Chelsea appear to be ready to go back in for Benfica's World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez before Tuesday's deadline; having been rebuffed in their latest attempts to sign Moises Caicedo, will Arsenal table an improved offer to Brighton?
Tuesday 31 January 2023 15:11, UK
We are into the final hours of the January transfer window, so which deals will emerge out of nowhere and which saga will finally be put to bed between now and 11pm on Tuesday night?
Premier League clubs at both ends of the table will be scrambling for some last-minute business to ensure their chances of success and survival are enhanced for the second half of the campaign.
Sky Sports runs through the transfers that could still happen in the final 24 hours.
Chelsea are close to agreeing a deal for Benfica's Enzo Fernandez after making a £105.6m bid - the same value as the midfielder's release clause.
Todd Boehly's Blues want to structure that release clause fee in instalments, as paying in one go has Financial Fair Play and tax implications.
Chelsea have been in talks to sign the Argentina World Cup winner throughout this month but Benfica had refused to do business unless the Blues pay the €120m (£105.6m) release clause.
Chelsea had offered players on loan and on permanent deals but the Portuguese side refused to accept anything except the release clause figure.
The midfielder has once again told Benfica that he wants to join Chelsea. If Fernandez does move to Stamford Bridge, he would surpass the £100m Manchester City paid for Jack Grealish from Aston Villa 18 months ago, making him the most expensive Premier League signing ever.
Chelsea have also tried to sign Brighton's Moises Caicedo and Everton's Amadou Onana this month to help bolster their midfield options. The west London club also have a number of players that could leave before the deadline including Hakim Ziyech.
Either Conor Gallaher or Ruben Loftus Cheek could also go if Enzo comes in.
Arsenal remain in the market to strengthen in the remaining hours of the window. Midfield is the primary focus after seeing two bids rejected by Brighton for Moises Caicedo, the latest totalling £70m.
The feeling is Brighton would have to change their stance for Arsenal to even consider going back in for the player.
Mikel Arteta's side had their initial £60m offer for Caicedo rejected, which prompted the Ecuador international to plead with Brighton to let him leave and join the Premier League leaders in a statement on social media.
Thomas Partey went off with a rib injury in the FA Cup defeat at Manchester City. But it's thought the problem is not a serious one and it's hoped he will be back soon.
Still no confirmation on how long Mohamed Elneny's knee injury will keep him out.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta wants to add to his squad before the end of the window - but is satisfied with his existing options if nothing was to materialise.
Arsenal have always maintained they will only go in to the market if the right player becomes available at the right price.
As it stands, there have been no official offers for Real Vallodolid right-back Ivan Fresneda. Representatives of the player have been approached by 10 top European clubs about a potential deal.
It is thought Fresneda is open to moving in this window and would be happy to stay on loan at Vallodolid for the rest of the season. It is understood the La Liga club want €15m for the player.
Borussia Dortmund are expected to make a formal offer but Arsenal are considering their next move.
Fresneda wants to go somewhere where he will be given first-team opportunities, but the player wasn't in the squad for Sunday's game against Valencia.
A source has told Sky Sports News he was left out as the club are expecting a number of formal offers before the window closes.
Newcastle scouted him on a number of occasions - but have now agreed a deal with West Ham for Harrison Ashby.
Could Manchester United captain Harry Maguire be on his way out of Old Trafford? The England centre-back is being monitored by Inter Milan, who are set to lose Milan Skriniar when his contract expires at the end of the season.
The club are currently locked in negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain over a last-minute transfer this month in order to recoup a fee - which could pave the way for Maguire's hasty exit as a replacement.
Maguire reiterated his desire to reclaim a regular starting spot in the team's defence after helping his side reach the fifth round of the FA Cup.
The win over Reading was Maguire's first start since the Carabao Cup victory over Charlton on January 10 and he's begun just four Premier League games this season after slipping down the pecking order at Old Trafford.
"I'm 29 years old and I haven't really been in this position in my career," he told ITV. "It's a position I don't want to get used to."
Manchester United forward Anthony Elanga is reportedly in demand.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that United have received 10 proposals to take the fringe player on loan this month. One of them is expected to be Everton, who are seeking a replacement for Anthony Gordon following his £45m move to Newcastle.
Sky Sports News reporter Dharmesh Sheth told the Transfer Show late last week: "There has been tentative interest in loan deals away from Old Trafford for the forwards Anthony Elanga and Facundo Pellistri.
"I'm told United would be open to loan offers for them, but only if it suited the club and if it aided the development of the players.
"I'm told the clubs that have come in for these players are not the clubs Manchester United would want them to go to for their development. We've not been given any names for absolute certainty."
Sheffield United forward Iliman Ndiaye has rejected an offer to join Everton, according to L'Equipe. The French newspaper claim Everton have bid €23m (£20.2m) for the Blades attacker, but will Everton come back in with an improved offer?
Southampton have now been agreed a deal of £22m (€25m) plus bonuses to sign Kamaldeen Sulemana from Rennes.
It means it will be a club-record if bonuses are met.
The previous record was the £22m they committed to signing Danny Ings from Liverpool in 2019.
Leicester City haven't given up hope of signing Leeds winger Jack Harrison in the final few hours of this window - but it looks increasingly likely he will stay at Elland Road.
Leicester's priority is to bring in a new CB before the deadline, and they're focussing on a £15m deal for Stoke's Harry Souttar.
Sky Sports News has been told that, with Financial Fair Play restrictions, Leicester would then struggle to pay the £25m Leeds would want for Harrison.
And whilst a loan deal might be an option, it's thought Leeds would be loath to allow Harrison to join a rival at the bottom end of the Premier League table, and Harrison himself is keen to stay at Elland Road.
Whether there is an approach from another Premier League club in the final hours of the window remains to be seen.
Leeds manager Jesse Marsch was asked about the in-demand midfielder after his goal in their FA Cup win at Accrington on Saturday, and said: "All I will say is that I really like Jack.
"Firstly as a person, one of the most incredible people I've ever coached. We like him here, we want to keep him and he's performing really well."
Sander Berge could be on his way out at Sheffield United after reportedly receiving interest from Premier League clubs.
The Norway international was left out of the Blades' squad against Wrexham in the FA Cup on Sunday and manager Paul Heckingbottom revealed post-match he was told to omit the midfielder.
Fulham are said to be one of the interested parties, with other reports suggesting Chelsea and Newcastle are also keen.
The Norwegian is on the shortlist of targets Eddie Howe and the club are considering as replacement for Jonjo Shelvey, who is set to join Nottingham Forest.
There seems to be no end to Nottingham Forest's list of incoming transfers and Steve Cooper's side could make their 25th signing of the season.
Forest added Chris Wood to their ranks earlier in the month, with the striker arriving on loan from Newcastle and Shelvey could be joining him.
Injuries have limited Shelvey's involvement with the high-flying Magpies this season, but he looks likely to swap Newcastle for Nottingham.
Nottingham Forest have hit a snag in their attempt to sign three-time Champions League winning goalkeeper Kaylor Navas from PSG.
Forest were in advanced talks to sign Navas, who was keen on a move to the Premier League having not played a single game in Ligue 1 this season.
But the finances of the deal currently look to be insurmountable from Forest's perspective.
Forest are now turning their attentions to finding another goalkeeper, in the final hours of this window.
Dean Henderson, currently on loan at the City Ground from Manchester United, is out for around a fortnight with a thigh muscle injury, leaving Wayne Hennessey as Forest's only fit, senior keeper.
Sky Sports News has been told that, with deals progressing for Felipe and Jonjo Shelvey, manager Steve Cooper sees signing another keeper as his top priority.
Pedro Porro was flying into London on Monday night and is scheduled to undergo his Tottenham medical on Deadline Day.
The deal is now close to being finalised after a day of intensive talks. There is growing optimism this transfer will be completed before the deadline for a fee in excess of £39m (€45m).
Spurs are believed to be making structured payments. They are also giving up 15 per cent of their sell-on clause for Marcus Edwards.
Sporting Lisbon had been interested in making Hector Bellerin their replacement for Porro, but the former Arsenal defender could yet make the move.
Who will be on the move this winter? The January transfer window closes at 11pm on Tuesday January 31, 2023.
Keep up-to-date with all the latest transfer news and rumours in our dedicated Transfer Centre blog on Sky Sports' digital platforms. You can also catch up with the ins, outs and analysis on Sky Sports News.
