Premier League Transfers: Chelsea Break Goalkeeper Fee Record, Clubs Scramble For Deals

The English Premier League is entering unfamiliar territory on August 9 after the clubs agreed to close the transfer window on the eve before the start of the new season.

Until this year the deadline used to be August 31 — and it remains so for the rest of the top leagues around Europe — but this year the clubs in England agreed that it is in their best interest to end it before the Premier League season got underway to end uncertainty involving players’ unresolved futures.

The shortened deadline saw the transfer window open much earlier than usual with a number of clubs getting their businesses done early. Among the top clubs, Liverpool and Arsenal began signing players in late June and July in order to avoid the last minute scramble.

The Anfield outfit are by the far the biggest spenders this year having acquired four players — Naby Keita, Fabinho, Xherdan Shaquiri and Alisson Becker — for a combined £164m ($211m). They also broke the world record for the most expensive goalkeeper when they signed the Alisson from AS Roma for £67m ($86m).

Chelsea, meanwhile, are the late movers in the transfer window after they completed two signings on the eve of transfer deadline day and in the process took away Liverpool’s world record after they signed goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athetic Bilbao for a world record £72m ($92m). The Spaniard’s arrival was triggered after Thibaut Courtois engineered a move to Real Madrid for £35m.

The Belgian goalkeeper’s move to Real also saw Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic move on a season-long loan to Stamford Bridge, with Blues manager Maurizio Sarri keen to bolster his midfield options.

There is likely to be a scramble on deadline day with all the top clubs looking to make additions before Thursday’s 5 p.m. BST (12 p.m. EDT) deadline. There are likely to be incomings and outgoings with the likes of Arsenal more focused on the latter having completed their transfer business earlier in the window.

Among the top six clubs, Tottenham Hotspur are the only team yet to make a signing this summer. Manager Mauricio Pochettino is keen to make additions but they have thus far failed to land their targets.

Jack Grealish was among their top targets, but English Championship club Aston Villa rejected their £25m offer and are said to be unwilling to sanction a move this summer. Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha is also said to among their targets.

Manchester United are another club that have been quiet having signed midfielder Fred, young defender Diego Dalot and backup goalkeeper Lee Grant prior to the World Cup. Jose Mourinho has cut a frustrated figure after continually stating that he wants reinforcements before the transfer window slams shut.

The Red Devils are keen to bolster their backline and have been linked with moves for Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld and Leicester City’s Harry Maguire. The two players’ valuations by their respective clubs (around £65m or $84m) said to have put United off, but talks are reportedly continuing in the hope of reaching a compromise.

The negotiations and deals are likely to go right until the end and it is certain that a few clubs will be caught out after leaving their business until the last minute. And Premier League clubs will also be at risk from their European counterparts in the La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga as they can buy players from England until their transfer window shuts on August 31.