Phew. It was a hectic transfer Deadline Day yesterday and, though the English window slammed shut at 6pm, a few late arrangements trickled through.
Blink and you’d have missed it. So, read our-round up of the most notable last dash deals to have taken place in a final frantic day of haggling…
Beginning with Bournemouth, the Cherries were busy bees as the clock ran out, with two late loanees snared. Aston Villa left back Joe Bennett joins until January, while River Plate teenager Tomas Andrade temporarily arrives on the south coast for the full term.
By far the Premier League new boys’ biggest capture, however, was Crystal Palace poacher Glenn Murray, who penned a 3-year deal a Dean Court Park.
For fellow newcomers Watford, big spenders this summer, Deadline Day was like a red rag to a bull. The Hornets (6/1 with Coral for a top 10 finish) did not disappoint, with striker Obi Oulare and returning hero Adlene Guedioura signing on the dotted line. Club Brugge forward Victor Ibarbo and QPR defender Gabriel Angella also joined on season-long switches.
As for loan outgoings, Matej Vydra was a surprise returnee to the Championship with Reading, while Miguel Layun was leased to Porto.
Meanwhile, over at Norwich City, the Canaries were on-song, as they shipped Ricky van Wolfswinkel off to Spain with Real Betis, nabbing Dynamo Kiev dangerman Dieumerci Mbokani as a replacement. Energetic West Ham United-owned wingman Matt Jarvis will also ply his trade at Carrow Road this campaign.
As for the big-guns, it was all quiet at Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool, with the Reds only offloading Fabio Borini to Sunderland and allowing Aston Villa to borrow Portugal Under-21 defender Tiago Ilori.
The Villans also pinched veteran Joleon Lescott from across the way at West Bromwich Albion, plus young stopper Matija Sarkic.
Manchester United certainly made the news, as the Red Devils saw David de Gea’s move to Real Madrid collapse in the early hours. After much finger-pointing, United retain the Spanish stopper. Could this be their biggest ‘signing’ of the summer?
Let us not forget that the Old Trafford outfit, 14/1 to win the Premier League, also recruited fledgling French forward Anthony Martial for a staggering £36m initial fee from Monaco. No pressure!
Chelsea also got in on some last-ditch wheeling and dealing. The Blues bought two defenders, only to let Michael Hector return straight away to boyhood club Reading. Papy Djilobodji, plucked from Nantes as a potential John Stones signing interim, should stick around for a little longer.
Everton and Tottenham eventually came to an arrangement for Aaron Lennon to return to the Toffees, keeping us all up late as they tied him to a three-year contract. Defender Ramiro Funes Mori also officially arrived at Goodison Park.
Spurs themsevles were thwarted, as Victor Wanyama stays with Southampton, and Said Berahino, despite twitter protests, remains a Baggies man.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Adebayor stays at White Hart Lane once more…..
In the Midlands, Swansea City’s Nathan Dyer was an exciting loan arrival for Claudio Ranieri at Leicester City. Though the Foxes, and everyone else, failed to land Jon Walters from Stoke City.
West Ham, of course, hogged most of the attention, with headline-stealing moves for attacking Championship pair Nikica Jelavic and Michail Antonio, while Victor Moses rocked up on loan along with returning Alex Song.
