Arsenal are weighing up moves for Chelsea's 29-year-old English forward Raheem Sterling or Bayern Munich's French winger Kingsley Coman, 28, having been approached about both in the final two days of the transfer window. (Independent), external
Newcastle are set to walk away from their long-running pursuit of England defender Marc Guehi, 24, after growing tired of negotiating with Crystal Palace. (Sky Sports), external
England and Brentford striker Ivan Toney, 28, is facing the prospect of being left in limbo with time running out on a mega transfer. (Mirror), external
Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli are optimistic of signing Napoli's Victor Osimhen, 25, dealing a blow to Chelsea's hopes of signing the Nigeria striker. (Talksport), external
Liverpool have rejected a cash plus player offer from Nottingham Forest for their 25-year-old Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. (Athletic - subscription required)
Chelsea are edging closer to a deal for England winger Jadon Sancho, 24, but have informed Manchester United of two conditions needed for them to take him off their hands. (Teamtalk), external
Ipswich are considering a move for 26-year-old French striker Odsonne Edouard of Crystal Palace after a loan deal for Chelsea and Albania forward Armando Broja, 22, fell through. (Standard), external
Fulham will not sign Newcastle's 30-year-old Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron. (Mail), external
West Ham's French defender Kurt Zouma, 29, has completed his medical and is close to finalising an initial loan move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Orouba. (Sky Sports), external
Chelsea have enquired about the availability of Benfica's 22-year-old Portuguese defender Tomas Araujo. (Mirror), external
Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour, 23, is now unlikely to move to Napoli this summer after new Brighton midfielder Matt O’Riley was confirmed to have suffered a serious injury on the Dane's debut. (Telegraph - subscription required), external
Brighton have submitted a £17m offer to Nordsjaelland for their 19-year-old Danish striker Conrad Harder.
Fulham are exploring a late move to sign Lille and Kosovo winger Edon Zhegrova, 25, before the transfer window closes. (Football Insider), external
Ipswich's English defender George Edmundson, 27, has emerged as an option to resolve Middlesbrough's availability crisis at centre-back. (Yorkshire Post), external
Leeds United are the verge of signing Swiss full-back Isaac Schmidt, 24, from FC St Gallen. (Sky Sport Germany), external
Hull have launched a new bid for Norwich City's 21-year-old English winger Abu Kamara. (Eastern Daily Press), external
Meanwhile, Hull are trying to sign Coventry's Jamaica international playmaker Kasey Palmer, 27, before Friday night's 11pm deadline. (Coventry Telegraph), external
QPR are set to sign 22-year-old Scottish right-back Harrison Ashby on loan from Newcastle. (West London Sport)
Guardian Rumour Mill
Stuart Goodwin
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone … prevent the hacks from barking with their transfer drone. Depending on how much you’re into this kind of thing: either it’s here, it’s here! … or it’s nearly over, it’s nearly over! The big SLAM of the window in Europe comes at 11pm BST tonight, sports fans.
Chelsea’s quiet window had looked like ending with the blockbuster capture of Napoli’s Victor Osimhen … but Al-Ahli have seemingly swooped in with their pesky Saudi riches, throwing up to £135m at the Nigeria striker across a four-year contract. So all eyes on Brentford’s Ivan Toney making the eight-mile move to Stamford Bridge then? Thomas Frank has said this week: “I can say Ivan will not play [Southampton] on Saturday … Ivan is training well and in good spirits.” Yep, must be done then. Chelsea fans will be made up.
Oh, what’s that? “Ah-Ahli agree deal to sign Ivan Toney for £40m.” Pffffft.
Former Blues midfielder Billy Gilmour will at least screw up fans’ online searches for word of the Osimhen move though, as the Naples club apparently seek to resurrect a loan move that had appeared to hit the skids. His current club, Brighton, have headaches in central areas following news that Matt O’Riley needs ankle surgery.
Of the remaining ongoing sagas, Jadon Sancho’s destiny remains uncertain, with noise linking him to Chelsea and Juventus going markedly quieter. A swap deal with Raheem Sterling feels less likely now, but is a straight deal between Manchester United and Chelsea still possible? It’s fair to say that Sancho’s agent, Emeka Obasi, might need to keep a back-up power bank handy for his mobile today. What’s that, rumours vortex? Mikel Arteta fancies late moves for either or both? Surely not …
With Arne Slot’s new backroom team at Liverpool seemingly only getting the fax machine up and running two days before the big SLAM, and deals for Giorgi Mamardashvili and Federico Chiesa swiftly done, their Deadline Day Eve suddenly became a whirlwind of alleged approaches, agreements, withdrawals and rebuffs.
The defensive midfielder spot remains a clear hole in Slot’s squad, and a whirlwind, near-£50m romance with Porto’s Alan Varela – who is knocking on the door of joining Alexis Mac Allister as a full Argentina international – barely lasted an hour on Thursday night before “no that’s not a thing”. Reports in Mexico then suggested another winger – Unam’s César “Chino” Huerta – was all but done, with an immediate loan move to Sunderland mooted. The Black Cats just blinked, confusedly.
“I’m not expecting anything,” Arne Slot said in Friday morning’s press conference. “But it’s no different to the days before. If we see an opportunity. we could act …” Following Chiesa’s arrival, Scotland winger Ben Doak looks highly likely to join the list of departures from Anfield today. Hull are among a raft of clubs interested in a season-long loan for the tricky 18-year-old.
Joe Gomez feels too key and versatile to Liverpool’s squad to depart so late in the window, but questions about Marc Guéhi’s remain unresolved, which could make for a hell of an evening. The England centre-back has been linked to a switch to Merseyside this summer, Newcastle’s interest remains undimmed, and Crystal Palace sure do like money to play with. “Where there’s time, there’s hope,” shrugged Eddie Howe at his press conference. Attaboy.
James Ward-Prowse started West Ham’s Carabao Cup victory over Bournemouth on Wednesday but has been a notable bench presence in the league so far this season. Nottingham Forest’s Nuno Espírito Santo has sagely observed that he might be the key to unlocking the considerable aerial threats posed by Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi.
With Aaron Ramsdale’s departure to Southampton all but done, Arsenal have moved quickly to shore up the back-up goalkeeper position – that would seem incredibly safe in Neto’s hands, with the Bournemouth stopper looking more content to back up David Raya in north London and the Champions League than new Cherries arrival Kepa Arrizabalaga in a potential relegation battle on the south coast. Agreements have been reached, so that’s two moves all done bar the inky bit on both counts.
Sky Paper Talk
THE INDEPENDENT
Arsenal are weighing up moves for Chelsea's Raheem Sterling or Bayern Munich's Kingsley Coman having been approached about both in the final two days of the transfer window.
DAILY MIRROR
Chelsea have enquired about the availability of Benfica centre-back Tomas Araujo ahead of the transfer deadline.
Millwall have rejected an approach from Burnley for Zian Flemming.
Manchester City star Erling Haaland is really taking off this season after the striker splashed out £2.1million on private jets.
THE SUN
Southampton are exploring the possibility of signing Maxwel Cornet from West Ham. The Saints are also reported to be interested in a second raid on West Ham with a loan deal for their former midfielder James Ward-Prowse.
Paul Pogba's appeal against his four-year drugs ban takes place today.
Nottingham Forest's leg-break victim Danilo may return to training by December.
THE ATHLETIC
Arsenal are exploring a move for Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto after hitting an impasse in talks over Espanyol's Joan Garcia.
Brighton have submitted a €20m (£16.8m) offer to Nordsjaelland for striker Conrad Harder.
Galatasaray winger Wilfried Zaha is close to joining Lyon on loan.
Manchester City are ready to offer midfielder James McAtee a new contract after rebuffing bids of up to £30m during the summer transfer window.
Chilean sports consultant Leandro Shara has threatened to sue European football's governing body UEFA for the "unauthorised and unfair use" of the "league phase" format it is introducing for its three club competitions this season.
Burnley have returned with a second bid for Plymouth Argyle's Morgan Whittaker.
DAILY MAIL
Arsenal have expressed an interest in Anthony Gordon but the winger is set to stay at Newcastle beyond Friday's deadline, with preliminary talks over a new contract having opened.
Newcastle did not have a sell-on clause in the £10million deal that took Bobby Clark from Liverpool to RB Salzburg - and they are not owed anything should Ivan Toney move this summer.
Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed the reason why he broke into tears after missing a crucial penalty for Portugal during Euro 2024.
Declan Rice has donated £5,000 to a GoFundMe campaign for a West Ham Under-15 goalkeeper who is fighting cancer.
DAILY RECORD
Celtic have agreed a £6m-plus deal to sign Auston Trusty - but now face an anxious wait to see if they can get a work permit before the close of the transfer window.
Rangers expect Scott Wright and Todd Cantwell to complete deadline-day exits - to free up money for Philippe Clement to make his own late additions.
Lyon have reportedly booted out an offer from Celtic for Mahamadou Diawara.
Duncan Ferguson has taken a massive 40 per cent wage cut to help protect staff jobs at Inverness Caley Thistle.
THE SCOTTISH SUN
It is understood Dundee's Luke McCowan remains on Brendan Rodgers Celtic's radar.
Evening Standard
West Ham in Carlos Soler loan talks amid James Ward-Prowse exit interest
One in and possibly two out on Deadline Day
Simon Collings
West Ham are progressing in talks with Paris Saint-Germain over a loan deal for midfielder Carlos Soler.
The 27-year-old has been told he can leave the French club before Friday’s deadline and the Hammers want to make him their ninth summer signing.
A loan deal is looking most likely and talks are ongoing about possible future options to make the move permanent.
Soler’s arrival could pave the way for James Ward-Prowse to leave, with Nottingham Forest keen on him.
The midfielder has slipped down the pecking order since new boss Julen Lopetegui was hired and talks with Forest are underway.
Winger Maxel Cornet may also go and there is interest in him from both Crystal Palace and Southampton.
Centre-back Nayef Aguerd, who has been linked with a move away this summer, is not close to joining a new club as of Friday morning.
Nacho Sanchis
@sanchis14
Carlos Soler's loan move to West Ham is moving ahead: the idea is for him to travel to London todayIt remains to be seen whether the purchase will be optional or obligatory (it will depend on West Ham's FPF). But his loan is almost ready. @relevo
Sport Witness
Details of club’s offer for West Ham player explained – New competitor joins battle on deadline day
By Naveen Ullal
On Thursday, Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna said Real Sociedad and a Middle East club are looking to sign West Ham United’s Nayef Aguerd.
Later that day, he stated Al-Ittihad have sent an offer to West Ham, without providing any details of their offer.
Santi Aouna has come up with another report with the details of Al-Ittihad’s offer to sign the West Ham defender. They want to take him on a loan deal with an obligation to buy.
The journalist adds the Saudi Arabian club’s offer includes €5m loan fee with an obligation to buy set at €20m.
Fiorentina are now set to provide competition to Al-Ittihad in the race for the 28-year-old. That’s according to Gianluca Di Marzio, who states Aguerd has emerged as the Serie A side’s new target on deadline day.
Fiorentina have asked West Ham to take the Morrocco international on a loan deal. Di Marzio doesn’t specify whether the Italian club intend to include an option or obligation to buy as part of the loan deal.
Fiorentina have less than 24 hours to find an agreement with both Julen Lopetegui’s side and Aguerd.
Al-Ittihad, on the other hand, have more time. There’s been some suggestion that the window in Saudi closes on October 6th, while Transfermarkt claims it shuts on Monday.
Fabrizio Romano
@FabrizioRomano
Confirmed: Carlos Soler to West Ham, here we go! Loan deal with buy option clause agreed with PSG.West Ham will cover the salary as part of the agreement. Soler travelling to London for medical tests.
Ward-Prowse leaves West Ham and joins Nottingham Forest.
