Transfer News LIVE: Betting odds, market moves & deadline deal grooves

Mind your fingers - that transfer window is about to SLAM SHUT!

Oh look, it’s the Paddy Power transfer deadline day liveblog! With squillions of quid likely to be slung around like witty repartee and gratis beverages at the Power Tower Christmas party, we thought it was worth trying to keep track of what’s going on before the metaphorical double-glazing seals itself against the chill winds of profligate football frippery.

So if you’re in the mood for MORE Bruno Fernandes uncertainty – perhaps every pen in Manchester will run out of ink when he’s signing his contract – MORE Jose scrambling for anything that resembles a centre-forward – isn’t Maroune Fellaini available? – and MORE rubber willies than you can shake your own personal massive rubber willy at, then you’re in the right place.

It’s Deadline Day… and it’s LIVE!


Friday 23:03 | And that, my friends, is all she wrote

I bid you adieu after a thrilling transfer deadline day.

I’ll leave you with this brief summary of everything that happened:

  • Sweet f*ck all.

Thank you and goodnight.


Friday 22:21 | Ighalo seemingly confirmed

SSN doing their very best to make this seem like a HUGE move. “It’s happening…” they say, as if it were a 22:59:59 Real Madrid swoop for Kevin De Bruyne rather than a six-month loan deal for a journeyman striker.

Still, you take what you can get.

Friday 21:46 | How many years now since Deadline Day was actually any good?

Frankly, it seems like a lifetime ago since that whole Fernando Torres helicopter episode. There was of course the fax machine incident that scuppered David De Gea’s move away from Manchetser but if we’re being completely honest it’s all a bit shite these days.

I mean, I’m as happy as anyone that United have agreed a short-term loan with a 30-year-old who’s been playing in China, but we could do with a bit more drama. Maybe someone give Peter Odemwingie a shout and see if he’s up to anything?

Or is there maybe a car window Harry Redknapp can hang out of?


Friday 21:24 | Is there no end to the Sheffield United Deadline Day?

This time it’s a departure, with perennial enfant-terrible Ravel Morrison about to make the move to Middlesbrough. That’ll be his 10th club in 10 years, impressive. Still only 26, mind. Seems like there won’t come a time when managers stop thinking they can “turn him around”.

Meanwhile over at Old Trafford it looks more and more likely that we’re going to see a DUN DEEL for Odion Ighalo. They’d want to get a bit of a move on as we’re closing in on 90 minutes until the window SLAMS SHUT.

Would love to see some heart rate data for Jim White, tbh.


Friday 20:21 | Things are getting slightly desperate in the SSN studio

There’s not much happening. Jim White is starting to look a little pallid, and there’s only so excited Brian Swanson can get about Rangers agreeing in principal to sign Florian Kamberi from Hibs.

Thankfully, Warnock is there to warble on about how things were so much better in his day. What a day it must be for the big man, to be fair, what with it being the UK’s final day in the European Union and all that.

Find a full range of transfer specials over on paddypower.com

Friday 20:17 | Southampton lose another defender

This time it’s Maya Yoshida who departs, joining Sampdoria. The Japanese centre back has been at the club for eight years, so it’s very much the end of an era there.


Friday 19:52 | Neil Warnock says Sheffield United have had the best Deadline Day ‘of anyone’

And he’s not wrong. First came Sander Berge, then Richairo Zivkovic and now Panagiotis Retsos. Not well-known names by any means, in the UK at least, but a trio who most observers appear to feel will improve Chris Wilder’s side even further.

“All credit to the prince,” is Neil’s summary.

Fair enough, Neil.


Friday 19:35 | Neil Warnock is on Sky Sports News and Man Utd are after Ighalo

There’s hope yet for this Deadline Day. We were about to start making up rumours ourselves in order to pass the time. Neymar to Everton, anyone? But with big Neil on the couch, anything can happen.

Meanwhile, Ed and Ole Gunnar seem to be interested in loaning 30-year-old former Watford striker Odion Ighalo, who is currently on the books at Shanghai Shenhua. The Nigerian has been banging in the goals in China but in light of recent healthcare crises you wouldn’t blame him for wanting away – even if it’s only to Old Trafford.

Wolves, meanwhile, have signed Rochdale’s young maestro Luke Matheson. It’s an unusual move, considering Matheson is neither Portuguese nor represented by Jorge Mendes. A changing wind?


Friday 18:32 |  The Antonee Robinson move is off

I’m crushed for the lad. Apparently the medical went okay but further tests were necessary.

That’s disappointing, it would have been one of the stories of the day. You’d wonder whether another club might have taken note and snap him up in the remaining few hours. Stranger things have happened.


Friday 16:47 |  Some interesting DUN DEELS to look back on

Arsenal have only gone and done a transfer. To add to their signing of Pablo Marí yesterday, the Gunners have gone out and brought in Portuguese international Cedric Soares on loan from Southampton. His contract is nearly up and he’s barely played a full match in the last few seasons, so he sounds a prototypical Arsenal Deadline Day acquisition. Lovely stuff.

Man United have signed goalkeeper Nathan Bishop, who makes the step down from the unsponsored Southend United. It’s a tough break for Bishop, who’ll be disappointed to have departed Sol Campbell’s side for an inferior club.

Steven Bergwijn has also pitched up at Tottenham from PSV Eindhoven. He’s a 22-year-old tricky winger with flying feet and is under the height of 6’3, which means that Jose Mourinho will immediately drop him to train with the youth squad and play him only in Carabao Cup games. Welcome to London, Steve.

Kamil Grosicki has jumped ship from Hull to West Brom, while one of the more intriguing moves of the window is likely to see Wigan’s Antonee Robinson joining AC Milan. The Milton Keynes-born American international has completed a medical in Italy and it seems as if that one’s also set to soon be given DUN DEEL status.

Sheffield United continue to make waves by borrowing Richairo Zivkovic until the end of the season. James Chester has departed Aston Villa and, instead of spending the rest of the season fighting Premier League relegation will instead spend the rest of the season fighting Championship relegation.


Friday 15:49 |  Which shite strikers will Man United sign?

Our trading numbers-men felt they simply had to get involved in this transfer shenaniganism.

They’ve been cooped up in their odds-dungeon for so long that one hardy soul reached out to us with what they called “a market on which shite strikers Man United are going to sign”, based on the completely accurate notion that no-one decent and in their right mind is going to move to Old Trafford.

You might think we’re joking about that, but we’re not. Although, ironically, one or two of the names featured below would probably do a better job than some of the incumbents. There’s nothing you can say to convince me that Ade Akinbiyi isn’t a better finisher than Anthony Martial on current form.

And who wouldn’t want to see big Carsten Jancker lumbering around up top trying to get on the end of mishit Luke Shaw crosses? Great times. Great times.

Sign them up, Ed.

Seriously, you can actually bet on this

Friday 14:21 |  Edinson Cava-No

It’s all happening at Villa Park! Are you ready for this? James Chester is OUT and on his way to Stoke.

Okay, so not the most earth-shattering news but it’s something, innit. Plus, Stoke are on the telly this evening – I hope the fans can contain their excitement at the new signing.

Some people who don’t have to get excited are Chelsea fans, whose hopes of signing the screaming bat of goal-scoring mayhem Edinson Cavani.

The light bulb (yeah, that’s Edison, but give me a frikkin’ break pal) switched on for the Uruguayan today that playing for PSG isn’t so bad after all – or at least that’s his manager’s Thomas Tuchel’s take on things – which means he’ll be lingering around the French capital, possibly sleeping upside-down, until the summer at least.

Or maybe the French side are just trying to drive up the price at the eleventh hour – they really need the cash, like.

There has been a signing at Man United though… it’s just not the one everyone expects.

Nathan Bishop, a goalkeeper now formerly of Southend United, has left the Shrimpers for the big fish of the Premier League.

Oh yes, it’s Deadline Day alright. 

The England Under-20 international has been doing the business in League One, so seems a natural fit for United, who only seem to be able to play against League One level teams recently.

Their pursuit of a striker is still to turn up any results…


LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 10: Michy Batshuayi of Chelsea during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Chelsea FC and Lille OSC at Stamford Bridge on December 10, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Friday 11:35 | Belgian double at the Villa?

United are playing their cards close to their chest on Deadline Day around this King business – Ole’s saying they might not sign anyone else in the window *nudge, nudge, wink, wink*. Very shrewd.

King’s United connection should make this a done deal, but Bournemouth are searching around for a replacement before they ask for £55m and Ed Woodward snaps their proverbial hand off.

Teemu Pukki, Danny Ings, Odion Ighalo and Salomon Rondon have all been talked of as potential last-minute emergency moves for the Red Devils too, showing that they’re truly determined to cement their place among the mid-table dross of the Premier League.

It can only be a matter of time before Kevin Davies is asked to come out of retirement.

Other clubs looking for striking solutions include Chelsea and Spurs, with Olivier Giroud’s hopes of swapping the blue for white almost dashed by a dreaded intervention by Newcastle United – that lad’s too pretty for the Toon.

Chelsea could also be offloading Michy Batshuayi (again) according to the odds. He’s 5/4 to make a move to Aston Villa today, though that could be bumped off the agenda if another Belgian returns to Villa Park in the form of Christain Bentake, with his price currently sitting at odds-on of 5/6 to rock up in claret and blue once again.

Just think of that Carabao Cup runners-up medal, you know you want it Chris.


Find a full range of Deadline Day specials and markets over on paddypower.com

Friday 09.54 | Fit for a King

Ding-ding, round two.

The day is finally upon us, no, not deadline day or Brexit – the day we watch Man United desperately scramble around to try and sign a half-decent striker in a 24-hour window.

They’re probably going to sign no one, but this could be a busy day for their former manager Jose Mourinho, as the odds shorten on moves for Giroud and Bale. The Welsh wizard is priced at 2/1 to return having been as large as 33/1 before the window opened.

United are said to have made a last-ditch effort to sign a striker, namely Bournemouth’s Josh King – a player Alex Ferguson sold seven years ago. Solskjaer really showing he’s his own man with that move.

They’ve already had a bid rejected but are almost certain to return with a second once they hear that Barcelona have bid £45m for him.

Chelsea are said to be continuing talks to sign Dries Mertens from Napoli, while Arsenal have confirmed Cedric Soares from Southampton on loan, and Hull hot property Jarrod Bowen is poised just join Moyeseh’s happy Hammers for £20m. Lucky him.

Now, if you’ll just give me a moment, I need to dig out my golden yellow tie and loop it around my head…


Thursday 19:01 | All quiet on the transfer front

Well, after a bit of a rush in the late afternoon, it seems as if things have quietened down, at least when it comes to UK football.

The Guardian live-bloggers knocked off an hour ago so what I’d say to you, dear reader, is: “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.” That means we’re calling it quits for today, okay?

We’ll leave you with a quick summary of today’s highlights.

  • Sheffield United signed Sander Berge and their fans started posting unsually randy reactions on Twitter.
  • Manchester United signed Bruno Fernandes and all is now right with the club. They’ll soon be masters of the entire multiverse again.
  • Ianis Hagi looks as if he’s about to go on loan at Stevie G FC.
  • Big Gianluca Di Marzio seems to think Ollie Giroud is joining Lazio.
  • Dries Mertens may or may not join Chelsea.
  • In an unprecedented shock move, Wolves have signed a Portuguese player. Daniel Podence.
  • Tottenham apparently want Pierre-Emile “Niggly Foul” Hojbjerg.

With that, we bid you adieu until tomorrow.


Thursday 17:15 | The DUN DEELS are coming thick and fast now

Manchester United have only gone and trumped the Blades by announcing the signing of Bruno Fernandes, a player very few of the club’s fans have ever seen play football – but one whom every single @RedDevyl4Lyf handle on Twitter is confident will immediately return them to the top of the Premier League table.

Bantz aside, several knowledgeable pundits seem to believe Bruno is an excellent player, so we’ll watch this space.

Meanwhile, Ianis Son-Of-Gheorghe Hagi is seemingly on his way to Rangers to join the Stevie G revolution. We expect a DUN DEEL from the Gers very soon.


Thursday 17:12 | Sheffield United supporters seem very very happy

Witness:


Thursday 17:05 | DUN DEEL – Sander Berge joins Sheffield United

Genk a load of this one. Norwegian midfielder Sander Berge (21) has Put Pen To Paper and Inked A Deal (capitalisation mandatory) with those Blades of Sheffield. Light the beacons of Gondor.

And you’d have to say that’s a classy touch from SUFC’s social media admin, tapping out a few characters of Foreign Language to welcome the new man.


Thursday 16:34 | Odds, odds, odds

You might not actually be aware of this, but Paddy Power is in fact a bookmaker. No, seriously, we’re more than just your favourite #online social media and blog content-provider. Honestly.

And we just so happen to have betting markets on transfer deals that may or may not occur over the next 30 hours or so.

Here’s a few examples:

I know, right? Hard to believe you can come to us for weapons-grade sport-related banter and yet also avail of a rake of transfer market odds.

Here’s the link if you’re interested.

Thursday 16:00 | Big Ollie G off to Lazio?

If there’s one person who loves this time of year more than Jim White, it’s Gianluca Di Marzio. You’d almost wonder whether he goes into cryogenic storage for 10 months of the year before emerging fully formed and talking about Deals and Swoops every August and January.

In a quite horrific vision of the future, he’s even talking about making it a big event.

But hey, when Gianluca talks, transfer gurus sit up and take note. And at the moment the big thread on his timeline is the potential move of Chelsea’s Olivier Giroud to Lazio, a club – like Chelsea – known for its tolerant and forward-thinking standpoint on 21st-century sociocultural values.

All joking aside, are we about to see another slightly past-it Premier League star make a move to Serie A?


Thursday 15:44 | Is it even a transfer story without the phrase “audacious late move”?

It turns out Spurs have not, in fact, had quite enough of Danish midfield playmakers.

Christian Eriksen might have left but if Daniel Levy (or perhaps Jose Mourinho) has his way, the catchily named Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will soon be welcoming another son of the Scandinavian lowlands.

Can big PEH be “lured” to North London?


Thursday 15:37 | Ever dreamed of becoming a Twitter ITK?

Well, dream no more, sunshine. You too could follow in the footsteps of 19-year-old shut-ins across the globe – if you follow our handy guide.


Thursday, 13:34 | Cut and Dried?

So Edinson Cavani was supposed to be the Chelsea striking target this window now they can splash the cash again (if Roman lets them), but with the former Napoli goal-getter gambolling towards Diego Simeone’s bone-crushing embrace, the Blues have turned their attention to a current Neapolitan-based sharpshooter.

While the English top flight has seen plenty of players with verbs for first names – Grant Holt, Frank Lampard, Park Ji Sung, errr, Roger Hunt – this will surely be the first Dries should the deal go through.

And there could be a significant departure from Stamford Bridge too. It will surely break Jose Mourinho’s heart to see his beloved Willian lining out in the colours of his arch nemeses Barcelona if the mooted £20m deal goes through.

Meanwhile, in Scotland, Rangers have done a deal for Gheorghe Hagi‘s young lad, Ianis, from Genk.

Find a full range of Deadline Day specials and markets over on paddypower.com

Which gives us cause to look back at some of his old man’s greatest hits – and remember that Ireland did his team on pens in the World Cup 1990.

Ole, ole, ole, ole!

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Thursday, 12:05 | Wigan bully Milan

I could understand this if they were scrapping it out in the Challenge Cup – Milan is not a hotbed of rugby league as far as I’m aware – but it just seems downright weird that Wigan Athletic appear to be pricing AC Milan out of the market for a fullback.

Silvio Berlusconi must be spinning in his cell-rejuvenation chamber.

Still, who’d want to swap Wigan for Milan, eh?

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Find a full range of Deadline Day specials and markets over on paddypower.com

Thursday, 10:44 | Absolute stunner from Wolves!

On foot of this morning’s signing of Portuguese winger Daniel Podence from Olympiakos for a fee in the region of £17m, we’re hearing reports that Jorge Mendes has lined up a move for the entire population of Portuguese city Coimbra to up sticks and move to the English Midlands before the 11pm close of the window tomorrow night.

With the Wanderers increasing dependence on Portuguese players and coaching staff for their Premier League endeavours, it seems only logical that the support base be replaced with Iberian imports too.

A fee is yet to be agreed, but talks of a swap deal for the population of Wolverhampton are thought to be fanciful at this stage, with the municipal authority in Portugal thought to be “cool on the idea”.

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Sporting’s Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes (R) controls the ball during the Portugal’s Candido de Oliveira Super Cup final football match between SL Benfica and Sporting CP at the Algarve stadium in Faro on August 4, 2019. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP) (Photo credit should read PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)

Get the very latest football transfer odds on PaddyPower.com

Thursday, 09:52 | Overnight update

Right, that’s enough of that, I’m off for a fry.

Okay, so I better say something here anyway.

In case you’ve been walled inside a cave on an isolated outcrop in the Atlantic for the last six months or so, there’s a Portuguese midfielder called Bruno Fernandes and he’s good at scoring goals against Maritimo and Braga, but poor old Ed Woodward wasn’t so sure he could do the same in the Premier League.

Well, something (desperation, it’s desperation) has wiped away those doubts – and about £68million off United’s bank balance – and the move has been confirmed by United, with just I’s to be dotted and T’s to be crossed. Ed could still screw that up, but it should be plain sailing from here.

Elsewhere, we’re still marvelling at the cojones of Everton rejecting an £85million bid for one of their strikers, unbelievably.

And from Barcelona too.

My sources tell me they’ll hold on to Richarlison at all costs – including his outrage at being denied the opportunity to play for the Catalans – but would be willing to part with another member of their strike force.

Big Dunc is available, at a nominal fee, for motivational speeches, intensive physical work-outs and naked wrestling in the pouring rain through the winter months should the Spaniards need some character-building training sessions.

And if they demur, Spurs are poised to swoop for the Scotsman’s unique methods of encouragement…

More as we get it.

Find a full range of Deadline Day specials and markets over on paddypower.com