A busy deadline day indeed, though it was more about all the transfers that didn't happen. Liverpool have always said Coutinho wasn't for sale and it shocked me too how they sticked to their guns after Barca had made 3 official bids of £72, £90 and £114 million. I totally agree with Drew that it's far beyond the Brazilian's true value, but then again, the entire transfer market has imploded since PSG triggered Neymar's €222m release clause.
Arsenal's 4-0 mauling at Liverpool was followed up by a disappointing Thursday even though they did manage to keep hold of Sanchez. City and the Gunners had actually agreed a deal (£55m + £5m add-ons) on Thursday, but he would only move up north if Arsenal would be able to get a replacement. Monaco was interested in Arsenal's £94m offer to sign Lemar - confirmed by Wenger this weekend - yet the player in question rather stayed in the south of France. Ultimately, it meant the Sanchez deal was off and City are partly to blame as they left it too late. Pep wanted Sanchez all summer long, so why only come with a serious bid in the last few days?
Surprised Mahrez didn't get his desired move to another club as photos emerged on deadline day from the Algerian sitting at Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris ready to fly to either England or Rome in Italy. Hopefully he'll be able to hold his head up high and play like he has done in the first 3 gameweeks.
Oxlade-Chamberlain turned down Chelsea as Conte wanted extra cover in the wing-back positions whereas the England international's preference is a central midfield role. Liverpool's midfield minefield, however, contains even more options than at his former club Arsenal. If everybody is fit, I can't see Oxlade getting into the first team, although I do expect Klopp to rotate around CL fixtures as well as the December month. Kinda stunned they decided to sign Leipzig's Keita for 2018/2019 rather than going back to Southampton to buy Virgil Van Dijk as central defence is an area where they needed to strengthen.
Everton not getting a high profile number 9 is an issue with Europa League in the mix. Rooney can't play striker anymore and has been utilised a bit deeper, Sandro and Calvert-Lewin are too inexperienced and the same can be said for the talented Vlasic from Hadjuk Split. Speaking of strikers, Brighton didn't get one either so they are left with Hemed and good old Glenn Murray, lol.
- Serge Aurier: PSG ~~> Tottenham
- Marvin Zeegelaar: Sporting Lisbon ~~> Watford
- Wilfried Bony: Man City ~~> Swansea
- Kieran Gibbs: Arsenal ~~> West Brom
- Renato Sanches: Bayern Munich ~~> Swansea
- Kylian Mbappé: Monaco ~~> PSG
- Kevin Wimmer: Tottenham ~~> Stoke
- Davide Zappacosta: Torino ~~> Chelsea
- Mamadou Sakho: Liverpool ~~> Crystal Palace
Centre-backs Mangala, Mustafi and Johnny Evans are all staying at their respective clubs.
Drew, what do you think of Spurs' signings? Are you happy with Llorente as back-up (ie plan B) to Kane and Serge Aurier as presumed first-choice right-back? And what about Barca's decision to get Paulinho? Surely you had to laugh about that one. Not good enough when playing at Tottenham, moved to the Chinese league and now under contract at one of the world's biggest clubs, lol.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.