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Tottenham, Arsenal splash cash on Premier League deadline day
LONDON, Aug 9, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Tottenham led the way on a busy final day
of the Premier League transfer window with deals for Giovani Lo Celso 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 80 million euros (o74 million, $90 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 transfer permanent next
summer.
England under-21 international Sessegnon joins from Fulham in a o25
million deal that could rise to o30 million 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 bolster defence –
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 o25-million move was agreed with
Celtic.
“I’ve lived my dream and I’ve loved every single minute of it,” said
Tierney of leaving his boyhood club. “Now I just feel was the right time to
take a step on. I feel this is a great opportunity for me.”
Arsenal then secured some much-needed cover at centre-back in an o8
million deal for Luiz.
“David has huge experience and I look forward to working with him again.
He is a well known player and adds to our defensive strength,” said Arsenal
boss Unai Emery.
The Gunners clawed back that deadline day spend after agreeing a o35
million deal to sell Nigerian international striker Alex Iwobi to Everton.
Iwobi is Everton’s seventh signing of the summer following goalkeeper
Jonas Lossl, right-back Djibril Sidibe, midfielders Andre Gomes, Fabian Delph
and Jean-Philippe Gbamin, and striker Moise Kean.
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.
Wilfried Zaha’s hopes of a move from Crystal Palace were snubbed as
Everton could not match the London club’s asking price.
“It’s been well documented that he wanted to leave, but it has not worked
out for him,” admitted Palace manager Roy Hodgson.
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 used some of the o80 million 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.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0909 hrs