Tottenham make a statement of intent

– Tottenham led the way on a busy final day of the Premier League transfer window with deals for Giovani Lo Celso (right) and Ryan Sessegnon, while Arsenal strengthened their defence with the signings of Kieran Tierney and David Luiz.

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 £74 million.

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 move permanent next summer.

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

“I think it is the right time for me to come here,” said Sessegnon. “It’s a young, eager, exciting team for me to join and I think this team is not far off winning big things in the future.”

However, a sensational swoop for Juventus’ Paulo Dybala broke down, leaving Spurs short on support for Harry Kane up front.

Arsenal were 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.

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

Arsenal then secured some much-needed cover at centre-back in an £8 million deal for Luiz from Chelsea.

The Gunners clawed back that deadline day spend after agreeing a £35m deal to sell Nigerian striker Alex Iwobi to Everton.

Iwobi is Everton’s seventh signing following goalkeeper Jonas Lossl, right-back Djibril Sidibe, midfielders Andre Gomes, Fabian Delph and Jean-Philippe Gbamin, and striker Moise Kean. – AFP