We roll out our summary of the deadline day events so far, keeping you informed of the breaking transfer news over the next – possibly frantic – few hours.
We will ensure that this article is kept “live†over the remaining hours, adding the latest deals and our opinions as they are confirmed.
These will then elaborated on via a batch of Scout Reports and/or Moving Targets over the next few days.
Mamadou Sakho to Crystal Palace – deal confirmed 2.00am
The statistics show just what an impact the Frenchman had on loan at Selhurst Park last season – four of Palace’s seven clean sheets in 2016/17 came in the eight matches that Sakho started.
That was, admittedly, with Sam Allardyce at the helm and the Eagles defence have done little to convince us they are worth the investment under new manager Frank de Boer.
Priced at just 4.9 in FPL, Sakho looks set to cement a starting role in the heart of defence, regardless of whether the Dutchman opts for three our four at the back.
With both Manchester clubs and Chelsea to come in the next five, the Eagles’ defence remains one to avoid for now.
Danny Drinkwater to Chelsea – deal confirmed 1.30am
Chelsea have finally confirmed the deal for Leicester City’s title-winning midfielder, re-uniting him with former team-mate N’Golo Kante at Stamford Bridge.
Drinkwater is yet to appear this season, having sat out the first three matches for the Foxes with a thigh problem.
Priced at 4.9, he could present a fifth midfielder option although his starting role under Antonio Conte will be in question.
He arrives to compete with the likes of Tiémoué Bakayoko and Cesc Fabregas for starts in the Chelsea double pivot. As a result, Drinkwater’s opportunities – certainly in the Premier League – look set to be limited.
Wilfried Bony to Swansea – deal confirmed 11.30pm
The Ivorian returns to the Liberty Stadium after failing to convince at Man City or on loan to Stoke last season.
Yet Bony’s previous record for Swansea – 25 goals and seven assists in 54 league appearances – serves a reminder of his abilities if handed regular pitch time.
With last season’s two main men – Gylfi Sigurdsson and Fernando Llorente – now plying their trade elsewhere, the upcoming schedule could see a new Swansea hero emerge.
Paul Clement has recently operated with a two-man frontline but the Ivorian’s lack of match sharpness, allied with a goal apiece for Tammy Abraham and Jordan Ayew away at Palace, indicates that he’ll be on the bench for now.
A cost of around 6.5 looks likely but it’s the 5.5-priced Abraham who piques our interest ahead of eight excellent home matches (NEW WAT HUD LEI BRI BOU WBA CPL) from now until Gameweek 19.
Davide Zappacosta to Chelsea – deal confirmed 11.25pm
Chelsea pushed a deal for the Torino full-back over the line at the death.
The 25-year-old is said to have signed a four-year contract for a sum believed to be in the region of £23 million.
A forward-thinking defender renowned for his crossing ability, Zappacosta has four international caps for Italy and made 29 Serie A appearances last season, providing five assists and a goal.
As a right-back by trade, the Italian will challenge Victor Moses for his starting berth, which, in turn, could see Moses provide an option on the left to back-up Marcos Alonso.
Fernando Llorente to Tottenham Hotspur – deal confirmed 11.15pm
A nailed-on starter when fit at Swansea City, the Spaniard’s move to north London seems set to deprive us of a very viable mid-price pick up front.
Llorente thrived in his debut season for the Welsh side, netting 15 times and playing a part in 51.4% of their goals when on the pitch. Indeed, he was the top value FPL forward in terms of points per million in 2016/17.
But with Mauricio Pochettino a firm advocate of lone striker systems, Llorente seems no more than either a Plan B off the bench or a fresh pair of legs late on to give Harry Kane a breather.
Nikola Vlasic to Everton – deal confirmed 8.10pm
The 19-year-old arrives from Hajduk Split on the back of three goals and an assist in his first six matches of the new season.
Eight goals in the previous three campaigns suggests he’s still got plenty of improving to do, though. The youngster is versatile enough to play on the flanks, in a central support role or even as a lone striker, though at five foot ten, he’s no target man.
Likely to come in around 6.5 and listed as a midfielder in FPL, Vlasic may well be eased into contention by Ronald Koeman, with appearances off the bench perhaps the likeliest start to life in the top-flight.
The fixtures turn in the Toffees’ favour from Gameweek 6, with Gylfi Sigurdsson and Wayne Rooney on the radar from that point.
Molla Wague to Watford – deal confirmed 7.30pm
The centre-half is hoping for a happier return to the Premier League after a disastrous loan spell at Leicester. Handed his Foxes debut in the FA Cup, Wague sustained a shoulder injury that ruled him out for the rest of the season.
He’ll now join a host of centre-halves, included Younes Kaboul (currently injured), Miguel Britos (currently suspended), Sebastian Prodl, Christian Kabasele and Craig Cathcart in battling for the two centre-half roles in Marco Silva’s four-man defence. A price of 4.5 looks likely.
Ezequiel Schelotto to Brighton – deal confirmed 7.30pm
An attack-minded right-back, the former Sporting Lisbon man looks set to rival veteran Bruno for a role in Chris Hughton’s plans. Schelotto served up a decent five assists in the Portuguese top-flight last term and, at 28, boasts top-level experience in the Champions League.
A price of 4.5 is on the cards, matching the rest of the Seagulls’ defensive regulars. Yet it’s Lewis Dunk’s five efforts on goal that has caught our attention ahead of five favourable home matches (WBA NEW SOT STK CRY) between now and Gameweek 14.
Marvin Zeegelaar to Watford – deal confirmed 6.10pm
Beaten to the signature of Kieran Gibbs by West Brom, Marco Silva added to his options at left-back with the purchase of Zeegelaar from Sporting Lisbon.
Having tried to sign the Dutchman while in charge of Hull last term, the Hornets’ manager is clearly a fan and Zeegelaar could now push the hot-headed Jose Holebas for a role in the back-four.
Booked 14 times last term, the Greek has already served a one-match ban after a Carabao Cup dismissal, with his discipline remaining a major issue.
If the new signing comes in at 4.5 to Holebas’ 5.0, tallies of four goals and eight assists in the last three seasons shows he could offer decent value, with the Hornets looking a little more resilient under their new manager.
Nahki Wells to Burnley – deal confirmed 2.45pm
Having sold Andre Gray to Watford, Clarets’ boss Sean Dyche bolstered his options up front by acquiring the Bermuda international from Huddersfield Town.
The Clarets have mainly operated with a 4-5-1 set-up but Wells’ pace could see them revert to 4-4-2, particularly in home matches.
Wells is currently recovering from an ankle injury, though, with the new boy expected to be available “in a few weeksâ€.
With fellow summer signing Chris Wood now challenging Sam Vokes for the target man role, Robbie Brady is the best bet for those looking to invest ahead of a run of seven strong home fixtures (CRY HUD WHU NEW SWA WAT STK) in their next eight at Turf Moor.
Renato Sanches to Swansea – deal confirmed 2pm
The Welsh outfit’s manager Paul Clement has previously worked with the box-to-box midfielder during his six-month spell as Bayern’s assistant manager last year.
Named best young player at Euro 2016, Sanches struggled in his maiden season at the Allianz and started just six league matches, with a further 11 outings off the bench.
While regular minutes now look likely, he’s hardly renowned for his attacking output, supplying two goals and an assist in his final season at Benfica prior to the Bayern switch.
Still only 20, though, Sanches has the chance to improve at the Liberty and his arrival hands the Swans a real confidence boost ahead of some very strong fixtures.
He comes in at 5.0 in FPL but, for now, set-piece taker Tom Carroll remains their best value midfielder at 4.5.
Orestis Karnezis to Watford – deal confirmed 2pm
The 32-year-old arrives on loan from Italian side Udinese.
Karnezis started 33 Serie A matches last season, which suggests that he’s been brought to provide strong competition to current number one Heurelho Gomes.
Watford have chalked up back-to-back clean sheet under Marco Silva but considering that only Gomes and Miguel Britos – who is now suspended for three – started each of the first three Gameweeks, the new manager’s preferred regulars are still unclear.
Serge Aurier to Tottenham Hotspur – deal confirmed 12.30pm
A switch to London affords the Ivorian the chance to reignite his career after struggling to cement a regular role at Paris Saint Germain, with just 53 starts over the course of the previous three league seasons.
Despite that relatively limited pitch time in the French capital, Aurier’s total of 16 assists over the last four Ligue 1 campaigns was more than any defender.
He now looks set to challenge Kieran Trippier for the right-back or right wing-back berth under Mauricio Pochettino.
Looking at the underlying numbers, he trailed Trippier for minutes per key pass (to 43.5) and success rate (12.8% to 24.1%) last season, yet the latter started just six times last season and was deemed no more than back-up for Kyle Walker.
A price of 6.0 is more expensive than Trippier’s 5.4 but with Danny Rose still injured, our money’s on Ben Davies (5.6) as the most profitable Spurs defensive option until the new boy settles and we get a clearer idea on Pochettino’s rotation.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Liverpool – deal confirmed 12pm
Just as he finally established himself as a regular for Arsenal, the England international has departed Liverpool to feature under Jurgen Klopp.
His versatility affords the Reds’ manager options in central midfield and on the flanks, which arguably increases the likelihood of rotation should they progress through the Champions League.
With Sadio Mane and Mo Salah in pole position for the wide roles in a 4-3-3, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s best bet maybe to secure a spot in the centre of the park.
Bearing in mind that Georginio Wijnaldum and Adam Lallana served up 149 and 139 points respectively from these positions last season, the new arrival – at just 6.0 in FPL – is certainly worth monitoring.
For now, though Mane, Salah and Roberto Firmino remain the favoured Reds’ picks.
From an Arsenal point of view, his departure could now see Sead Kolasinac handed the left wing-back berth. The Bosnian dropped to the bench in last week’s 4-0 mauling at Anfield but could now profit from three home matches (BOU WBA BRI) in four. The Gunners are, however, likely to be low on confidence following events at Anfield and – to this point – the inactivity in the transfer market.
