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Transfer Deadline Day: The deals to watch

Premier League clubs have until 11pm this evening to finalise their transfer deals with the January transfer window set to slam shut tonight.

Ahead of the deadline, we look at the deals that could be completed in the final stages of the window.

Enzo Fernandez

Chelsea have been the big spenders of the January transfer window once again and are closing in on their leading transfer target.

The west Londoners failed to find a breakthrough with Benfica earlier this month, with the Portuguese side insistent that Enzo Fernandez will not be sold for less than his £105m release clause.

Chelsea have since returned and are understood to have reached an agreement for Fernandez, in a deal that could see the 22-year-old eclipse Jack Grealish as the most expensive Premier League footballer of all time.

Fernandez only signed for Benfica from River Plate last summer, but starred during Argentina’s success at the World Cup in Qatar, where he was named as the tournament’s best young player.

Should the deal go through, it will take Chelsea’s extraordinary spending to £322.1m this month alone. For context, Premier League clubs spent just £322.9m as a collective during last January’s transfer window.

Joao Cancelo

Joao Cancelo’s potential exit from Manchester City came as a surprise when the news broke on Monday, with Bayern Munich close to signing the full-back on loan.

The deal will include an option to buy worth €70m (£61.5m) and comes after Cancelo has fallen out of favour under Pep Guardiola, starting each of the last three games on the substitutes’ bench.

Bayern have moved for the Portugal international after an injury to Noussair Mazraoui and Cancelo’s arrival will improve the Germans ahead of their challenge for Bundesliga and Champions League success.

Cancelo has been named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year in each of the past two seasons.

Pedro Porro

Pedro Porro is set to undergo a medical at Tottenham today as the north Londoners look to finalise a deal for the defender before the deadline.

Porro is viewed as an upgrade on Antonio Conte’s options at right wing-back and Spurs have reached an agreement with Sporting Lisbon after a long period of negotiations.

Sporting have accepted an arrangement that will see Spurs meet Porro’s €45m (£39m) release clause in instalments, while Spurs will also reportedly give up 15% of their sell-on clause for Marcus Edwards.

Conte had been keen to add some attacking impetus from wing-back with Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty having underwhelmed at Spurs.

Porro has provided 11 assists in all competitions for Sporting so far this season and has been named in the Primeira Liga Team of the Year in consecutive campaigns. His arrival will allow Djed Spence to join Rennes on loan in search of regular minutes.

Viktor Gyokeres

Everton have been linked with a move for Coventry striker Viktor Gyokeres as the club look to bring in additions for new manager Sean Dyche before the deadline.

Dyche was confirmed as the club’s new manager on Monday and has limited time to bring in reinforcements for the struggling side. Antony Gordon’s £45m sale to Newcastle has brought in funds and Gyokeres has been named as a target at centre-forward.

The Sweden international has scored 29 goals in 73 appearances since signing for Coventry on a permanent deal and trails only Chuba Akpom for Championship goals this season. He would add another option at centre-forward for Everton, with Neal Maupay having underwhelmed since his arrival from Brighton and Domonic Calvert-Lewin enduring a difficult time with injuries.

Conor Gallagher

Conor Gallagher is another player of interest to Everton and the Toffees are understood to have tabled a bid worth £45m for the England midfielder.

Gallagher has struggled to make an impression since returning to Chelsea from an impressive loan spell at Crystal Palace and has started just nine league games this season. The 22-year-old has previously insisted that he wants to fight for his place in west London, but could be open to an exit in search of a greater role before the deadline.

Everton are not alone in their interest however, with Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and Newcastle all considering an approach. Newcastle view Gallagher as a potential replacement for Jonjo Shelvey, who is set to sign for Nottingham Forest.

However, Chelsea could be reluctant to do business with a direct competitor for Champions League football.

Jorginho

Chelsea’s business means exits are expected before Tuesday’s transfer deadline and Jorginho has been linked with leaving Stamford Bridge.

The midfielder has entered the final six months of his deal and Arsenal have made an approach for the 31-year-old.

Arsenal have been rebuffed in their pursuit of Brighton’s Moises Caicedo and have targeted Jorginho as an option to boost their midfield stocks, following recent injuries to Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey. It is understood the two clubs are close to an agreement for a fee of around £12m.

Brighton have insisted that Moises Caicedo is not for sale this month, having turned down two bids from Arsenal and one from Chelsea. The Seagulls have told the Ecuador international to stay away from the club until after the deadline, after he pleaded with the club to let him leave on social media.

Kamaldeen Sulemana 

Everton and Southampton are reported to have had £22m bids accepted for Kamaldeen Sulemana as the duo look to improve their goal threat.

Everton have scored just 15 league goals from 20 games this season and have targeted Sulemana as an option to bring speed and creativity to their forward line, following the sale of Antony Gordon to Newcastle.

The 20-year-old is an exciting prospect and has shone in Ligue 1 since joining Rennes from Danish side FC Nordsjælland. The winger has already made 15 senior appearances for Ghana at international level.

Anthony Elanga

Anthony Elanga has been linked with a loan exit from Manchester United after struggling to make an impression since Erik ten Hag’s arrival as manager.

Elanga has made just five league starts this season following the arrival of Antony last summer and with Jadon Sancho nearing a first-team return could move on in search of opportunity.

Borussia Dortmund and PSV were credited with an interest in the 20-year-old earlier in the January window, while Everton are also said to be admirers and could launch a late move as the Toffees seek an Anthony Gordon replacement.

Everton signed Donny van de Beek on loan from Manchester United last January and could make another loan approach to the Old Trafford outfit.

Sander Berge

Sander Berge is on the radar of several Premier League clubs ahead of the January deadline, with Fulham and Newcastle leading the chase for the Sheffield United midfielder.

Berge has been linked with a number of top clubs since his emergence at Genk and interest has remained high since he completed a shock £22m move to Bramall Lane in 2020.

The 6ft 5in Norwegian has shone during Sheffield United’s push for Premier League promotion this season and is viewed as a powerful ball-carrier from the centre of the pitch. Newcastle are said to have made a loan bid with an option to buy, though the Blades want a permanent deal given the club’s current transfer embargo.

That could favour Fulham, while West Ham are long-term admirers of the 32-cap Norway international. Liverpool and Arsenal – each in need of midfield additions – have previously been credited as admirers.

Read – January 2011 – The story of the greatest Deadline Day ever

Read Also – Deadline Day Folklore: When Peter Odemwingie rocked up to Loftus Road only to get locked out

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