Al-Ahli to ruin Chelsea’s deadline-day plans?

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.
It’s a fast-moving business. Keep tabs on the absolute latest with our deadline day blog here. And we’ll be back in January!