David Moyes admitted Kalvin Phillips was not up to speed after he endured a nightmare West Ham debut by gifting Bournemouth a goal with almost his first touch in claret and blue.
The England midfielder, whose loan switch from Manchester City was arguably the most high-profile deal in this transfer window, inadvertently set up Dominic Solanke to score with less than three minutes gone.
Fortunately for West Ham, a James Ward-Prowse penalty in the second-half was enough to secure a 1-1 draw.
“It’s not a goal we concede too often and it gave them a leg up,” said Moyes.
“Then we had to perform and we weren’t at a level to do that. It wasn’t as good as it should have been.
“Kalvin’s fine, he got best part of 70 minutes in. I said before we might have to go a bit gently with him.
“I thought as the game went on he was starting to get better, but he was a bit slow at the start and in getting into the way we play.
“I’m happy with a point but not happy with the performance. We got back in the game and I didn’t think we performed well after that either.
“It looked as if we had had 10 days off tonight, like we’d had a holiday, the players looked leggy.”
Moyes was annoyed that West Ham, for the second time this season, had to play on transfer deadline day.
The Hammers boss had planned to name midfielder Pablo Fornals on the bench, only to have to change his plans after the club agreed a fee with Real Betis.
Fornals was still in the tunnel at the final whistle with Moyes in the dark over his future less than an hour before the deadline.
“It’s strange day to have a game and also the deadline,” he added: “We were planning to have Pablo involved tonight. He might still be here, who knows?
“I think it could have been wrapped up last night. It’s our own fault in this country we do so many deals in the last day. This window has been a really slow burner and we’ve had it on a game night.”
West Ham equalised on the hour when Mohammed Kudus was fouled by Lloyd Kelly and Ward-Prowse slammed home the spot-kick.
Cherries boss Andoni Iraola said: “There is a part when you have to value the point, but I think if any team deserved to win today it was Bournemouth.
“We were 1-0 up and had very good chances but if you don’t punish these teams it can happen.”
Kobbie Mainoo’s dramatic late winner fired Manchester United to a stunning 4-3 win at Wolves as Marcus Rashford shook off any Belfast blues.
The 18-year-old midfielder’s first Premier League goal shocked Molineux in stoppage time after Pedro Neto’s leveller looked to have snatched a point for the hosts just two minutes earlier.
Pablo Sarabia’s penalty and Max Kilman’s close-range strike had given Wolves – who initially came back from 2-0 and 3-1 down – hope either side of Scott McTominay’s second-half header.
Rashford had earlier scored and helped assist Rasmus Hojlund after being disciplined by boss Erik ten Hag.
He called in sick on Friday and was omitted from the squad for Sunday’s FA Cup win at Newport having reportedly gone drinking in Belfast last week.
But it was an excellent comeback from Rashford, with United – who climb to seventh in the Premier League – inflicting Wolves’ first home defeat since September to end their seven-game unbeaten run.
Rashford was reportedly doing tequila shots during his Belfast bender and those in charge of the music on Thursday clearly saw the funny side, playing the Terrorvision hit Tequila before kick-off.
But the England forward enjoys Molineux and last season the 26-year-old was benched for being late for a team meeting before coming on to score the winner.
This time he took just four-and-a-half minutes to start his new redemption arc.
When Bruno Fernandes dummied Alejandro Garnacho’s low delivery Wolves were in trouble, and it got worse when Hojlund held the ball up and teed up Rashford on the edge of the box.
The striker then curled a fine effort beyond Jose Sa for his third goal in his last four games.
United, with two wins in their previous eight league matches, belied their poor form with an energetic start and Casemiro shot wide.
Wolves, though, managed to find some momentum – with Matheus Cunha threatening – only for the visitors to snuff out any recovery with a second goal after 23 minutes.
Again, Rashford was involved when he collected Garnacho’s pass and slipped in the overlapping Luke Shaw to deliver a low cross for Hojlund to bundle in ahead of Craig Dawson.
It sparked the United fans into chanting ‘Rashford’s on the p***’ as they cheekily saluted the striker.
Casemiro nodded Fernandes’ free-kick wide and Hojlund almost embarrassed Sa when he charged down his clearance, only for the ball to rebound wide.
The openings kept coming with Raphael Varane firing over and Hojlund’s celebrations were cut short a minute before half-time when he had a goal disallowed by an offside flag.
In stoppage time Casemiro also had a header ruled out and the one-way traffic continued after the break when Dawson blocked Fernandes’ effort.
It had been Wolves’ worst display of the season but they almost pulled a goal back after 49 minutes, only for Lisandro Martinez to clear Kilman’s header off the line.
Yet United remained on top and Wolves survived when Toti lost possession to Garnacho but Sa spared his blushes by saving Holjund’s effort.
There looked no way back for the hosts when Andre Onana saved Dawson’s deflected strike with his face but they grabbed a lifeline after 71 minutes when Casemiro clipped Neto in the box.
Sarabia buried the penalty – after a long VAR check – but United hit back just four minutes later when McTominay, with his first touch, nodded in Fernandes’ corner.
The hosts refused to go quietly, though, and Kilman hooked in from close range to make it 3-2 with five minutes left after Dawson’s shot was blocked.
There was belief Wolves could level and they did in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Neto fired in on the break.
But a chaotic ending was capped by Mainoo’s stunner when he rode two challenges and curled into the bottom corner in the seventh minute of added time.
Kalvin Phillips endured a nightmare West Ham debut after gifting Bournemouth a goal with almost his first touch in claret and blue.
The England midfielder, whose loan switch from Manchester City was arguably the most high-profile deal in this transfer window, inadvertently set up Dominic Solanke to score with less than three minutes gone.
Fortunately for West Ham, a James Ward-Prowse penalty in the second-half was enough to secure a 1-1 draw.
But Phillips, making a first Premier League start of the season having been reduced to less than a bit-part player at City, will not remember the opening moments of his debut fondly.
Kurt Zouma’s pass to him on the edge of the area was not great, admittedly, and Phillips was quickly closed down by Ryan Christie.
The Cherries midfielder appeared to have got a touch as the ball rolled to Solanke, who was clearly offside as he completed the simplest of finishes.
However, a VAR check showed it was Phillips who had actually played the ball to Solanke, and the offside decision was duly overturned.
It was Solanke’s second goal against the Hammers this season following a late equaliser on the south coast in August – soon before West Ham failed in a big-money bid to sign the striker.
The arrival of Phillips left boss David Moyes with a selection dilemma of which three of his four central midfielders should start.
His answer was all of them, with Phillips alongside Edson Alvarez in the middle, Ward-Prowse stationed out on the left and, most curiously of all, Tomas Soucek lumbering around alongside Jarrod Bowen in attack.
For 40 minutes it plainly did not work, with an understandably off-the-pace Phillips conceding cheap free-kicks and Bournemouth attacking whenever they pleased.
Their best chance came when Alvarez gave the ball away to Christie, who found Solanke on the edge of the box.
Solanke could have shot but instead squared the ball to Antoine Semenya, who was free on the right but drove too close to Alphonse Areola.
It was a huge let-off for West Ham and they twice came close to equalising late in the first half, with Bowen glancing a Ward-Prowse delivery straight at Neto and Soucek heading Mohammed Kudus’ cross wide.
West Ham re-emerged with a slight reshuffle, Ward-Prowse now playing as the second striker, and they were thrown a lifeline when Kudus was clumsily brought down in the area by Lloyd Kelly.
Referee Tim Robinson did not award the spot-kick on the pitch, but he had little choice once he had checked the replay.
Ward-Prowse stepped up to blast the penalty down the middle as Neto dived right to earn a point for the hosts.
Crystal Palace swooped for midfielder Adam Wharton in a reported £22million switch from Blackburn to make the biggest Premier League move of transfer deadline day.
The Eagles – fighting to stay clear of being dragged into a relegation battle – are said to have paid a fee of £18million, which could potentially see a further £4m in add-ons for the talented 19-year-old.
Wharton, who has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract, feels Crystal Palace is the right place for him to further his ambitions.
“The way they have brought players from the Championship and developed them into world-class players in the Premier League is something that stood out to me,” Wharton said on the club’s website. “It is a big reason why I wanted to come here.”
Burnley, who sit second bottom of the table, have completed a loan deal for Montpellier defender Maxime Esteve until the end of the season.
The 21-year-old centre-back watched Burnley’s 3-1 defeat at Manchester City on Wednesday night before completing the formalities of his deal ahead of Thursday night’s deadline.
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“I am really happy and ever since I first heard about the move I wanted to move here,” Esteve said.
“I have followed the Premier League since being a young child and had only pictured myself ever being here, so I am really excited,” he said.
Plenty more deals look set to be done ahead of the 11pm cut-off, with Fulham chasing a loan deal for Chelsea striker Armando Broja.
PA understands West Ham’s Pablo Fornals has permission to discuss a £7million move to Real Betis, while Said Benrahma is in France undergoing a medical at Lyon.
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank, though, says that Ivan Toney will not be leaving the club.
England striker Toney has been linked with Premier League rivals such as Arsenal and Chelsea in the January window.
The 27-year-old has scored 34 goals in 68 top-flight games for the Bees and Frank insists Toney will stay put after a month of speculation.
“This will be breaking news, OK – but Ivan will stay,” Frank said at his press conference previewing Monday’s clash with Manchester City.
Earlier, top-flight clubs Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Newcastle all completed deals to strengthen their squads.
Forest signed 18-year-old striker Rodrigo Ribeiro on loan from Sporting Lisbon until the end of the season, Morgan Rogers swapped Middlesbrough for Villa Park in a reported £8million switch and Newcastle brought in teenage midfielder Alfie Harrison from Manchester City.
Brighton midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud has joined Stuttgart on loan.
Ribeiro’s move to Forest could become permanent, and he told the club’s YouTube channel: “I promise to work every day and to keep going with the work and help the team.”
In the Sky Bet Championship, promotion-chasing Ipswich signed Wales forward Kieffer Moore on loan from Bournemouth.
West Brom brought Celtic winger Mikey Johnston to The Hawthorns, versatile Manchester City player Josh Wilson-Esbrand signed for Cardiff until the end of the season and Liverpool defender Billy Koumetio linked up with Blackburn on loan.
Earlier, midfielder Alex Pritchard completed a move from Sunderland to Birmingham.
The 30-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract to reunite with former Black Cats boss Tony Mowbray.
Sunderland reacted quickly to fill the gap in their squad, signing winger Romaine Mundle from Standard Liege.
Hull have signed Turkey midfielder Abdulkadir Omur from Trabzonspor, while Swansea brought in young forward Charles Sagoe Jr on a six-month loan from Arsenal.
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank says that Ivan Toney will not be leaving the Bees on transfer deadline day.
England striker Toney has been linked with Premier League rivals such as Arsenal and Chelsea in the January window.
The 27-year-old has scored 34 goals in 68 top-flight games for Brentford and Frank insists Toney will stay put after a month of speculation.
“This will be breaking news, OK – but Ivan will stay,” Frank said at his press conference previewing Monday’s clash with Manchester City.
Elsewhere, there were few big early moves from top-flight clubs – although Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Newcastle all completed deals to strengthen their squads.
Forest signed 18-year-old striker Rodrigo Ribeiro on loan from Sporting Lisbon until the end of the season, while Morgan Rogers swapped Middlesbrough for Villa Park in a reported £8million switch and Newcastle brought in teenage midfielder Alfie Harrison from Manchester City.
Brighton midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud has, meanwhile, joined Stuttgart on loan. More transfers are expected to be completed ahead of the 11pm deadline, with Pablo Fornals expected to leave West Ham to join Real Betis.
But Brentford head coach Thomas Frank has said there is no chance Ivan Toney will make a late deadline day move away from the club.
Ribeiro came through the ranks in Lisbon and made his professional debut for the club as a late substitute in a Champions League tie against Manchester City in March 2022.
The 18-year-old’s move to Forest could become permanent. He told the club’s YouTube channel: “It is a great opportunity for me.
“It is the best league in the world. For me, it is a dream to play in this league and for this club.
“I promise to work every day and to keep going with the work and help the team.”
Rogers, 21, signed for Boro last summer and scored seven goals this season, including against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final.
Villa also later announced the signing of England Under-19 international Lino Sousa from Arsenal, who is set to immediately join up with Plymouth on loan for the remainder of the campaign.
Newcastle also made a move for the future with the signing of 18-year-old Manchester City midfielder Harrison for an undisclosed fee.
“The size of the club and what it has got going for it is massive for me,” Harrison told Newcastle’s website.
“It has got a huge, passionate fanbase and I’m looking to really push on with my career now.”
In the Sky Bet Championship, midfielder Alex Pritchard completed his move from Sunderland to Birmingham for an undisclosed fee.
The 30-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract to reunite with former Black Cats boss Tony Mowbray.
“I am happy,” Pritchard told BluesTV.
“My future has been well speculated for a while now and I am just glad to get everything done and just settled and, hopefully, I can just crack on with football.”
Sunderland reacted quickly to fill the gap in their squad, signing winger Romaine Mundle from Standard Liege for an undisclosed fee.
The 20-year-old former Tottenham player has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract at the Stadium of Light.
Hull have been one of the most active Championship clubs on deadline day, with midfielder Abdulkadir Omur joining from Trabzonspor.
Turkish international Omur has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal after he joined for an undisclosed fee, while Dogukan Sinik has been allowed to make a loan move to Hatayspor.
“The fans will love watching him (Omur),” Hull boss Liam Rosenior said on the club website.
“He is someone who can unlock the door, create and score goals, and has a great final pass and shot.
“He is an outstanding technical footballer who can go past players, has a low centre of gravity and works hard out of possession. I love his football personality.”
Swansea have brought in young forward Charles Sagoe Jr depart on a six-month loan from Arsenal.
It has been an unusually quiet transfer deadline day as some Premier League club’s look to get new signings in ahead of the 11pm deadline.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the best deals done so far.
Rogers makes Villa switch
Aston Villa have completed a move for Morgan Rogers from Middlesbrough, with the forward having impressed in the Sky Bet Championship so far this season with seven goals and eight assists to his name.
The 21-year-old arrived at Villa Park after Middlesbrough finally succumbed to an offer in the region of £16million.
Rogers will now line up in the Premier League to help Unai Emery’s side pursue a spot in Europe come the end of the season.
Rodrigo Ribeiro becomes Nuno’s first
Nottingham Forest captured 18-year-old forward Ruben Ribeiro from Sporting Lisbon as Nuno Espirito Santo made his first signing as Forest boss.
The 18-year-old striker has joined the club on loan for the remainder of the season, in a deal which could be made permanent.
Ribeiro has turned out seven times for Sporting so far this campaign and has even played in the Champions League, making his debut against Manchester City in March 2022.
Gio Reyna added to Forest ranks
Nottingham Forest have once again been one of the busier clubs on deadline day and completed a second loan signing of USA midfielder Reyna from Borussia Dortmund.
Reyna has made 121 appearances for Dortmund since 2019 and has already earned 24 caps in international colours.
Reyna will bring a wealth of experience from the Bundesliga and Champions League as Forest aim to bolster their bid to survive in the Premier League.
Dahoud goes back to Germany
Midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud joined Brighton from Borussia Dortmund in the summer but will now head back to Germany on loan at Stuttgart until the end of the season.
The 28-year-old German has made 14 appearances in all competitions but has fallen out of favour since receiving a red card against Sheffield United in November and has not featured for the Seagulls since a 1-1 draw with Burnley at the start of December.
Technical director David Weir said: “This is a good move for Mahmoud. It will give him an opportunity to play regularly for a side doing very well towards the top of the Bundesliga. We wish him well for the rest of the campaign.”
Mowbray secures Pritchard
In a sign of how quiet things have been, a Championship deal cracks the top five.
Midfielder Alex Pritchard becomes Birmingham’s third signing of the January transfer window.
The 30-year-old will link up with former boss Tony Mowbray on a two-and-a-half year contract
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank believes refusing to sell Ivan Toney in January proves how far the club has come in recent years – but admits eventually “money talks” when it comes to holding on to his stars.
England striker Toney was reportedly a target for the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea during the transfer window.
The 27-year-old has recently returned to action for the Bees having served an eight-month ban after breaching Football Association gambling laws.
Toney has scored 34 goals in 68 top-flight games for the Bees and Frank insists the player will stay put after a month of speculation.
“This will be breaking news, OK – but Ivan will stay,” Frank said at his press conference previewing Monday’s clash with Manchester City.
Asked if he was happy that the window was closing just hours after his media duties would conclude, Frank replied: “Happy? Yes, but I was pretty sure as I said from the beginning that Ivan will stay with us so I was not worried about that.
“In general, it is nice to know what you are working with so in that situation, yes (I am happy).”
Despite rumours of a big-money move during the window, Frank and the club as a whole were steadfast throughout January that Toney would not be sold.
The former Newcastle forward is out of contract at the end of next season but Frank feels Brentford showed their strength in keeping hold of their sought-after striker, even if their transfer strategy dictates otherwise.
“Yes, I think with any player we have a contract in general so at the end of the day we decide if they leave or not,” he added when asked if rebuffing any interest in Toney showed the progress Brentford have made.
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“Of course money talks and we also know that we are a ‘selling’ club as you could call it – we know that is part of the strategy.
“We want to have young, talented players in, develop them and make them better. Be on a journey with us, improve and hopefully do some fantastic stuff in the league and maybe one day win something.
“But at the end of the day, after some years if they are good enough they will progress to the next level.”
Kevin De Bruyne is pleased Manchester City are close to full strength as the business end of the season approaches.
Erling Haaland returned to action after almost two months out as the champions eased to a 3-1 win over struggling Burnley in the Premier League on Wednesday.
With De Bruyne having made his first start since August and John Stones also featuring after a knock, City are in a healthy position as the pressure ramps up.
Defender Manuel Akanji is now the only absentee as City, five points off the top with a game in hand, battle with Liverpool and Arsenal for the title and prepare for the resumption of the Champions League.
“I think it’s really good,” said De Bruyne, who set up one of Julian Alvarez’s two goals in a comfortable victory over the relegation-threatened Clarets at the Etihad Stadium.
“I think if Manu comes back – and I think it’ll be soon – it’s going to be the first time in the year everybody’s fit, so that can only help us because I think the schedule is getting a little bit harder and harder in the next weeks.
“To have everybody available can only help the team being competitive. Even if you change (the team), there’s big stars sitting on the bench and you can rotate.”
After a difficult spell in November, momentum is growing at City with eight wins in succession and 10 in their last 11 games in all competitions.
That could be ominous for their rivals but De Bruyne insists nothing will be taken for granted.
The Belgian said: “I just think there is that feeling that whenever we lose a game, we’re falling too far behind. And it’s the same in the cup competitions – if you lose, you’re out.
“So I think we’re in a good moment, people are coming back, but we don’t get complacent.”
City, who are next in action at Brentford on Monday, were far too strong for a Burnley side who remain seven points from safety.
Victory was all but secured as Alvarez, aided by some poor defending, struck twice in the space of six minutes midway through the first half.
The Argentinian World Cup winner has excelled this season in the absence of De Bruyne and Haaland.
De Bruyne said: “He’s been really good. I think he’s played a lot in the midfield this year and that’s not really his position, but he did a great job because obviously we had a lot of injuries.
“He’s been banging in goals, giving assists, so he’s probably happy. He’s doing really good.”
Rodri added City’s third goal early in the second half and Burnley barely registered a threat until grabbing a late consolation through Ameen Al-Dakhil.
Midfielder Curtis Jones believes his “time has come” to play a significant role for Liverpool.
Jones, who turned 23 on Tuesday, made his senior debut in January 2019 but his breakthrough did not come until the following campaign.
Since then he has been gaining experience and – after a testing time last year because of injury – he is enjoying his best goalscoring season, having taken his tally to five with a goal in last weekend’s FA Cup victory over Norwich.
Manager Jurgen Klopp’s faith in the Toxteth-born academy graduate has not wavered and Jones responded with another good performance in the 4-1 win over Chelsea which extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points.
“It’s the most I’m enjoying it, I’d say,” Jones told TNT Sports.
“It’s been up and down for the whole time, I’d say – I had the injuries and stuff. It’s the first time when I’ve come in the team and I’m enjoying it, I’m playing free, I’m scoring goals and helping the team, so, I’m happy.
“I came around the team when I was 17 and it wasn’t an easy thing, but he (Klopp) was calling me in all the time and we were having chats. He was always saying, ‘Your time will come’.
“I’m at the point now where my time has come and I’m taking my chance. I had to adapt my game a lot. That’s what I’ve done now.”
Jones’ contribution this season has been particularly important with injuries to Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, plus the Asian Cup absence of Wataru Endo, meaning midfield resources have often been stretched.
But having come through January unscathed, the club are still challenging for four trophies and even before news of Klopp’s pending departure emerged, Jones believes they were set up for something special after a summer rebuild of their midfield.
“The team has got this buzz about us. It’s a new team, it’s a young team, it’s a fresh team,” he added.
“Of course there’s been a change in terms of how we play and the lads that have come in.
“Normally it takes a bit of time to adapt but the lads have just adapted quickly, they’ve come in, played their part.
“It’s just not individuals, like Mo (Salah) scoring all the goals. The likes of me are going to help, Dom’s going to help, Conor (Bradley) is going to help, Trent (Alexander-Arnold) as always. It’s passing through the whole of the team.”
The demolition of Chelsea highlighted the focus of the Liverpool players has so far not been distracted by Klopp’s announcement he is quitting and the manager is delighted by that.
“Attitude is not our problem, attitude is something we can expect. Attitude is created by the culture. Attitude is created by the crowd,” said the German.
“Attitude is created by pretty much everybody around the team. Attitude will not be the issue of this team.”
1105 – DONE DEAL – It’s official, Morgan Rogers has joined Aston Villa from Middlesbrough.
The 21-year-old moves to the Premier League side for an undisclosed fee.
1100 – DONE DEAL – Shortly after announcing Pritchard’s departure, Sunderland have brought a player through the door.
Winger Romaine Mundle arrives from Belgian side Standard Liege on a four-and-a-half-year deal.
1015 – In Scotland, there could be big news at Rangers amid reports from Italy that Hellas Verona are set to launch a bid to sign striker Cyriel Dessers.
1000 – DONE DEAL – Birmingham have swooped for Alex Pritchard, signing the Sunderland midfielder for an undisclosed fee.
The 30-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract to reunite with former Black Cats boss Tony Mowbray.
“I am happy,” Pritchard told BluesTV.
0945 – Motherwell have not ruled out a last-minute return for Kevin van Veen during this transfer window, according to assistant manager Stephen Frail.
Groningen are open to offers for the out-of-favour striker and a loan could be their only option as the transfer deadline approaches.
0925 – DONE DEAL – Wrexham have made another signing.
This time they have boosted their attacking options by bringing in Jack Marriott from Fleetwood for an undisclosed fee.
The Hollywood-owned club, who sit second in the League Two table, are having a busy deadline day.
0915 – DONE DEAL – In League Two, high-flying Wrexham have signed Luke Bolton from Salford, with the defender joining for an undisclosed fee.
0900 – DONE DEAL – There has been a flurry of early activity.
Nottingham Forest have bolstered their squad, bringing in striker Rodrigo Ribeiro on loan from Sporting Lisbon, while Brighton’s Mahmoud Dahoud has joined Stuttgart on loan for the rest of the season.
Ribeiro, 18, has joined the Premier League strugglers on loan until the end of the season in a deal which could become permanent.
0845 – There could be some departures at West Ham today, with Said Benrahma and Pablo Fornals linked with moves.
Lyon are said to be keen on Algeria forward Benrahma, while Real Betis have been linked with Fornals.
0830 – Some deals were done the evening before transfer deadline day, with Nottingham Forest bringing in United States midfielder Giovanni Reyna on loan from Borussia Dortmund until the end of the season.
Elsewhere, Facundo Pellistri made a loan switch away from Manchester United on Wednesday night, joining Granada for the rest of the season.
0815 – Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic seem likely to add to their squad on deadline day.
They are closing in on the loan signing of Norwich striker Adam Idah, with the 22-year-old Republic of Ireland international reportedly arriving in Glasgow on Wednesday to seal his move to the Hoops until the end of the season.
0750 – Crystal Palace also look set to sign a player from the Championship today, with Blackburn midfielder Adam Wharton said to be close to swapping Lancashire for South London.
Palace have reportedly agreed a fee of £18million plus £4m for Wharton, who could sign a five-and-a-half-year deal at Selhurst Park.
0730 – Aston Villa are expected to strengthen their squad before the window slams shut.
Middlesbrough winger Morgan Rogers is the man they want, and the deal could be worth £16million.
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0715 – Welcome to the PA news agency’s live transfer deadline day blog.
The winter transfer window closes this evening at 11pm for Premier League and EFL clubs while it is 11.30pm for teams in Scotland.
There are plenty of deals in the pipeline, with Fulham linked with a deadline-day loan move for Chelsea striker Armando Broja and Rangers expected to complete the signing of Colombian winger Oscar Cortes on loan from Lens.
James Maddison insists Tottenham can still do something special this season after he got the last laugh over Neal Maupay following a chaotic 3-2 home win over Brentford.
A fiery clash between the London rivals appeared to be sparked by Maupay mocking Maddison with his own darts celebration after he put the visitors ahead in the 15th minute.
Referee David Coote struggled to control both players in the first half, but Spurs regained focus after the break and scored three times in eight minutes through Destiny Udogie, Brennan Johnson and Richarlison.
It ensured Ivan Toney’s late strike was mere consolation and Maddison was happy to poke fun at Maupay during his post-match interview before the pair traded blows on Instagram.
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Maddison started the war of words with the caption “a short story” beneath three pictures – one of Maupay celebrating, one of Maddison with his arms aloft and one of the final score – before the Frenchman hit back, writing: “Went a bit early with that one. Gutted we couldn’t get the win. More goals and less relegations in my career than James Maddison. We go again Monday bees.”
Asked about Maupay, Maddison told TNT Sports: “I said to him, he probably hasn’t scored enough goals of his own in the last few years to have his own celebration, so he had to copy mine. A short story and it ended well for us.”
He added: “I feel really positive. We’ve had a very stop-start season with injuries and suspensions. We started really well and had the same XI for 10 or 11 games in a row, which is very rare in the Premier League. That Chelsea game (which Spurs lost 4-1) was a crazy game.
“The main question I get asked is, ‘What’s the aim for Tottenham this year?’ I don’t think the gaffer wants to put a limit on it.
“There’s no ceiling because there’s more chance of something special happening. We’re three points behind second place, so let’s not put a ceiling on it. Let’s take it game by game.
“We could go on a run. If you don’t believe something special can happen, then nothing can ever happen.”
The Chelsea game was the match in which Maddison suffered ankle ligament damage, which ruled him out for the best part of three months.
Spurs lost four of their first five matches without him, but look well placed for a strong finish to the Premier League season.
Maddison said: “It’s lovely to be back. When you’re starved doing what you love, that reminded me why I love football.
“The first half was stop-start, a lot of stoppages, which is how they have been successful.
“Second half we created a lot of chances, scored some goals, but it’s never simple – there’s always a lot of goals at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.”
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Brentford were able to leave north London with plenty of positives, with Toney on target again in his second match since he returned from a betting ban.
Toney scored under the watchful eye of England boss Gareth Southgate and has been backed to get even better.
“He has been working very hard to come back to the level,” Bees boss Thomas Frank said.
“The first game he played 90 plus 15 against Nottingham (Forest) and today also. Hopefully with a little bit more rhythm, he will come even sharper, but it is five or 10 per cent maximum.
“I think his touches look good and he is a threat.”
0915 – DONE DEAL – In League Two, high-flying Wrexham have signed Luke Bolton from Salford, with the defender joining for an undisclosed fee.
0900 – DONE DEAL – There has been a flurry of early activity.
Nottingham Forest have bolstered their squad, bringing in striker Rodrigo Ribeiro on loan from Sporting Lisbon, while Brighton’s Mahmoud Dahoud has joined Stuttgart on loan for the rest of the season.
0845 – There could be some departures at West Ham today, with Said Benrahma and Pablo Fornals linked with moves.
Lyon are said to be keen on Algeria forward Benrahma, while Real Betis have been linked with Fornals.
0830 – Some deals were done the evening before transfer deadline day, with Nottingham Forest bringing in United States midfielder Giovanni Reyna on loan from Borussia Dortmund until the end of the season.
Elsewhere, Facundo Pellistri made a loan switch away from Manchester United on Wednesday night, joining Granada for the rest of the season.
0815 – Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic seem likely to add to their squad on deadline day.
They are closing in on the loan signing of Norwich striker Adam Idah, with the 22-year-old Republic of Ireland international reportedly arriving in Glasgow on Wednesday to seal his move to the Hoops until the end of the season.
0750 – Crystal Palace also look set to sign a player from the Championship today, with Blackburn midfielder Adam Wharton said to be close to swapping Lancashire for South London.
Palace have reportedly agreed a fee of £18million plus £4m for Wharton, who could sign a five-and-a-half-year deal at Selhurst Park.
0730 – Aston Villa are expected to strengthen their squad before the window slams shut.
Middlesbrough winger Morgan Rogers is the man they want, and the deal could be worth £16million.
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0715 – Welcome to the PA news agency’s live transfer deadline day blog.
The winter transfer window closes this evening at 11pm for Premier League and EFL clubs while it is 11.30pm for teams in Scotland.
There are plenty of deals in the pipeline, with Fulham linked with a deadline-day loan move for Chelsea striker Armando Broja and Rangers expected to complete the signing of Colombian winger Oscar Cortes on loan from Lens.
Liverpool will not struggle once Jurgen Klopp leaves in the same way Manchester United did following Sir Alex Ferguson's exit, according to Stephen Warnock.
The Reds are still coming to terms with last week's announcement that Klopp is to depart Anfield at the end of the season, ending a hugely successful nine-year period at the club.
Parallels have been drawn to when Ferguson stepped down as United manager in 2013 and when Arsene Wenger left Arsenal five years later.
However, ex-Liverpool defender Warnock believes there is enough quality - and longevity - in the current squad to help the new manager pick up from where Klopp leaves off.
"There's a big narrative around filling people's shoes," Warnock told Stats Perform. "We look at Alex Ferguson, we look at Arsene Wenger, and we look at the replacements for them and go, 'Well, they didn't work.'
"It's taken them years. People will argue Manchester United still haven't recovered from that, and they haven't got the appointments right. Some big, big names have gone in there.
"But don't forget, Manchester United were on the decline. They were in a club that was always going to struggle.
"When you actually sit back now and look at it, even a year away from what happened, you could have gone, 'Do you know what, [Ferguson] walked away at the right time'.
"That's completely different to what Liverpool are now. I'd say Arsenal were in a similar situation where the club behind the scenes wasn't in a great position."
Warnock believes the structure behind the scenes under Fenway Sports Group (FSG) will also help with the continuity, as long as the new manager can adapt to the owners' way of working.
"FSG are arguably one of the best-run football clubs in world football," said Warnock, who made 67 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions.
"Yes, they get the critics for not going out and spending £150 million on a player, but we don't hear Jurgen Klopp complaining about it. He totally understands why they work like that, what they do.
"The next manager who comes in is going to have to understand their process, their logic behind the thinking, how they run as a football club. And they've got to buy into that straight away."
Klopp's coaching staff will also leave Anfield at the end of the campaign, while Jorg Schmadtke is to step down from his sporting director role later this week.
In the view of Warnock, that could prove to be the biggest challenge Klopp's successor faces - improving players who are not necessarily world-class when they arrive.
"One of the things that Jurgen Klopp did was improve players, him and his staff," he said. "They were a group of coaches who were able to improve players.
"The next manager is also going to have to be a manager who brings in younger players who can improve those players and make them better.
"I think what we often look at when we look at Jurgen Klopp and his recruitment and Michael Edwards and the team that was there was Liverpool never really bought.
"People might argue and say Virgil van Dijk, but they never bought a world-class player. They made world-class players. And that's the remit behind the scenes for Liverpool, putting value into players."
Former Liverpool favourite Xabi Alonso is the frontrunner to take over from Klopp, having won many admirers at Bayer Leverkusen this season, while Roberto De Zerbi is another who has been regularly mentioned.
Warnock added: "You look at Alonso's record and you say 'phenomenal, absolutely incredible'. Then you look at De Zerbi.
"I think he's a manager who understands he works within the constraints of what Brighton do and they have a process of how they want to do things. He works within that.
"He never moans, he certainly improves players and the style of football is quite breathtaking at times."
0715 – Welcome to the PA news agency’s live transfer deadline day blog.
The winter transfer window closes this evening at 11pm for Premier League and EFL clubs while it is 11.30pm for teams in Scotland.
There are plenty of deals in the pipeline, with Fulham linked with a deadline-day loan move for Chelsea striker Armando Broja and Rangers expected to complete the signing of Colombian winger Oscar Cortes on loan from Lens.
What the papers say
Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola is hopeful of holding on to striker Dominic Solanke despite interest from Tottenham. The Evening Standard reports that Iraola expects the 26-year-old to stay at the club after the transfer window has closed.
Albania striker Armando Broja remains in the sights of Fulham, who are considering a late move before the deadline, according to the Standard. But the Daily Mail says they are reluctant to meet Chelsea’s £50million asking price for the 22-year-old.
Brighton are in talks with Tottenham about Spanish winger Bryan Gil, reports the Standard. They are keen on taking the 22-year-old on loan.
Crystal Palace are also weighing up a late loan deal, according to the Daily Telegraph. They are keen on Ivory Coast forward Maxwel Cornet, 27, who could be allowed to leave West Ham.
Social media round-upPlayers to watch
Harry Souttar: Sheffield United have been in touch with Leicester about the Australian defender, 25, according to Football Insider.
Yuri Alberto: Wolves are in talks with Corinthians over a loan move for the Brazil forward, 22, reports the Daily Telegraph.
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