Welcome to Sports Mole's live transfer blog on Wednesday, August 27.
There are only five days remaining in the window, so clubs will be working hard behind the scenes to get their transfer business done and dusted.
We'll be bringing you all the latest speculation and done deals as they emerge throughout the day, so stay tuned.
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Good morning all! So, yesterday Manchester United broke the British transfer record to sign Angel di Maria for £59.7m. However, after last night's humiliating 4-0 defeat to MK Dons in the League Cup, could Louis van Gaal delve into the market again?
Let's begin with a look at the transfer news making the headlines over the last few hours:
Real Madrid to launch £48m Radamel Falcao bid?
Manchester United consider Joe Allen bid?
Werder Bremen rule out Bryan Ruiz move
Report: Manchester United won't sell Danny Welbeck to Arsenal
So, United have added a world-class talent to their ranks in the form of Angel di Maria, but the player himself has admitted that he never wanted to leave Real Madrid. In an open letter to the club's fans, the 26-year-old has accused the Madrid board of telling "lies" and forcing him out of the door at the Bernabeu.
© Getty Images
Sticking with Manchester United and their reported pursuit of Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal. There are some conflicting reports in Italy, with some claiming that a deal is close to being agreed, while Tuttosport has stated that the Serie A side are refusing to sell the Chile international to the former Premier League champions. I'd say this saga is far from over!
It's bad news for Hull City as manager Steve Bruce confirms that a deal to sign Blackburn Rovers forward Jordan Rhodes is "dead and buried".
Let's switch our attention to the North-East and Hatem Ben Arfa is reportedly keen to stay at Newcastle United, despite dropping out of the first team following a number of alleged fallouts with manager Alan Pardew. It is believed that the Frenchman, who is currently within the development squad, wants to fight his way back into the team.
In case you missed it yesterday, AC Milan have confirmed that they are interested in signing Chelsea striker Fernando Torres. It's safe to say that the Spaniard has not set the world alight at Stamford Bridge since joining from Liverpool for £50m in 2011. Milan are hunting for a new forward to replace Mario Balotelli, who has left Italy for Anfield.
West Ham United have announced that Modibo Maiga has joined French club Metz on a season-long loan.
There's some potentially good news for Watford fans! According to Sky Sports News, Troy Deeney is close to signing a new contract at Watford. The striker has been linked with a move to the Premier League following reported interest from Queens Park Rangers, Hull City, Burnley and Leicester City.
That's all from me for today! I shall hand you over to Dan Lewis, who will update you with the latest transfer news as it comes in over the next few hours.
Thanks Danielle! Well one side who have made some astute signings this summer, Swansea City, could see striker Wilfried Bony leave the club before the close of the transfer window if recent reports are anything to go by. Manager Garry Monk has denied speculation linking the striker with a move away from South Wales, however, saying that he will thrive alongside new recruit Bafetimbi Gomis this season.
Got a few minutes spare? Why not check out Sports Mole's lunchtime Transfer Talk Update, which includes all the latest goings on regarding Manchester United target Arturo Vidal, Newcastle United's Hatem Ben Arfa, and much more.
The full extent of Olivier Giroud's ankle injury is not yet known, but regardless of the outcome of his scan, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger reportedly has no intention to sign another permanent striker this summer.
In the last 15 minutes or so, Neil Warnock has been named as the new manager of Crystal Palace. The search for a new man at Selhurst Park is finally over, and the 65-year-old now has five days to delve into the transfer market.
Tottenham Hotspur are said to be 'close to finalising' a deal to sign Federico Fazio from Sevilla. It was confirmed yesterday that Spurs have agreed to pay the £8m release clause in the defender's contract, and a five-year deal is now on the table.
As far as shock transfer news goes, this is right up there. Former Birmingham City striker Nikola Zigic is in talks with Arsenal over a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer, according to the player's agent. Click here to read more.
Sticking with the Premier League, Queens Park Rangers have reportedly opened discussions with Gremio defender Bressan. Harry Redknapp has already strengthened his defence this summer, but another centre-back may now be on his way through the Loftus Road door.
Leicester City have this afternoon reportedly agreed a fee with Wigan Athletic to sign midfielder James McArthur. Click here to read more.
Well that's all from me on what has been a busy day of transfer activity to date. I'll now pass over to Liam Apicella who will take you through the remainder of the afternoon.
DONE DEAL! Thanks Dan and afternoon all. Right, let's begin with some positive news for Celtic after their humiliation in the Champions League last night. The Scottish club have completed the season-long loan signing of Ghana winger Mubarak Wakaso.
DONE DEAL! Another completed transfer, this time in League One. It's Peterborough United that have done the purchasing, having secured the services of attacker Marcus Maddison from Gateshead on a four-year contract.
Is talkSPORT presenter and Manchester United fan Andy Goldstein trying to wind up supporters, or does he know something?! United certainly need Arturo Vidal, that's for sure.
Vidal saying goodbye to his team mates...mufc bound.
— Andy Goldstein MBE (@andygoldstein05) August 27, 2014
Staying with United and the future of Shinji Kagawa. Following the arrival of Angel Di Maria, the Japanese international is expected to leave Old Trafford. Reports in Spain have claimed that Valencia have been offered the chance to sign the playmaker.
© Getty Images
And with that, my brief stint on the blog is done for today. Coming up next is Pascal Lemesre, who will guide you through the next few hours. Over to you, Pascal...
Thanks Liam. First this evening from me - news of a couple of Premier League clubs battling for the signature of one player. Sunderland and West Ham are reportedly both keen on signing Werder Bremen midfielder Ludovic Obraniak.
Championship side Wigan Athletic are short up front at the moment and their move for Andy Delort could be under threat. Despite being in advanced negotiations with Tours recently, the French club have now revealed that another British club has made an offer better than Wigan's.
DONE DEAL! Tottenham Hotspur have a new centre-back! Federico Fazio joins the North London side on a four-year contract.
SIGNED! Federico Fazio has joined us on a four-year contract from Sevilla. #WelcomeFazio pic.twitter.com/vrbR2NQQqy — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 27, 2014
For more on Fazio's arrival, read our developing story here.
CONTRACT! Good news for Watford fans as Troy Deeney signs a new four-year contract with the Hornets.
He writes on the below Instagram picture: "(Happy) to put to bed these transfer rumours. Eyes firmly on promotion and another 20+ goals."
He writes on the below Instagram picture: "(Happy) to put to bed these transfer rumours. Eyes firmly on promotion and another 20+ goals."
Click here to read our full story on Deeney signing on the dotted line.
What a tease the Seagulls are!
BREAKING: #BHAFC are about to announce their 12th summer signing. — BHAFC (@OfficialBHAFC) August 27, 2014
The new Brighton player is striker Sam Baldock, who signs a four-year contract at The Amex after the Seagulls and Bristol City reached an agreement after several negotiations throughout the summer. Full story here.
Man Utd broke the British transfer record yesterday to land Angel Di Maria and here, the Sports Mole Sofa discuss whether he was worth the money and what else the Red Devils need to make a push for the top four:
7PM UPDATE! Want a neat roundup of all of this afternoon's transfer news? Then our 7pm update is just what you need.
That's as far as I take you tonight. Guiding you through the next few hours will be Paul Gorst. Over to you, Paul...
Thanks Pascal. First story I'll turn your attention to this evening is the news that Blackburn Rovers have completed the signing of young Liverpool goalkeeper Ryan Crump. Full story is here.
Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen has said that he cannot wait to team up with new signing Mario Balotelli. The Italian arrived on Monday afternoon for around £16m from AC Milan, and the Wales international is looking forward to playing alongside the former Manchester City star. We'll have the full story to come.
As promised, here is the full story on Allen's eagerness to play with new signing Balotelli.
An interesting line this evening has filtered through about Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso. Bayern Munich are reportedly interested in the ex-Spain international. You can view the full story here.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was coy when asked if Olivier Giroud's injury would force him to act in the transfer market. Speaking after watching his side book their place in the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Besiktas, the Frenchman said that he was unsure. Catch the full story here.
Manchester United are reportedly chasing Sporting Lisbon's William Carvalho. A story to come on that...
As promised, here's more on the story that Louis van Gaal is planning a move for Carvalho. Full story is here. That's all from me this evening, I'll leave you in the capable hands of Mark Langshaw who will take you through to 2am. Bye for now...
Cheers, Paul. I'll be here until closing, and the first story that has come to my attention is that Hull City are on the verge of signing a new striker for a club record fee. More on that in just a moment...
As promised, Hull City are said to be closing in on Abel Hernandez for a club record £10m. The Tigers are believed to be in advanced talks with his club Palermo, but it is not quite a done deal yet.
The future of Chelsea striker Fernando Torres has been the subject of intense speculation this summer, and AC Milan are rumoured to have opened talks with the club regarding the wantaway striker. More to come in a moment...
AC Milan and Chelsea are reportedly close to agreeing on a fee for striker Fernando Torres, who failed to make the squad for last weekend's win over Leicester City. Torres could join his Blues teammate Marco van Ginkel at Milan, with the Serie A linked with a loan move for the player.
© Getty Images
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that striker Olivier Giroud is unlikely to play again this season following surgery. Could this development force the Gunners boss back into the transfer market to find cover from the Frenchman?
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is understood to have his eye on a Manchester United player. Find out who in just a moment...
Pochettino is said to have attended United's recent humbling at the hands of MK Dons to watch striker Danny Welbeck, who Spurs have been linked with in the past. Read the full story here.
Our final story of the night concerns Sunderland, who are rumoured to have entered talks with Inter Milan about taking Argentina international Ricky Alvarez out on loan. He would be quite a coup for Gus Poyet!
And that's all we have time for. Join Sports Mole from 9am tomorrow for more live transfer updates throughout the day. Many thanks for reading!
