The 2024 winter transfer window has entered its final hours as the clock ticks down to Thursday’s deadline. The Premier League is set to close for business at 11 p.m. GMT / 6 p.m. ET (find out when other leagues close here), and there are still some clubs around Europe who could get one or two deals over the line.
But you shouldn’t expect much, as it’s been the quietest January window ever in the Premier League, with the 20 clubs spending less than £100 million between them. A year ago, the total outlay was £815m, with Chelsea‘s £105m signing of Enzo Fernández from Benfica topping the list and breaking the British transfer record at the same time.
The threat of breaching the Premier League’s strict profitability and sustainability rules (P&S) has forced clubs to restrict their spending this month, especially so in the light of Everton‘s 10-point deduction in November for going beyond their spending limits. The club’s appeal against that sanction is being heard from Wednesday.
Deals have still been done, with Barcelona landing 18-year-old striker Vitor Roque for €40m, Bayern Munich spending €30m to land Galatasaray right-back Sacha Boey, Atletico Madrid snapping up Antwerp star Arthur Vermeeren for €27m, Tottenham Hotspur making a €25m move for Genoa defender Radu Dragusin, and Manchester City signing River Plate’s Claudio Echeverri for an initial €15m, before sending him back on loan.
But the majority of business has revolved around loan deals including Jadon Sancho (Manchester United to Borussia Dortmund), Timo Werner (RB Leipzig to Tottenham), Kalvin Phillips (Man City to West Ham United), Sergio Reguilón (Spurs to Brentford), Goncalo Guedes (Wolverhampton Wanderers to Villarreal), Ben Brereton Díaz (Villarreal to Sheffield United) and David Datro Fofana (Chelsea to Burnley.)
So, with a day or so to go, here’s what you need to known from around Europe’s top leagues in our guide to what could happen on Thursday’s deadline day.
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Premier League
Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Giovanni Reyna are the big-name players to watch on deadline day, with Premier League moves still a possibility for both.
Despite Chelsea coach Mauricio Pochettino repeatedly stressing the importance of England midfielder Gallagher to his plans at Stamford Bridge, the 23-year-old has just 18 months left on his contract and could be offloaded because, as an academy product, any transfer fee is regarded as pure profit in Chelsea’s financial figures — a reality that would make it easier for the club to balance their books and avoid breaching profitability and sustainability rules.
Tottenham are interested in Gallagher, whose transfer is valued at £50m by Chelsea, but the player has maintain a low profile this month, choosing not to push for a move or express a desire to stay at Stamford Bridge.
Nottingham Forest are favourites to sign USMNT international Reyna on loan from Dortmund, sources have told ESPN, but they face competition from Fiorentina and Marseille for the 21-year-old.
Aston Villa could bolster their attacking options with a move for 21-year-old Middlesbrough star Morgan Rogers. Villa reportedly had a third offer of £7.5m rejected by Boro earlier this week, but the Championship team will find it tough to hold onto the winger.
Although big clubs including Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United went into the window needing attacking reinforcements, the likelihood of any major deal incoming signing at any of those teams is remote.
Brentford’s Ivan Toney had been expected to be the biggest transfer target during January, but after returning from an eight-month ban for breaching betting rules earlier this month, the 27-year-old has played down the prospect of an £80m move this window. Brentford head coach Thomas Frank has also said that Toney will stay until the end of the season.
Newcastle United may have a busy deadline day, but mainly in terms of holding onto players. They have resisted Bayern Munich’s attempts to sign defender Kieran Trippier, but have yet to fully repel interest from Saudi Arabia in Miguel Almirón and Paris Saint-Germain‘s long-standing desire to sign midfielder Bruno Guimarães. But with Eddie Howe’s team still in the FA Cup and outside hopes of a top-four finish, major outgoings from St James’ Park are unlikely. — Mark Ogden