The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Everton sign three in deadline day deals
Tottenham fail to sign anyone in summer window
Everton’s flurry of activity late in the transfer window was rewarded with three new signings.
But not every club was quite as prolific as Tottenham became the first side in Premier League history not to make a summer signing since the transfer window’s inception in 2003.
The Toffees’ long-term defensive target Yerry Mina signed a five-year contract and he was joined at Goodison Park by Barcelona team-mate Andre Gomes, with the midfielder arriving on loan.
Winger Bernard, a free agent after his contract expired at Shakhtar Donetsk, had kicked things off after finalising a four-year contract late yesterday afternoon.
The Toffees will pay £28.5 million (£27.2m up front with a further £1.3m in add-ons) for Colombia centre-back Mina – Gomes’ loan fee is £2m – which takes their spending in the last three transfer windows to £271m.
“It is important that the club want to fight for something. This is why I am here,” said Mina.
“I have spoken a lot to the coach and I know his passion for Everton and determination to be successful. I am also determined to do my best for Everton.”
Everton’s business was exceeded by Fulham, who became the first promoted team to spend more than £100m in a summer, with five arrivals on deadline day taking their recruitment to 12 for the window.
Manchester United defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Atletico Madrid forward Luciano Vietto and Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio Rico all joined on season-long loans, with Marseille’s Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa signing for five years and Bristol City left-back Joe Bryan agreeing a four-year permanent contract.
Liverpool striker Danny Ings secured a return to home town club Southampton, initially on loan ahead of an £18m permanent transfer which becomes effective on July 1.
Chelsea finalised their business with Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic arriving on loan, a day after the club paid a £71.2m world-record fee for a goalkeeper to bring in Atletic Bilbao’s Kepa Arrizabalaga to replace Thibaut Courtois, who completed his move to the Bernabeu after signing a six-year contract.
Kepa is not concerned by his price tag, telling a press conference: “It’s something I don’t think about.
“There won’t be additional pressure on me. Chelsea have paid a great debt to take me in. I will put everything into repaying the trust they have put into me.”
Manchester United finished the day empty-handed, while tomorrow night’s opponents Leicester made defensive reinforcements, signing 21-year-old Croatia international Filip Benkovic from Dinamo Zagreb and Freiburg’s Turkey international Caglar Soyuncu, both on five-year contracts.
Manchester City brought in Daniel Arzani from their partner club Melbourne City, with the 19-year-old Australia international poised to be sent out on loan, possibly to Celtic.
West Ham signed forward Lucas Perez from Arsenal on a three-year deal and late on Carlos Sanchez joined from Fiorentina. The Hammers offloaded Domingos Quina to Watford on a fouryear deal.
Wolves secured Belgium defender Leander Dendoncker from Anderlecht, initially on a season-long loan deal which will become permanent next summer.
Huddersfield brought in Montpellier’s Belgium Under-21 winger Isaac Mbenza on a season-long loan, with the option of making the move permanent at the end of the campaign.
Brighton signed defender Dan Burn from Wigan – then immediately loaned him back to the Latics for the first half of the season – midfielder Peter Gwargis from Swedish second-tier side Jonkopings Sodra and former Barcelona and Inter Milan full-back Martin Montoya from Valencia.
Newcomers Cardiff signed Real Betis midfielder Victor Camarasa and Bournemouth’s Harry Arter, both on loan, while a late piece of business for Newcastle saw Federico Fernandez arrive on a two-year contract from Swansea, who also loaned Jordan Ayew to Crystal Palace.
Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish did not get his move on deadline day as interest from Tottenham failed to materialise into anything more.