Premier League transfer deadline day round-up: United sign striker, West Ham most active

Anthony Martial cost the club a whopping £36 million

Manchester United swooped to sign French international Anthony Martial from AS Monaco in a deal that reportedly cost the English giants £36 million. While they were the big spenders on the day, West Ham indulged in 4 buys making them the most active on the day. Chelsea confirmed 2 signings on the day but also announced a few loan deals that brings their total number of players out on loan to an incredible 32.

Every summer, no matter how busy the transfer market has been over 2 months, there is always a rush on deadline day when clubs are trying to fix holes in their squad that have been found out over the first few weeks of the Premier League. Add to that a little bit of panic at the closing of the transfer window till January and there are always those who go out and buy what they do not need.

Arsenal were surprisingly silent on the day as they finished as the only club in Europe’s top 5 leagues who did not sign an outfield player in the summer. The North Londoners were linked to Zlatan Ibrahimovic late on in the transfer deadline day timeline but nothing materialised on that front. Liverpool join them in their dormant state on the day but they were active early on in the window and weren’t really expected to make too many moves.

Manchester City, having signed Kevin De Bruyne earlier this week, did not make a move on deadline day either, but let go of their young striker Pozo to Almeria yesterday when the Spanish transfer deadline closed.

Completed transfers

Manchester United, completed a solitary deal on the day but it was the one that stood out among the rest as they shelled out £36 million for the Monaco striker Anthony Martial. Another big transfer made on the day came for Southampton who signed a new centre-back Virgil van Dijk from Celtic for a reported £11.5 million.

Chelsea, on the other hand, let Victor Moses go on loan to West Ham. The Hammers would sign 3 more players namely Michail Antonio from Nottingham Forest (£7 million), Nikica Jelavic from Hull City (£2 million, potentially rising to £3 million), and another loan for the man who was so influential for them in midfield last season Alex Song from Barcelona.

The defending champions, brought in some players of their own, most notably Papy Djilobodji from Nantes for a fee of £4 million. They also signed a Reading defender Michael Hector, whom they immediately loaned back to the Championship club. The Blues predictably also announced a few more loans – Alex Davey to Peterborough and striker Islam Feruz to the Scottish side Hibernian.

There were a few transfers within the Premier League as Glenn Murray made his way from Crystal Palace to newly-promoted Bournemouth for £4m. The Eagles also let go of Adlene Guedioura for an undisclosed amount to another promoted side Watford. Swansea City also confirmed that winger Nathan Dyer would move to Leicester City on a season-long loan deal. Another shrewd deal was Everton’s capture of Aaron Lennon on a permanent transfer for an undisclosed amount.

Joleon Lescott’s move from West Brom to Aston Villa, who also signed Tiago Ilori on a season long loan from Liverpool who are expected to pay his salary for the duration of the deal and DeAndre Yedlin’s loan from Tottenham to Sunderland and another late loan for Villa left back Joe Bennett to Bournemouth rounded off the transfer activity within the league. Another acquisition for Tim Sherwood’s Villa was goalkeeper Matija Sarkic from Anderlecht.

Aston Villa were also denied an ambitious move for former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov, and even though he’s a free agent and there would be no effective deadline on those negotiations, the deal fell apart.

Spurs, however, were denied the signing of Saido Berahino from West Brom after four reported bids made for the English striker, despite the youngster’s open criticism of the West Brom chairman on Twitter. Watford, meanwhile, added to their squad with a permanent move for Obbi Oulare from Club Brugge and a season long loan from Roma for Victor Ibarbo. They also let go of Miguel Layun, their EPL debut goalscorer on a loan to Porto.

Mile Jedinak, who seemed set for a move to Stoke City from Crystal Palace now looks to have joined a host of players whose transfers did not materialise on deadline day.

Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool remained dormant for the day, having splurged early in the window. Their neighbours Everton, though acquired Ramiro Funes Mori from Riverplate for £9.5 million. Nournemouth made their own acquisition from Riverplate, signing Tomas Andrade on loan but his transfer is subject to international clearance. Newcastle hit the news too but for letting go of Oliver Kemen on loan to Lyon.