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The 2018 summer transfer window is set to come to an end for all the English clubs in a few hours and the teams are making their last-ditch effort in signing their transfer targets before the deadline day closes.
While Manchester United are going all-out in the market to acquire a centre back, teams like Liverpool, Arsenal and champions Manchester City are happy with their squads and are not involved in any transfer activity.
Along with Manchester United, Chelsea are busy in a lot of transfer activities as they signed Kepa Arrizabalaga and Mateo Kovacic from Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid respectively and are still linked to French international Nabil Fekir.
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In the meantime, West Ham United have signed their eighth transfer window signing. With just over four hours left in the summer transfer window, let us take a look at the round-up of transfer activities that have been taking place in the eleventh hour of the deadline day.
Manchester United make a late move for Diego Godin but see it get rejected
According to Sky Sports, Manchester United have contacted La Liga giants Atletico Madrid for a possible Deadline Day transfer for defender Diego Godin. However, they rejected the approach.
Godin has a contract with Atletico Madrid until 2019 and has a € 20 million release clause included in his deal with the former La Liga champions. Earlier in the summer, there were reports that Juventus, who have made some quality signings in the ongoing transfer window including the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Leonardo Bonucci, were linked with the 32-year-old Atletico defender.
The Uruguayan skipper has risen his way to becoming one of the best defenders in the world. United are in need of a centre-back and have been linked with the likes of Leicester City's Harry Maguire, Tottenham Hotspur's Toby Alderweireld, Bayern Munich's Jerome Boateng, Barcelona's Yerry Mina etc.
With just hours left for the transfer window in England to close, Jose Mourinho will be desperate to sign a centre-back to bolster his defence. United could look to trigger the Godin's release clause, but a possible move has been rebuffed.
Arsenal forward Lucas Perez joins West Ham
West Ham United, who have been very active in the ongoing summer transfer window, have made their eighth signing already as they signed Arsenal forward Lucas Perez on a three-year contract.
Perez, who joined the Noth London club from La Liga side Deportivo La Coruna in August 2016, was sent on loan to Deportivo last season and has struggled to make name for himself at Arsenal.
I'm very happy to be here at such a historic club. I'm very excited, as West Ham are giving me the chance to stay in the Premier League and I'm very happy to be part of this new project. West Ham have great fans and play in an amazing stadium, so to sign here brings me great joy. I'm very motivated," he said after joining West Ham.
Michy Batshuayi close to joining Valencia
Chelsea's striker Michy Batshuayi has reportedly set his sights on joined former La Liga champions Valencia, according to The Metro. According to reports in Metro, the Belgian international has rejected interest from elsewhere to join the La Liga side on a season-long loan.
Batshuayi, who was on loan with Borussia Dortmund last season, is not a part of Chelsea's new manager Maurizio Sarri and is expected to leave Stamford Bridge for yet another loan spell. Batshuayi at a decent spell in Dortmund as he scored nine goals in 14 games for the German side before he was ruled out of the season after suffering an ankle injury in April.
He has received the attention of a lot of clubs including Sevilla and Atletico Madrid but the player is said to be close to joining Valencia on a one-year loan spell.
Paul Pogba to stay at Manchester United
According to reports in ESPN, World Cup winner Paul Pogba has no interest in leaving his current club, Manchester United. At the same time, he also does not want a pay rise to stay at the club.
Pogba has been heavily linked with La Liga giants Barcelona and Serie A giants Juventus but Manchester United are refusing to sell the midfielder. Though Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola is thought to have been instrumental in convincing the French international for a move from Manchester, the player himself is content with his current club, who will be getting the 218-19 Premier League season underway when they take on Leicester City tomorrow.
The report suggests that he has neither asked the club hierarchy for a move nor demanded a pay rise to bring him in line with top earner Alexis Sanchez.
Mateo Kovacic officially joins Chelsea on loan
Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic has completed his move to Premier League side in a season-long loan. However, there are no reports about Chelsea having a clause of signing the midfielder once the loan spell is over.
Kovacic's move to Chelsea is a part of the Thibaut Courtois deal, who joined Real Madrid for £35 million from Chelsea last night.
In his first press conference as a Chelsea player, Kovacic said: ‘I am really happy and excited to be here at Chelsea. It is an amazing feeling. I will try to do my best for this club. It is a new league for me, the beginning is always tough but I am sure the coach and my new team-mates will help me and I am looking forward to a great season.’
Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia added: ‘We are very happy to welcome Mateo to the Chelsea family. He is a perfect fit for us this season, his style is well suited to how Maurizio wants to play and we are sure he will prove to be a valuable asset for the club.’
