitez was expecting at least two new arrivals last week, the failure to bring in anyone at all will inevitably throw his future into doubt again. If owner Mike Ashley cannot keep Benitez, he will be back in the eye of a storm on Tyneside. It was all so avoidable, but we have said that before about Ashley haven't we!

Of course, this can all change and I'm told Newcastle are keeping a close eye on the market and will leap into action if something attractive - and within their budget - becomes available.

Crystal Palace have made a £23 million bid for Eliaquim Mangala in a move that could allow Jonny Evans to join Manchester City from West Bromwich Albion.

City ideally need to get Mangala's £140,000 a week salary off their wage bill before wrapping up a deal for Evans, who is also wanted by Arsenal. Leicester are also keen but are a distant third in the running.

West Brom were hoping to sign Mangala on loan as Evans' replacement but the France centre-half is reticent about moving to the Hawthorns.

Read more on the Mangala Situation here

Here's our man Matt Law

Tottenham Hotspur have made a late bid to try to hijack Chelsea’s move for Swansea City striker Fernando Llorente.

Chelsea had been closing in on a deal for Llorente, but Spurs are believed to have bettered their offer and are in the driving seat.

There is still time, however, for the Blues to increase their own bid and reunite Llorente with head coach Antonio Conte and Alvaro Morata, who he worked with at Juventus.

Tottenham are also locked in a battle with West Ham United to take midfielder Andre Gomes on loan from Barcelona.

Swansea have seen a £8m bid for Burnley striker Ashley Barnes rejected, as their pursuit of Wilfried Bony threatens to collapse.

It is understood Swansea made their move for Barnes yesterday but the offer was turned down, with Burnley demanding £10m. Bony has been Swansea's No. 1 target all summer and talks are ongoing yet it appears a complicated deal as the Ivory Coast international earns over £120,000 a week at City.

Swansea are poised to complete the eye-catching capture of Bayern Munich midfielder Renato Sanches today.

Despite the frantic efforts to secure two deals in the last 48 hours, Liverpool are now prepared to wait to secure their remaining targets rather than push them over the line today. Southampton have remained consistent on Virgil Van Dijk and it seems even the promise of £70m will not tempt them today. If that is the case – and the player is patient – Liverpool will revisit the situation in January or next summer. Similarly, Monaco’s Thomas Lemar is an ‘aspirational’ signing and with the French side resisting interest, Liverpool are not confident of progress. Unless Southampton and Monado change their robust stance - and there is little to suggest they will this morning - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could be the last recruit of Liverpool's summer.

Chris also adds: "Kevin Mirallas could be heading out of Everton today, but West Ham have had a loan bid for the Belgian winger rejected."

Help yourself to a muffin, sir.

So brilliant in that Title winning season, and more or less a total waste of time in the League last season, looks to be on his bike out of the King Power Stadium. The player is currently on International 'Duty' with Algeria, and has been given dispensation by his national team coach to return to Europe with a view to sorting himself out a new gig.

Here's the mighty John Percy, midlands guru, on the situation.

Riyad Mahrez has left the Algeria training camp to pursue a move away from Leicester.

But at this stage it appears a strange decision as Leicester have not received or accepted any bids since the interest from Roma weeks ago.

Chelsea, Spurs and Barcelona have been linked with Mahrez this summer but it will require a bid of around £50m to sign him.

Mahrez's actions have left Leicester officials confused, so he does know something they don't?

The BBC reports that the forward is currently cooling his heels in Paris's airport, waiting to see what comes up. It was either that or a flight to Zambia and then maybe miss the chance to finalise a deal.

In response to the question "Who would you like to see your team buy today?" replies "It doesn't matter any more."

Is this true, Gooners? Have you lost the will to live / transfer?

What about Jonny Evans, at least?

Manchester City send delegation to Chile in anticipation of finalising deal for Alexis Sanchez

He says: "Sanchez has arrived in Manchester." 

"We'll get one right sooner or later I promise," says Nice Blonde Lady. Well, give it a shot, anyway.

Over to her colleague, Lavish Hair Man at Crystal Palace. 

They're after buying a defender, says Lavish Hair Man. 

Have you had wind of a transfer? Are you in the know? Have you perhaps seen Danny Drinkwater in the Spoons on Fulham Broadway? And who would you like your team to sign? Please do a twitter at me @alantyers or, if you prefer, email alan.tyers@telegraph.co.uk

In the meantime, here's a picture of Julian Dicks and Vinnie Jones

Tyers here, taking over from John to bring you all the transfer news for the next few hours. 

 ... no, not really. But manager Ronald Koeman is apparently extremely interested in signing former Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen from Barça on a season-long loan, according to the Liverpool Echo.

The Echo claims that Everton have already put a bid in for the Belgium international who spent last season out on loan to Roma. Crystal Palace are also said to be interested in the 31-year-old, but one would imagine the Goodison Park club would be a more attractive proposition.

Crystal Palace may have ended their pursuit of Mamadou Sakho, the Liverpool centre-back who is currently training with the under-23 side on Mersyeside, and switched their focus to Eliaquim Mangala of Manchester City.

After failing to capture Sakho, who Liverpool are valuing at £30 million, Palace are now hoping to capture Mangala for around £23m. The Frenchman would  appear surplus to requirements at the Etihad Stadium with City manager Pep Guardiola still keen on signing West Bromwich Albion centre-back Jonny Evans before 11pm tonight.

Meanwhile, London rivals West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur are ready going head-to-head to sign Portugal international midfielder Andre Gomes on a season-long loan from Barcelona, according to our own Matt Law and Jason Burt.

Tottenham may also launch a late bid to pip Chelsea in the race for Fernando Llorente, the Swansea City striker, according to one popular red top. Mauricio Pochettino, the Spurs manager, wants support for Harry Kane and the Spain international – he has caps! – would fit the bill.

Another Arsenal player with just a year left on his contract – as Sánchez ​and Liverpool-bound Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have – who appears on course to leave the Emirates Stadium is Jack Wilshere. The midfielder, according to The Sun, is being considered by West Ham who are also hoping to sign William Carvalho from Sporting Lisbon.

With Alexis Sánchez appearing to be on the brink of joining Manchester City – who have sent a delegation to Chile in anticipation of finalising a deal with the forward – Arsenal are scrambling around looking for a suitable replacement and in Julian Draxler believe they have found one.

A report in the Mirror claims the Paris St-Germain player is the man to fill Sánchez's boots are are hoping that the Ligue 1 club are willing to sell and recoup some of the money they splashed out on Neymar earlier in the transfer window which, as you will know, closes later today.

Arsène Wenger, though, is not pinning all of his hopes on the Germany international. The Arsenal manager, according to the report, has also made a further inquiry about Thomas Lemar, the Monaco player who has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool, and Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City who is the past few weeks has become one of the 'wantaway' wingers you only ever hear about during transfer windows.

Following months of endless rumuors and speculation, the time as almost upon us to bid adieu to all this transfer talk and get on with some actual football. But not quite. The summer transfer window closes later today – at 11pm (BST) to be precise – and will stay firmly closed until Jan 1, 2018. Before it does close, though, there will be plenty to ponder and discuss, and I don't just mean 'will Liverpool supporters now have to refer to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as The Ox as those whoppers in north London annoyingly do?'

Most of the top leagues – or top, top leagues if you are Jamie Redknapp – also close today. So France (Ligue 1), Germany (Bundesliga) and Italy (Serie A) will also slam that window closed later tonight. Spanish football though, a bit like the rest of Spain, works to an entirely different time frame and La Liga can do business until Sept 1. Over the border in Portugal, meanwhile, Primeira Liga and Segunda Liga clubs have another three weeks, until Sept 22, to do their transfer business.

If your manager or chief scout has been busy eyeing up that tasty looking centre-back playing for CF Atlètic Amèrica of the Primera Divisió in Andorra then you may be in luck as they have got more than a fortnight more to get that deal squeezed through. However, if that lively winger from Negeri Sembilan of Liga Premier piqued the interest of your board then we are afraid you have missed that boat as the window in Malaysia is now closed. Here are the worldwide details ...