The Premier League transfer window closes at 5 p.m. BST (12 p.m. ET) on Aug. 8, but the rest of Europe remains open until the end of the month, so English clubs will not be able to replace any players they sell after the deadline until January.
Here are some of the main talking points ahead of Thursday’s deadline.
It’s been the saga of the summer, alongside Neymar’s desire to quit PSG (which will keep going until the end of the month), but Paul Pogba looks set to stay at Manchester United. UNLESS, United sign a replacement in the hours before the window closes.
In mid-June, Pogba told reporters that he wanted a “new challenge” and speculation has linked him with a move to Real Madrid or Juventus. However, a month later, United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made his position clear: United could offer the Frenchman that new challenge.
Real would certainly love to land the 26-year-old but have been unable to shift Gareth Bale or James Rodriguezto make room. Without adding players to the deal, which United have rejected, they do not have the £150m asking price but, if United are able to sign Christian Eriksen from
Tottenham, then Real have until Sept. 2 to figure out a deal and sell some of their deadwood to raise funds.
Juventus are probably out of the running as they have not got the kind of money United want for Pogba and have already signed two midfielders (for free) in Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot anyway. There was a suggestion that striker Paulo Dybala could be added to any deal, but that
broke down with Juve seemingly more keen on Romelu Lukaku. And time is running out.
How no clubs have moved seriously for Toby Alderweireld or Eriksen up until now in this transfer window is a mystery. Alderweireld was available for just £25m due to a clause in his contract that expired last week, while Eriksen’s lack of progress over a new contract should have seen
interested clubs testing Spurs’ resolve to keep the midfielder.
Alderweireld looks like he’s staying put, while Eriksen has attracted late interest from Man United, although sources have told ESPN that interest has cooled. Tottenham don’t want to miss out on a transfer fee for the Denmark international so could try to sell him to United or Real Madrid,
but they will want to sign a replacement.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino’s angry comments about not being in charge of transfers might have something to do with it, but after spending €60m on Tanguy Ndombele, Spurs could be busy up until the deadline as talks over Real Betis midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, Sporting
Lisbon’s Bruno Fernandes, and a full-back — possibly Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon or Napoli’s Elseid Hysaj — continue.
