Deadline week chaos: Man City close on Enzo, Brentford and Ipswich make moves

The clock is rattling towards Tuesday night and the Premier League has lurched into full deadline-week chaos. Four days to go, squads still half-finished, and some eye-watering numbers already on the table.

At the top end, Manchester City are pushing to blow the market apart. At the other, clubs are scrambling for loans, bargains and late opportunities. The window is about to bite.

Man City’s £120m Enzo gamble

The headline move belongs to the champions. Manchester City have reportedly agreed a £120million fee with Chelsea for Enzo Fernandez, according to TyC Sports.

If the deal is completed before the deadline, Fernandez will become the most expensive midfielder in history, overtaking Elliot Anderson. City are understood to be ready to hand the Argentina international a contract running until 2032, a staggering long-term commitment to a player who has been linked with a Stamford Bridge exit all summer.

Chelsea, who only signed Fernandez in 2023, now face the prospect of losing one of their marquee names just as the season settles into rhythm.

Liverpool line up Barcola, United chase a left-back

Liverpool are expected to complete a huge nine-figure move for Bradley Barcola, with the club primed to drop serious money to reinforce their attack before the window shuts. The deal, if finalised, would underline their intent to refresh and retool around a new forward line.

Manchester United, meanwhile, are still hunting a left-back as a priority. With the deadline looming, their recruitment team is juggling both incomings and outgoings while the rest of the division circles for opportunities.

Brentford land Diouf in £40m deal

One of the day’s completed transfers belongs to Brentford. The Bees have officially signed El Hadji Malick Diouf from West Ham United in a deal worth around £40m.

The left-back has penned a five-year contract in west London, a major outlay and a clear statement that Brentford are ready to spend big to secure long-term defensive reinforcements.

Ipswich pull off Palacios coup

Ipswich Town have landed one of the most eye-catching deals of the window so far. The newly-promoted side have confirmed the signing of Exequiel Palacios from Bayer Leverkusen.

Ipswich will pay an initial £19.3m, with a further £4.3m in potential add-ons. Palacios, a World Cup winner with Argentina, could make his debut against Manchester United on Sunday. For a club just up from the Championship, it is a bold, ambitious swing.

Zirkzee exit opens door to Matanovic

At Old Trafford, the dominoes are lining up. Manchester United are in advanced talks with Fiorentina over a loan move for Joshua Zirkzee, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The proposed deal includes a £4.2m fee, though it is not yet clear whether the Italians will have an option to buy at the end of the season.

With Zirkzee edging towards the exit, United are reportedly weighing up a late move for Freiburg striker Igor Matanovic. The 6ft 5in forward has been identified as a potential replacement, but Tottenham are also credited with an interest, setting up a possible tug-of-war as the days tick down.

Arsenal move for Ogunneye

Arsenal have been handed the green light to sign Manchester United youngster Habeeb Ogunneye, according to football.london.

The defender has already said his goodbyes ahead of a free-transfer switch to the Premier League champions, with United inserting a significant sell-on clause into the agreement. It’s a low-cost, high-upside move for Arsenal and a way for United to keep a financial stake in his future.

Chelsea loan out Sarr

While the Enzo saga rumbles on, Chelsea have quietly moved another player out. Mamadou Sarr has joined Real Sociedad on loan until the end of the season.

The deal is understood to be a straight loan with no option to buy. Sarr travelled to Spain earlier in the week to complete his medical and finalise the paperwork, adding depth to Sociedad’s defensive options and trimming Chelsea’s bloated squad.

Forest push for Andre, Milan eye Hutchinson

Nottingham Forest are working on a deal to sign Brazilian midfielder Andre from Corinthians, according to Fabrizio Romano. Talks are ongoing to nail down the financial structure of the move as Forest continue their now-familiar late-window push to strengthen.

AC Milan are also dipping into the Premier League market. The Italian giants are weighing up a move for Nottingham Forest winger Omari Hutchinson, reports the Daily Mail. Hutchinson is thought to be keen on a switch to San Siro if it materialises, with any agreement likely to be a loan including an obligation to buy at the end of the season.

Forest, then, could be both buyers and sellers in the final stretch.

Everton’s £52m dilemma and Collyer’s next step

Everton are exploring a late move for Stuttgart midfielder Bilal El Khannouss, according to Sky Germany. The Morocco international has attracted interest from several clubs, but he will not come cheap: Stuttgart are reportedly demanding £52m for his signature.

For a club walking a financial tightrope, that price tag turns a simple enquiry into a major decision.

Lower down the food chain, Manchester United youngster Toby Collyer is close to sealing a loan move to Championship side West Bromwich Albion, reports Ben Jacobs. Talks are at an advanced stage for the midfielder to head to The Hawthorns before the deadline, a step designed to give him regular senior minutes.

Abraham weighs up Ipswich switch

One of the more intriguing subplots involves Tammy Abraham. The Aston Villa striker has a straight loan agreement in place between Villa and Ipswich Town, but the move now rests entirely on the player’s decision.

Abraham faces a drop down the pecking order at Villa Park once Nicolas Jackson completes his move from Chelsea. Ipswich can offer a central role and Premier League minutes. Villa can offer European ambitions and fierce competition.

Four days left. One big decision for a centre-forward, and a whole league braced for the final flurry.