Premier League

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The international break gives the opportunity for a reset with the arrival of the new signings hopefully having a freshening effect.

Whether Aston Villa's poor start can be blamed on some sense of injustice about the financial limits, lingering disappointment from missing out on the Champions League, or just a collective form dip, a change of scenery will hopefully help.

There is one unresolved issue from deadline weekend though, which may require careful handling by Emery and his staff. Emi Martinez staying ought to be good news, but from his tears on the pitch at the end of last season to his non-appearance on Sunday against Crystal Palace, there has been enough drama to potentially make things a little awkward.

BBC Radio WM's Villa pundit Garry Thompson thinks it could be, internally at least.

"If he gets back in the team and plays well, and seems a bit contrite – he's never going to apologise! – and just wants to get on with it, I think they'll forgive him, and we'll just crack on," Thompson said.

"But don't make it easy for him. I may be jumping the gun, but it looked like he was ready to jump ship. If you're ready to jump ship, you can't just wander back into the dressing room and say: 'I'm back lads - it's all right."'

We'll see. A week away on international duty might do all some good.

• Not a Villa fan? Find and follow your team here

After all, Monday was Aston Villa's best day for quite a while, perhaps since May.

With the need to do some business – even if for no better reason than to apply jump-leads to their season – they completed three deals that all made sense.

Victor Lindelof adds experienced defensive cover at relatively small cost.

Jadon Sancho ought to be motivated to prove a few doubters wrong – perhaps he can draw inspiration from the way Marcus Rashford's career was revitalised by six months with Unai Emery. Even paying most of his wages for a year is a low-stakes bet.

And in Harvey Elliott, Villa have signed a talented player just at the point he seems ripe to make a major breakthrough.

But concerns remain. Villa played 55 first-team games last season and will surely have ambitions of a long Europa League run. That might mean this season's total is even higher.

Their squad remains full of quality but short of depth, and in an ideal world, they would surely have addressed that.

Tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

Explore Aston Villa content on BBC Sounds

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter

Manchester City's apparent surplus of players has been the subject of several questions sent in via our 'Ask about Man City' form.

We put your questions about Stefan Ortega and Kalvin Phillips to our City reporter Shamoon Hafez.

City signed three senior goalkeepers this summer and Ortega was deemed surplus to requirements, with the club happy for him to explore his options elsewhere.

Sources close to the player told me they were "looking at options" for the German, which reportedly included Burnley, Sunderland and Fenerbahce, where coincidentally Ederson ended up.

But Ortega remains at City and though he has been included in the club's Champions League squad, you would think he will be third choice behind summer signings Gianluigi Donnarumma and James Trafford.

Forgotten man Phillips is still at the club too. A move did not materialise because he is currently recuperating from the Achilles surgery he underwent in the summer.

It is uncertain whether moves will transpire for either player in January but you would expect Ortega and Phillips to play only bit-part roles at City until then.

Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions.

We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do.

Find out more here

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest have left record signing Omari Hutchinson out of their squad for the Europa League.

The winger, signed from Ipswich Town for £37.5m, is not included in the 22-man squad for Forest's first European campaign in 30 years.

Left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko, a deadline day loan signing from Arsenal, is also left out.

Teams can name up to 25 players in their List A squads but Forest only have one club-trained player - Ryan Yates - who was at the club for three or more years between the age of 15 and 21.

Uefa want four club-trained players in squads, otherwise clubs are limited by the numbers they do not have, so Forest can only name a 22-man squad.

Forwards Jota Silva and Taiwo Awoniyi, who are able to leave the City Ground with the Saudi, Greek and Turkish transfer windows still open, are also not included.

Angus Gunn, Jair Cunha and Cuiabano - who has returned to Botafogo on loan - are omitted too.

Forest open their Europa League campaign with a trip to Real Betis on Wednesday, 24 September.

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham talisman Jarrod Bowen has been speaking to the BBC's John Murray about the Hammers turbulent start to the season.

Having been comfortably beaten by Sunderland and Chelsea, Bowen was involved in an altercation with West Ham fans following their Carabao Cup defeat by Wolves last week.

The Hammers bounced back at the weekend with an impressive win at Nottingham Forest.

"It's been an up and down couple of weeks," he reflected. "The Premier League starting, you are on a high as you have waited so long for it. Then, to lose the way we did to Sunderland, followed by a defeat by Chelsea and one in the cup where we were in a good position to win the game was difficult.

"But I think the one thing we have got with this group is a real resilience and togetherness. You saw that at the weekend. I think everyone would have wrote us off at Nottingham Forest so to win 3-0, and it that could have been even more on another day, just shows that resilience to keep going even in the difficult times.

On the incident with the fans, Bowen accepted his part and said such incidents can happen in the heat of the moment, particularly after three consecutive losses.

"The fans have a lot of love for the club and I have a lot of love for the club," he explained. "I always wear my heart on my sleeve, I have got a lot of passion, and I want the team to do well.

"Sometimes, things can happen. I think I understand the club and I don't think it's frowned upon. It's not what I want to be doing, falling out with people, but sometimes these things happen in football."

• Not a Hammers fan? Find and follow your club here

Alex Pewter
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

It is not unusual for Steve Parish and Crystal Palace to leave their transfer business until the end of the window. Monday's flurry of updates, confirmations, and collapsing deals was one for the ages.

After months of speculation, it is infuriating for those following the process to see the future of a season come down to the final four days, which soon became the final four hours, given the potential ramifications on the rest of the season.

On paper, the current squad, aside from any injuries, is stronger than it was 12 months ago. There was a record sale for Eberechi Eze, which maximised the value of a prized player, even if there was a short wait for his replacement.

As a result, only two players who played in 10 or more Premier League matches are no longer with the squad - the other being former loanee Trevoh Chalobah.

However, Marc Guehi's non-move to Liverpool naturally dominated the narrative. Fans do appreciate that he has earned a move to the top of English football, but the lack of a clear or convincing plan to replace him was a worrying possibility.

If this last-minute decision came down to a stand-off between the chairman and the manager, then Oliver Glasner won, and the team is better for it. The question is how fractured the relationship now is between Parish and Glasner, and how Guehi will emotionally recover from a deadline-day move that imploded, literally in the final hours.

Guehi is known to be a consummate professional, and unlike other players this window, he did not strike and he did not complain. He played in each match he was needed, and he even scored the best goal of his Palace career in what could have been his final match.

If anyone will remain composed, it is likely to be the team's captain.

Most importantly, we can now all return to simply enjoying the football and the start of the season has been very encouraging.

With this manager and group, the sky remains the limit. It isn't for fans to concern themselves with the club's accounting - they want to see this team continue to win, and this gives them the best chance to do so.

Find more from Alex Pewter at FYP podcast, external

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds United managing director Robbie Evans says the club "spent everything they could" during the summer transfer window as they strive to stay in line with Profit and Sustainability regulations (PSR).

After winning the Championship last season, chairman Paraag Marathe promised they would spend every available pound to strengthen the squad.

Given the Whites acquired 10 players for a total cost of more than £100m, Evans was emphatic in his assessment of Marathe's pledge.

"This summer, we spent everything we could," he told gathered reporters after requesting not to do a broadcast interview. "Unequivocally, we are maxing PSR out this season.

"If we had gone on to other targets [on deadline day], or on to higher-priced players back in July, the consequences would have been seen in the current roster - the players in August would not have come in, or more key players from last season would have had to go.

"There were only a handful of players that were worth even considering making those kinds of sales. And when those top players didn't materialise, we held on to our key players instead."

• Not a Leeds fan? Find and follow your club here

Evans was pleased Leeds did not have to cash in on stars from the promotion campaign - such as Ao Tanaka, Pascal Struijk and Joel Piroe - explaining that they looked to work the market differently.

"Unsurprisingly, the players that have the highest PSR profit are the ones that are most critical to our success last year and most important for our success next year," he said.

"So rather than sell them pre-emptively on the expectation of having somebody for whom that capital could be better deployed, we ticked off all of our highest-priority boxes first and foremost

"We didn't think it was wise to lose those players - the quality they bring, the continuity from last season, the familiarity with Daniel Farke's strategy and his process adds a tonne to our squad.

"So unless [selling them] was enabling something truly unique and differential, we'd rather have them here."

Come back to this page later for more from the interview with Evans

• Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Kevin de Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish, Ederson, Manuel Akanji and now Ilkay Gundogan. Manchester City's summer overhaul of their squad has been completed - and just take a look at the amount of experience lost from the dressing room.

Boss Pep Guardiola openly spoke about the need to work with a smaller squad as he did not want "leave four or five players at home" on matchdays, but it is a new and younger group that will now take the club forward.

Sources had told BBC Sport earlier in the window that Gundogan would be allowed to explore his options if a good enough offer came in and the 34-year-old has now been allowed to depart.

German-born but with Turkish heritage, Gundogan heads 'home' to Galatasaray, a club he apparently supported as a kid after posting such pictures on social media.

Gundogan will forever be remembered for his late double to seal the Premier League title in 2022 and will undoubtedly receive a tremendous welcome when he returns to the Etihad with Galatasaray in January in the group phase of the Champions League.

• Find and follow your Premier League club on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport's chief football news reporter Simon Stone was a guest on the latest episode of The Devils' Advocate podcast from BBC Sounds.

He debated the club's transfer business and was asked if Ruben Amorim and Man Utd got what they wanted from the summer window.

Simon said: "No. I don't. They've targeted attacking players and they knew after that, it was how much could they raise.

"There's some culpability for the fact they couldn't get these deals done until late in the window. Garnacho in particular. It's a weird one.

"I think they got as much as they could get for him, but he's worth more than that. The way they had gone about that meant that his value went down.

"Chelsea played the situation. They waited. They knew that Garnacho only wanted to go to one club. They've got their man for far less than you'd normally expect.

"They would have hoped to have done business earlier and that would have created a situation where they could have maybe addressed the goalkeeping situation or the central midfield situation in a calmer way. They haven't been able to do that."

Simon was speaking on the latest episode of The Devils' Advocate by BBC Sounds

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Emi Martinez's move to Manchester United never materialised and the World Cup winner must move on quickly.

The Argentina goalkeeper has often been the centre of attention - his vulgar gestures with his World Cup golden glove trophy and the Copa America prime examples.

His future has also dominated Villa's summer, even before last season ended with his perceived emotional goodbye following the final home game of the campaign against Tottenham.

Now, it would be best for the former Arsenal stopper - who turns 33 today - to keep a low profile as he proves his commitment once again to Villa.

Away from Martinez, Villa needed to box clever in the window given the financial restrictions with profit and sustainably rules a constant concern.

Regardless of whether it was the first or last day of the window, signing Harvey Elliott from Liverpool - especially for the £35m he will cost next summer - is excellent business.

Elliott is a mature 22-year-old who has class, drive and experience, having won the Premier League and is coming off the back of a second European Championship win with England Under-21s in the summer.

Victor Lindelof himself is an Under-21 Euros winner with Sweden in 2015 and will provide competition for Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings.

Jadon Sancho will hope Emery - who had to sell Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle to help comply with PSR - can revive his career almost like Marcus Rashford last season, where his former United team-mate returned to the England squad.

Rashford's form did not necessarily justify that call in March but playing at Villa put him back on the radar. As long as the mindset is right and Emery can harness the talent which convinced United to pay Borussia Dortmund £73m for Sancho in 2021, there remains a chance he could follow in Rashford's resurgent footsteps.

The triple arrival on deadline day meant Villa's business went from underwhelming and worrying to promising - especially in Elliott's case. It would be wrong to say it was haphazard, Villa could only work with the finances they had.

Late, yes, but with Villa looking undercooked and aimless in their opening winless and goalless three games, the arrivals are very much needed.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

After Nuno Espirito Santo's fears and complaints, he should have the tools needed to succeed at Nottingham Forest.

There is no doubt the head coach has been backed by owner Evangelos Marinakis after a near £180m spend this summer.

The pair are meeting during the international break to iron out any differences following Nuno's revelation their relationship had changed this summer, but the evidence in Marinakis' investment is there.

Nuno would have preferred signings in earlier, allowing them time to integrate into the squad and adapt to his methods.

That was the root cause of his outburst and he may require time, but he has been given a squad which is strong enough to compete in four competitions, he must now get the best out of them.

Omari Hutchinson joined for a club record fee of £37.5m. Elsewhere, £30m was spent on James McAtee, a long-term target, along with £26m on striker Arnaud Kalimuendo and over £30m on winger Dilane Bakwa on deadline day.

Four signings from Brazilian side Botafogo - including £10m striker Igor Jesus - added to the depth.

It will be needed as Forest start their Europa League campaign at Real Betis on 25 September, while they will also go to Swansea in the Carabao Cup and have Premier League games against Arsenal, Burnley and Sunderland before the end of the month.

There may still be a departure or two to streamline the squad. The Saudi Pro League, Greece and Turkey windows remain open, leaving those who did not move - Jota Silva and Taiwo Awoniyi - possible routes away.

Ultimately, the last few week of the window brought drama around transfers but Nuno must now ensure his love story with Forest continues.

• Get news alerts on your Premier League club

Image source, Getty Images

Following a disappointing transfer window of rejections, Newcastle got their man on deadline day and Yoane Wissa is a Magpie.

The forward completed a move from Brentford for £55m, but have they overpaid considering he had just one year left on his contract?

"If I was running Newcastle, I would have thought that Wissa was overpriced for his age and I maybe would have sat on that money and waited for someone you really like in January or the next summer," said The Observer's Rory Smith.

"They still have William Osula, Joelinton and Anthony Gordon who can play up front.

"Their first bid was £25m and they have ended up paying £55m, so that is pretty good negotiating from Brentford.

"I wonder - in hindsight - if sometimes the deal that you don't do is valuable; there might be a player out there for £70-80m that Newcastle could have waited a year for.

"It seems a lot to pay for a player who Newcastle have been saying all summer is the replacement for Callum Wilson. It would have been a lot cheaper to keep Wilson."

But former Premier League goalkeeper Joe Hart disagrees and says it would have been a "risk" to not sign Wissa when they need to push for another European finish.

"They got into their plans that they were going to get Wissa," said Hart. "Eddie Howe had probably said that if the Alexander Isak departure happens, then we need to use it on Wissa because that is who I planned for and that is who can work this season.

"Newcastle are not an established Champions League team, they are very much in the battle to get into it and they need to stay in it. If Wissa means they have got to overpay, that is the risk they are going to take."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Manchester United have made "an educated decision" by signing 23-year-old goalkeeper Senne Lammens, says former Premier League keeper Joe Hart.

The 6ft 4in stopper has 93 appearances to his name, only 52 of which have come in the Belgian Pro League, but is hoped to solve the issues between the sticks at Old Trafford.

Prior to the deadline day signing, United were linked with Aston Villa's number one and World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez but they opted to sign Lammens.

"Martinez would have been a brilliant signing but they had to make an educated decision and this is what they have gone with," said Hart on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "I've not seen him play, so I cannot comment on him but I believe that a lot of teams have been tracking him.

"Hopefully he is the right person for Manchester United, but does he just walk in and plug that gap of complete uncertainty in goal at the club?"

"It is a big ask," added Chris Sutton. "It is not just about being a good goalkeeper because it is about personality and character to be able to handle playing in front of over 70,000 people at home games.

"There is an expectation and the reality is that United have struggled in recent seasons, so it is not an easy job to go into that environment."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart says Gianluigi Donnarumma "is more than capable with his feet" despite some of the wider concern about his ball-playing ability.

"I have watched him play under pressure and I have watched him play all the way through from 16-years-old," said Hart on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"There was a boy there who could hold his nerve for AC Milan and then he went to Paris St-Germain and helped them win trophies.

"I am a big James Trafford fan too, but why would you not sign someone like Donnarumma who can win you games?

"He is absolutely humongous and makes top saves at the top level.

"Pep Guardiola is ruthless now, he wants someone who he knows is world class.

"Trafford has potential, and I think they will nurse that, but he might not get what he wanted out of this season. I still think he can have a Manchester City career, for sure.

"I watched PSG last year and I didn't think that they had to play long because Donnarumma was in goal. They played through the system without a problem and they hardly got caught out by anyone."

The Observer's Rory Smith added: "Donnarumma's like having a bear in goal - why would you not want to have a bear in goal?"

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

• Find and follow your Premier League club on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berto says the club are "delighted" after completing the loan signing of "intelligent" defender Piero Hincapie.

The 23-year-old joins on a season-long loan from Bayer Leverkusen and the Gunners have agreed a fee of £45m (52m euros) for the Ecuador international should they wish to make the deal permanent next summer.

Sporting director Andrea Berta said: "We are delighted to have completed the loan signing for the season of Piero Hincapie.

"At only 23, Piero already has significant experience, both in the Bundesliga and at international level. He is an intelligent defender with real strength and versatility.

"His performances in recent years for both club and country have been of a consistent high quality, and we are confident Piero will continue to grow this season and be an important player for us."

Hincapie is Arsenal's eighth signing of the summer, after Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cristhian Mosquera and Eberechi Eze.

The Arsenal boss added: "Piero has a real physical presence, with his versatility and tactical flexibility giving us strong added defensive options.

"He is a big character, with a very good combination of both youth and maturity. He will make our squad stronger and more competitive as we continue into this season."

Luke Reddy
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

A thunderbolt from Dominik Szobozslai illuminated a nip and tuck affair at Anfield on Sunday.

Lost in the ferocity of the Hungarian's strike will be key details on how Liverpool came to edge out rivals Arsenal in a game of fine margins.

As a collective, Liverpool played just 62 passes in the Arsenal half in the opening 45 minutes as players repeatedly passed backwards and respect between the two sides took up the order of the day. After the break, Liverpool constructed 108 passes in Arsenal territory, a key uplift as players showed the courage to receive passes in better areas, where damage can be done.

A nod should be offered the way of Curtis Jones. The Liverpudlian played 22 passes after being introduced on 61 minutes. In contrast Florian Wirtz - on the pitch for 89 minutes - only played 28. In defence of Wirtz, no Liverpool player ran further than his 11.1km, perhaps showing that while in possession he is yet to make a telling mark, his work rate without the ball is evident.

Szobozslai married all aspects of the game together. His 24 sprints was a high for Liverpool and he played 15 passes in the final third - a high for the Reds. His six clearances was a high for Liverpool players who started the game.

After 45 minutes that lacked bravery and risk taking in possession in midfield, Jones should be praised for playing a pivotal role in ushering in change.

Szobozslai, however, ghosted forward from right-back, did midfield work and delivered magic and a click of his fingers.

The magic will take the headlines but his graft and pockets of bravery on the ball ultimately proved the trick that flummoxed Arsenal.

In a seven-day spell he has taken up an emergency right-back berth, delivered a dummy to tee up Liverpool's winner at Newcastle and decided a clash between last season's top two.

The arrival of Wirtz was - for some - a sign Szobozslai would move to the bench.

He appears to have other ideas.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts on Manchester United opting to sign Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens instead of a rumoured move for Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez.

Here are some of your comments:

Graham: A good deal - he is young with great potential. Martinez's best days are behind him.

Sam: The most underwhelming transfer in history. We could have had a World Cup-winning goalkeeper but instead we get an unproven 23-year-old who will probably show the same lack of confidence as our current options.

Adam: Good positive signing on the final day of the window. We needed another keeper and we just have to hope Lammens proves to be a safe pair of hands. I'm glad we didn't sign Martinez after he embarrassed himself with the World Cup trophy.

Matthew: It's another high risk move from Ineos. They are focusing on youth over experience and yet we need immediate results. They did not show patience with the likes of Rasmus Hojlund, I'm not sure we can afford to wait for a goalkeeper to develop as well.

John: The Lammens deal is the right approach. He's the polar opposite to Andre Onana. A huge shot-stopper who is aggressive in the box. and a penalty save expert. Massive potential. Martinez is a loose cannon, makes big mistakes and is the wrong age profile to bring into United.

Joe: A disaster of a decision. Can most fans even say they have ever heard of Lammens? No caps for his country and zero experience in a big league. He may well be 'the next Thibaut Courtois' but it's more likely he'll be yet another failure to see their career die at Old Trafford. Such is our track record with signing players over the last decade.

Kev: Anything is better than our current goalkeepers, John O'Shea was a better keeper than these two.

Jonny Buchan
BBC Radio Leeds

Image source, Getty Images

Four points from the opening three games, which included two Champions League opponents, can absolutely be regarded as a strong start for Leeds. So that must mean it has been a good transfer window, right?

Ten arrivals would also suggest that is the case, however it is fair to say there is still a feeling that something is missing.

The club looked to add physicality, height and athleticism to the ranks for their return to the top flight with an average height of 6ft 2in across the new faces. The club believes that will be the difference between staying up and going down.

That physicality, plus the Premier League experience of the likes of Sean Longstaff worked well against Newcastle and Everton, not so much against Arsenal.

However no goals from open play in their first three games makes it abundantly clear what still needs to be added, but that search may now stretch into January. Will that be too late?

Listen to a BBC Radio Leeds deadline day special at 18:00 BST here.

Watch the show live here, external

Subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, BBC Sport

It was an interesting team sheet at Wolves Under-21s' game with Blackburn on Friday night, just one example of what clubs can do to signal player availability.

Wolves made the decision to make it clear to any scouts present who was available for loan, without them having to ask the question.

The team sheet was also circulated to EFL clubs so they were aware just who could be allowed out on loan ahead of tonight's deadline.

Wolves wanted to save time and speed up the process - saving clubs and scouts picking up the phone to ask - for their youngsters, who went on to beat Blackburn 3-1 in Premier League 2.

They have been keen to send right-back Pedro Lima out on loan, having beaten Chelsea to his signature last summer.

Alfie Pond has made six senior appearances and is available along with Harvey Griffiths and Daniel Angel.

Jamaica international Dexter Lembikisa, who has spent time at Hearts, Barnsley and Rotherham, can also leave on loan.

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Anything can happen on transfer deadline day – not least when Newcastle United and Liverpool are involved.

Andy Carroll had just bought a new house in the North East when he rocked up at Newcastle's training ground on the final day of business in January 2011.

Carroll was boarding a helicopter bound for Merseyside just a few hours later after Liverpool had a £35m bid accepted.

Carroll, in the process, became the most expensive British footballer of all time, but that fee looks like small fry now after Liverpool agreed a £125m deal with Newcastle for Alexander Isak in the final throes of the window.

It brings to an end an almighty saga, but there won't be wild celebrations on Tyneside. Far from it.

Supporters had long made their feelings clear about Isak, who missed the club's opening three games of the season.

But Newcastle are losing one of the best strikers in the world to the champions with just hours left to bring in another centre-forward to help ease the burden on record signing Nick Woltemade.

While the situation felt untenable - could Isak really have been reintegrated? - there is a danger this sets a precedent for players who want out in the future given the Swede still had around three years left on his contract.

All eyes are now on whether Newcastle can sign another striker on Monday after seeing previous bids rejected for Wolves centre-forward Jorgen Strand Larsen and Brentford's Yoane Wissa.

These are Premier League proven players who would be able to plug in from the off.

The problem, as Newcastle have discovered, is convincing clubs to sell such goalscorers is an almighty challenge, particularly when there is so little time left to find a worthy replacement.

Could that really change in the final hours of the window? We are about to find out.

• Find and follow your Premier League club on BBC Sport

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport journalist

In the past two Premier League campaigns while out of favour at Manchester City, Jack Grealish provided two assists in total.

Three games into the new season, he already has four for Everton.

At the start of this summer, David Moyes demanded that "elite players" were recruited by the club to match their "elite new stadium".

The arrival of Grealish has more than satisfied that mandate.

As well as his four assists in the past two games, he was heavily involved in the move for Iliman Ndiaye's goal which put Everton 2-1 ahead at Wolves.

The focal point of Everton's attack, the 29-year-old is already flourishing under Moyes.

Four assists in 2025-26 is already the second most of any Everton player since the start of last season, despite Grealish having played more than 1,000 minutes less than Dwight McNeil in first.

"We often talk about not having mavericks in the team. Jack Grealish is a maverick, but he can play in a system and he can work hard for the team," former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock told BBC Sport.

"The home fans last week at the new stadium were on their feet because he was battling for everything - he's got that side in him as well."

Former Liverpool, Tottenham and Fulham midfielder Danny Murphy added on BBC Match of the Day: "The forward line was creative and brave - not just Jack - and the Everton fans must be loving it."

Read more on Moyes' maverick here

• Sign up for alerts on your Premier League club

Fulham thought they had taken a first-half lead against their London rivals Chelsea when 18-year-old Josh King broke clear and sent a low finish past Robert Sanchez - but VAR Michael Salisbury spotted an earlier foul by Rodrigo Muniz on Trevoh Chalobah.

Muniz was judged to have stepped on Chalobah's foot while attempting to shield the ball from the Chelsea defender, with referee Robert Jones viewing the pitchside monitor before declaring to the crowd that Muniz's "careless challenge" had left the officials with no other option.

Many inside and outside Stamford Bridge disagreed, insisting that contact had been minimal and Muniz had never attempted to make a challenge in the first place.

Fulham's sense of injustice was compounded by Joao Pedro's opener in the ninth minute of stoppage time, after eight minutes had been indicated by the fourth official.

Former Fulham and England midfielder Danny Murphy told BBC Sport: "I was really angry, not because it was Fulham but because I love football. Goals like that shouldn't be disallowed by complete accidents.

"They described it as a challenge, but there was no challenge for the ball - it was a bit of skill.

"I don't understand how you can watch football and referee football for that long and not understand certain dynamics. It was just a bizarre interpretation."

• Find and follow your Premier League team on BBC Sport

Jordan Butler
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham's obvious disappointment at missing out on Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze will be tempered somewhat by Xavi Simons' arrival in north London, and his numbers from last season offer plenty of encouragement for fans.

The Netherlands international was directly involved in 19 goals last season for RB Leipzig, with 11 goals and nine assists, despite suffering an ankle injury which forced him to miss 15 games during the winter months.

But the 22-year-old's chance creation and the rate at which he puts balls into dangerous areas will be of particular interest to Spurs head coach Thomas Frank.

Simons provided more than seven passes into the penalty box per game during the previous campaign and created an average of 2.2 chances per 90 minutes, with both totals higher than that of Eze and Gibbs-White. He also attempted more through balls.

• Get news alerts about your Premier League club

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

It feels like there has been a shift on Tyneside. In so many ways.

Following so many setbacks in their search for a striker, Nick Woltemade is now having a medical before completing a club record move to Newcastle United.

And it does not sound like Newcastle are finished yet.

The Mapgies remain active in the market and Eddie Howe said on Friday morning that there was an opportunity to "maybe improve the squad further", which pointed to the club at least exploring the possibility of signing an additional centre-forward.

Whereas the prospect of Newcastle landing one striker once felt like a real challenge going into the final days of the window, now - suddenly - the club have momentum.

That could, in turn, have a knock-on effect on the Alexander Isak saga.

It was just last week that Newcastle did not envisage the "conditions of sale being met" to allow Isak to join Liverpool – namely recruiting two quality strikers and the champions returning to make an improved bid to actually give the club a decision to make.

But could that now change?

Howe reiterated that Isak could still be reintegrated, but the Newcastle head coach's tone surrounding the striker was noticeably different on Friday as he said "you can't just be oblivious to things that have happened" in reference to the Sweden international's conduct.

One way or another, this is going to be a frantic end to the window.

• Find and follow your Premier League team on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton deputy chairman and chief executive Paul Barber has bought a stake in the club.

Barber, who joined the club in 2012, has purchased newly issued shares and now owns 1.5% of the shares in existence.

Chairman Tony Bloom said: "Paul is a major driving force at the club, he has been integral to our incredible progress since his arrival in the summer of 2012 and we would like him to remain with us for many seasons to come.

"He has already committed to the club until at least 2030, and we wanted to offer him this opportunity to further commit, and also to recognise his level of service and loyalty to the club.

"I regard Paul as the best chief executive in football and I am delighted he is now a co-owner of the club."

Barber commented: "It is a minority and some way behind Tony's majority shareholding, but nonetheless I'm very proud indeed to co-own a small part of a football club I've come to love over the past 13 years."