Deadline day round-up: Chelsea fail in late bid to sign Victor Osimhen

Raheem Sterling, who has agreed the deal and arrived at Arsenal for a medical late into the evening, will re-connect with his former Manchester City manager, Mikel Arteta.

STAYING PUT: Victor Osimhen is staying at Napoli.

Chelsea have been the biggest and craziest story of the summer, so a failed late bid to sign Victor Osimhen and a last gasp effort to shift Raheem Sterling to Arsenal and replace him with Jadon Sancho, only served to underline the fact.

In a dramatic twist to the end of deadline day, Chelsea finally gave up on signing Napoli striker Osimhen after the player’s camp ignored a new offer just 20 minutes before the 11pm deadline.

But a day-long effort to move on Sterling – the man they signed for more than €56m for from Manchester City in 2022 – looks on, even if it may need a deal sheet to take it beyond the cut-off time.

Sterling, who has agreed the deal and arrived at Arsenal for a medical late into the evening, will re-connect with his former Manchester City manager, Mikel Arteta, in north London and provide much-needed back-up for Bukayo Saka who suffered from being played too often in the title race last season.

It is a good piece of business for Arsenal but a vital one for Chelsea who spent more than €230m in the window, building up a bloated squad of 45 players after making 12 signings (not including those on deadline day).

The fact they immediately tried to replace Sterling with United winger Sancho, then, on a loan with a view to buy, is perhaps the surprising part. Another deal that still hangs in the balance even after the window shut.

Those deals emphasise just how complicated the market has become since the arrival of the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR) and recent points deductions for those who breach them – including Everton and Nottingham Forest.

It means clubs need to sell just as much as they need to buy. Manchester United, so often vilified for their haphazard transfer strategy, were one of the clubs who played it far better - bringing in Manuel Ugarte from PSG for up to €60m on deadline day, hours after selling fans’ favourite Scott McTominay to Napoli for €35m.

It was a switch that manager Erik ten Hag described as ‘bitter-sweet’ but having already signed Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui it has nevertheless been a successful window for the club’s new regime under Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS group.

It means they have strengthened in every key area identified in a summer investigation into player recruitment by the new regime. Even so, losing a homegrown player isn’t easy.

Ten Hag said: "I'm happy for Scott but my feelings are mixed because I would prefer not to lose him. He is Man United in every way.

"Unfortunately, it is the rules. You have to do sales and then homegrown players bring more value."

The pain was eased by the arrival of Ugarte for around €60m, a man described by some as a ‘new Roy Keane’. Ugarte has signed a contract until June 2029, with the option to extend for a further year.

"It is an incredible feeling to join a club of this magnitude. One that is admired all around the world," he said.

"The project that the football leadership discussed with me is extremely exciting. Manchester United is an ambitious club and I am an ambitious player.

"I’m someone who is so determined to succeed; I will sacrifice and give everything for my teammates. Together we will fight to win trophies and reach the level where this club needs to be."

Brentford, meanwhile, let out a sigh of relief after accepting an €47m offer from Saudi club Al Ahli to sell striker Ivan Toney, a player they previously rated at more than €100m Euros.

They agreed a fee with the Saudis, just in time for Toney to have a medical in London, although as the Saudi window is open for a few more days there will be nerves in west London until it is finally ratified.

Arsenal were another to sell on deadline day, agreeing to send second-choice goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to Southampton for €21m and also sending Eddie Nketiah to Crystal Palace for €30m – whilst West Ham continued the theme by allowing James Ward-Prowse to move to Nottingham Forest.

Liverpool, who did their business ahead of deadline day by bringing in Federico Chiesa from Juventus, opted to stay quiet in the January mayhem and City, too, were happy with what they have, opting not to replace striker Julian Alvarez after he was allowed to leave for Atletico Madrid.

It was only Newcastle and Chelsea who found that not every club has a price - with Crystal Palace refusing to sell defender Marc Guehi despite a late bid, and the Blues ultimately missing out on Osimhen.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said: "The PSR situation, available funds, attracting the right players and the players that can make a difference, that is such a delicate spot for us. We have got to try and hit it right and if we don't then probably doing nothing, as frustrating as that is, is probably the best option."