In the frantic closing hours before Friday’s transfer deadline, Manchester United signed Sofyan Amrabat on loan as part of a hat-trick of arrivals at Old Trafford, while Liverpool allegedly rejected a £150 million ($190 million) bid from Saudi Arabia for Mohamed Salah.
On the day of the transfer deadline, the largest transaction to be completed was the signing of France striker Randal Kolo Muani by Paris Saint-Germain from Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Paris suburb-born attacker, 24, was a summertime target for PSG, and the team announced soon after the transfer window closed that he had committed to a five-year deal at the Parc des Princes.
In the day’s other two marquee transactions, Tottenham acquired Brennan Johnson from Nottingham Forest and Manchester City made a move for Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes in a £53 million deal, after the sale of Cole Palmer to Chelsea.
Financial specialists Deloitte report that English top-flight teams broke their own spending record this season, spending more than £2 billion on new players for the first time.
“There is that level of competitiveness across the league. Spending is being driven by contending for a championship, spots in Europe, or merely to remain in the league, according to Calum Ross, associate director of Deloitte’s Sports Business Group.
“Ten clubs have made over £100 million in spending.”
One of the highlights of Morocco’s World Cup run, Amrabat, a midfielder, will join from Fiorentina for a 10 million euro (£8.6 million) loan fee with the option to purchase for an additional 25 million euros next year. United waited until the last minute to finalize a deal for Amrabat.
On deadline day, Amrabat joined Spanish left-back Sergio Reguilon of Spurs and Turkish goalkeeper Altay Bayindir of Fenerbahce at the Red Devils.
Amrabat stated in a United release, “I’ve had to be patient for this moment but I’m someone who always listens to my heart and now I am representing the club of my dreams.”
Mason Greenwood left United on Friday and signed a loan deal to play for Getafe in Spain.
When Greenwood was accused of abusing a young lady, the club and the player mutually decided that he would pursue his career elsewhere.
Undoubtedly, Salah remains
With the £35 million acquisition of Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich, Liverpool completed their midfield makeover.
However, the Reds resisted Al-Ittihad’s effort to entice Salah to Saudi Arabia.
“The situation doesn’t change. There is “absolutely no doubt about that,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said when asked about the Reds’ intention to hold onto the 31-year-old, who has two years remaining on his deal.
But the time for transfers from Saudi Arabia doesn’t end until September 7.
Triple Champions After Ilkay Gundogan left and Kevin De Bruyne sustained a long-term hamstring injury, City signed Portugal international Nunes to strengthen their midfield options.
Nunes said, “I just couldn’t turn down the chance to work with some of the best players in the world and under Pep Guardiola, one of the greatest managers ever.”
Palmer goes with the Chelsea project.
With City’s original £40 million acquisition of Palmer, Chelsea has already spent more than £1 billion on new players in less than a year since the club’s American ownership took control.
Palmer and Chelsea reached a seven-year deal, with add-on provisions worth a further £2.5 million that Chelsea could pay City.
Last month, the 21-year-old scored goals in the UEFA Super Cup and the Community Shield.
Palmer, however, has been persuaded by Chelsea’s strategy to make significant investments in young players. Palmer helped England win the Under-21 European Championship this year.
Palmer said, “I joined Chelsea because the project sounds good and because I will have to try to showcase my talents because of the platform.”
“With this young and motivated team, maybe we can accomplish something exceptional.”
Johnson cost £47.5 million, so Tottenham spent part of their Harry Kane money on him.
With Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos, midfielder Nicolás Domínguez, and former England winger Callum Hudson-Odoi joining in the closing hours of the window, Forest utilised that money to bolster their team in many areas.
By bringing in Spanish international winger Ansu Fati on a season-long loan from Barcelona, Brighton pulled off a big coup.
Before injuries have hampered his growth, Fati was considered one of Europe’s most promising prospects when he first emerged four years ago.
“This is very beneficial to all of us. Roberto De Zerbi, the manager of Brighton, said, “I’m confident Ansu will help us achieve a new goal and we can help him get back to the level he deserves to be.”