SPURS SEAL SWOOP FOR STRIKER LLORENTE
TOTTENHAM BAG SWANSEA STRIKER AND PSG RIGHT-BACK, AS SANCHEZ, VAN DIJK STAY PUT
Tottenham ended deadline day with a flourish by completing the signing of striker Fernando Llorente from Swansea.
The 32-year-old Spaniard, who was also a reported target for Chelsea, sealed a move to north London after agreeing a two-year contract.
Spurs had earlier landed £23million Ivorian defender Serge Aurier from Paris St Germain on a five-year deal.
Llorente is Mauricio Pochettino’s fifth signing of the summer following Juan Foyth, Davinson Sanchez and Paulo Gazzaniga.
He is likely to be predominantly used as back-up to England striker Harry Kane.
Llorente enthused: “I’m very, very happy to join Tottenham, an amazing club.
“I can only say that I have come here to help Tottenham to win titles. I am 32 but I think I can learn a lot from Harry Kane and the other players.”
Players not moving turned out to be the biggest theme of the day with Alexis Sanchez and Virgil van Dijk among those staying at their clubs, whether they liked it or not.
Arsenal failed to complete the signing of Monaco’s Thomas Lemar, despite offering a reported £92million.
It is understood the Gunners made a late push to sign Lemar after Manchester City made them an improved offer for Chile forward Sanchez.
But the breakdown of Arsenal’s move for the France international – who scored twice against Holland on Thursday night – meant Sanchez stays put at the Emirates Stadium going into the final year of his contract.
Dutch defender Van Dijk, a target for Liverpool who has been angling for a move for much of the summer, is also going nowhere after Southampton held firm on their stance that he was not for sale.
The big move of the day was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s switch from Arsenal to Liverpool for £35m.
The 24-year-old England midfielder has agreed a longterm contract, understood to be five years, at Anfield.
Burnley secured Huddersfield striker Nahki Wells for an undisclosed fee, on a three-year deal.
Watford signed two defenders – Udinese centreback Molla Wague on a season-long loan and Sporting Lisbon left-back Marvin Zeegelaar on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
Swansea landed Renato Sanches, the Portugal midfielder, on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich and resigned striker Wilfried Bony from Manchester City after having a £12m bid accepted.
Everton landed Hajduk Split forward Nikola Vlasic on a five-year contract.
Brighton defender Ezequiel Schelotto from Sporting Lisbon for an undisclosed fee.