Everton sign Alex Iwobi for £35m, Lukaku, Sessegnon, Celso also move

Everton yesterday agreed a £35 million signing of Alex Iwobi
from Arsenal in one of the most significant late moves of deadline
day.

Manager Marco Silva was desperate for another center-half and
wide attacker before the transfer window closed. The move for Iwobi
– who shook hands on a five-year contract – improves Silva’s
attacking options, but he looks worrying short of cover in defense
going into the new season.

A fresh move for Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha never
materialised, and nor – according to the club – was it ever going
to. Everton insists they made only one bid for the winger, that of
£52 million on July 28.

Zaha was never the highest priority on the Goodison agenda –
valued well beyond what the Merseysiders’ were prepared to pay –
making his decision to hand in a transfer request earlier this week
ill-advised.

Tottenham also made the headlines on a busy final day of the
Premier League transfer window with deals for Giovani lo Celso and
Ryan Sessegnon, while Arsenal strengthened their defense with the
signing of David Luiz and Kieran Tierney.

Manchester United striker, Romelu Lukaku’s prolonged transfer to
Inter Milan was also completed after the clubs reportedly agreed on
a deal that could rise to 80 million euros (£74 million, 90 million
dollars). Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has been under pressure from
manager Mauricio Pochettino to build on the progress made on and
off the field as Tottenham moved into a new 62,000-capacity stadium
and reached the Champions League final last season.

After the club-record signing of French international
midfielder, Tanguy Ndombele, the signings of Lo Celso and Sessegnon
add some much-needed depth to a Spurs squad that had previously
gone 18 months without a new recruit.

Argentine international midfielder Lo Celso has joined on a
season-long loan deal from Real Betis with an option to make the
transfer permanent next summer.

England under-21 international Sessegnon joins from Fulham in a
£25 million deal that could rise to £30 million in
performance-related add-ons on a six-year contract.

However, a sensational swoop for Paulo Dybala broke down with
Juventus unwilling to let the Argentine leave without an adequate
replacement, having missed out on Lukaku.

Arsenal was badly in need of defensive recruits to shore up a
backline that conceded 51 Premier League goals last season to miss
out on Champions League football for a third straight year.

Read More: Lukaku completes move to Inter Milan from Man
United

The Londoners long-standing interest in Tierney was finally
given the green light when the payment structure of a 25-million
pounds move was agreed with Celtic.

Manchester City and Liverpool are expected to battle for the
Premier League title once more but were not busy on deadline
day.

City brought in veteran goalkeeper Scott Carson on loan from
Derby as back-up to Ederson and Claudio Bravo after the signings of
Rodri, Angelino and Joao Cancelo earlier in the window.

Liverpool made just three low-key additions in teenagers Sepp
van den Berg and Harvey Elliott and back-up goalkeeper Adrian over
the course of the summer.

Outside the top six, Watford broke their transfer record to
bring in Senegal international Ismaila Sarr for a reported 35
million euros from Rennes.

Brighton bolstered their midfield options with the loan signing
of Australian international Aaron Mooy.

Former England international Andy Carroll returned to Newcastle
on a free transfer from West Ham, while the Magpies also secured
Swedish defender Emil Krafth.

Leicester is also set to use some of the £80 million pounds they
received from Manchester United for Harry Maguire on Sampdoria
midfielder Dennis Praet for 20 million euros. And Burnley secured
the services of Danny Drinkwater on loan from Chelsea until
January.

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