The coronavirus pandemic made the transfer market unlike any before it, but there was still plenty of action on Deadline Day. With the window closed across the major leagues in Europe, you can check out the latest major completed transfers across the globe.
TOP STORY: PSG targeting Ronaldo as Mbappe replacement
Paris Saint-Germain have eyes for Cristiano Ronaldo, according to Calciomercato. There are two problems facing the French champions, however... the player doesn't want to leave, and Juventus don't want to let him go.
While taking Ronaldo's salary off the books would be advantageous for Juve, and Kylian Mbappe continues to be linked with a move away from Paris next summer, it would appear as though PSG have their work cut out to land one of Europe's top talents.
Mbappe remains a long-term target for Real Madrid, Ronaldo's former club, with two sharing a warm embrace following Sunday's Nations League scoreless draw between Portugal and France at Stade de France.
Les Parisiens have reportedly made contact with Juventus about Ronaldo in the summer, with the Bianconeri replying that he wasn't available to be moved.
PSG were looking to explore the option of a cheeky bid knowing that Juve are one of many clubs hamstrung financially by the effects of COVID-19.
However, Juve continue to state that their main man is going nowhere, while Ronaldo himself appears to want to stay in Italy.
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16.32 BST: Tottenham's pursuit of Swansea defender Joe Rodon is set to go right up to the wire, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Rodon, 22, has emerged as a target for Spurs late in the transfer window, which remains open for moves between clubs in the UK until Oct. 16.
However, despite the window closing almost two weeks later than that governing moves between European clubs, the Rodon deal has not progresses due to the player's involvement with wales over the international break.
The Telegraph report says that Spurs will step up talks in the hope of securing a third defensive reinforcement, following the signings of right-back Matt Doherty and left-back Sergio Regiulon.
15.49 BST: Lyon forward Memphis Depay has not ruled out making a mid-season move to Barcelona after his proposed transfer in the summer fell through.
Depay had been a target for new Barca coach Ronald Koeman after the two had wor4ked together for the Dutch national team, but the 26-year-old has not entered the final season of his contract at Lyon.
"We'll see what happens," Depay told Dutch newspaper AD. "We'll be in January soon. We'll have to wait and see how things go. It's not that I'm definitely leaving, but there will probably be clubs [after me] soon. I'm 26 and almost a free agent, so you can expect clubs to be interested, right?"
Asked specifically about the deal transfer not getting completed, Depay added: "Everything was done, really. Some regulations stopped it from being completed. I was waiting for the green light, but I kept training. It's not that I had a phone in my tracksuit on the training pitch. Everything happens for a reason."
14.55 BST: West Ham United could pull off a late transfer window coup before the domestic deadline on Oct. 16 as they are close to agreeing a free for Brentford forward Said Benrahma, the Guardian reports.
Benrahma, 25, scored 17 league goals last season as Brentford reached the playoff final, only to lose out on promotion to west London rivals Fulham at Wembley.
The Guardian reports that the Algeria international is valued at around £25m by Brentford, although West Ham are hopeful of sealing a transfer by offering an initial £20m fee and loading the deal with add-ons.
West Ham reportedly turned to Benrahma after failing in a bid to sign Josh King from Bournemouth following their relegation to the Championship.
14.04 BST: Manchester City were willing to sell defender Eric Garcia to Barcelona if the Spanish club had met their valuation of him, the club's football operations officer has confirmed.
"Eric has developed into an important player for us and played some important games, especially in the last few months -- semifinals of the FA Cup, quarterfinals of the Champions League," Omar Berrada is quoted as saying by the Manchester Evening News.
"He's become a top young centre-back who Pep trusts, and we feel that keeping him this season was worth more than what we were offered for him. We believe that he can add depth to the squad, and can be important in important games.
Barca's bid of £18m was just £20m short of the fee City wanted but in the end Garcia, 19, remained at the Etihad.
"I can't comment on other clubs' decisions and business, Berrada added. "We had a conversation with Barcelona about Eric Garcia. We were very clear from the outset of what we felt his valuation was and they weren't able or willing to meet it so our decision was to keep him. We think he will be important for us this season."
13.19 BST: La Liga president Javier Tebas is hopeful that Barcelona captain Lionel Messi will continue playing in Spain beyond June 2021, when his contract expires.
Messi, 33, had wanted to leave Barca in August after growing increasingly unhappy at how the club was being managed but was forced to make a U-turn when the Catalan giants demanded his €700m release clause.
"Messi? I hope he will always stay in La Liga," Tebas added. "I don't know if from a personal standpoint he is better off leaving, certainly on the professional side he could earn even more, but considering how well he feels in Barcelona."
La Liga lost Cristiano Ronaldo two years ago when the Portugal forward left Real Madrid to sign for Juventus in a €100m transfer while in the summer of 2017, Neymar left Barcelona to join Paris Saint-Germain in a world record €222m transfer.
"Cristiano Ronaldo left two years ago but we didn't notice from an economic point of view," Tebas told Gazzetta dello Sport. "And we have always been preparing for the release of our best talents, for the generational change.
"It has already happened with Neymar and with Cristiano. We have signed contracts already for the next four years and no one has complained if Ney or Ronaldo left, they didn't ask for their money back.
"On the contrary, we have grown in the sale of rights. Because there are other factors that matter, besides the names of the players. We have such stability that we continue calmly on our path."
12.36 BST: Despite the financial downturn across the globe, clubs in Europe's top five leagues still spent over €4.6 billion in the summer window -- a drop of 43% when compared with 2019. And as the economic reality of COVID-19 hits hard in the next few months, free transfers will become even more important.
Some big-name players including Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Mesut Ozil will be available on a free transfer in 2021 -- and can start to negotiate with other clubs in January -- if they don't put pen to paper soon.
11.45 BST: A number of Manchester United players have expressed their disappointment at the treatment of goalkeeper Sergio Romero, sources have told ESPN's Rob Dawson.
Romero has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford after the return of Dean Henderson but was priced out of a move away on deadline day because of United's insistence on a fee of around £10m.
The 33-year-old, a popular member of the squad, is set to return to Manchester after a break in Argentina but is likely to find no prospect of first team football until at least January while No.1 David De Gea and Henderson share duties in the Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup.
It comes just months after manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer surprised the United dressing room by omitting Romero from the FA Cup semifinal against Chelsea and Europa League semifinal against Sevilla last season, despite picking the Argentina international for the majority of games in both competitions until that point.
Romero has also been left out of this Champions League squad after Solskjaer chose 37-year-old Lee Grant as the third goalkeeper in the list submitted to UEFA. It has led members of United's dressing room to express their sympathy with Romero's situation with many to feel he has been unfairly frozen out after five years of service.
Everton were keen to sign Romero on deadline day but were unwilling to match United's asking price and instead opted for Sweden international Robin Olsen on a season-long loan deal from AS Roma to provide competition for first-choice Jordan Pickford.
11.08 BST: Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has insisted that he will remain at the club for as long as he is considered a key player.
The Croatia international is quoted by Marca as saying: "It's the same as with the national team. I go from match to match and then we'll see what happens.
"Of course I'd like to stay at Real Madrid. However, I am aware that I am at a certain age and the club must do the best for everyone. As long as I feel that I am an important part of Real Madrid, I would like to stay. When that is no longer the case, I will look for new challenges". However, this issue is not yet on the agenda."
Modric, 35, has been an integral part of the club's success over the past decade since joining from Tottenham in 2012, winning four Champions Leagues and two La Liga titles.
10.24 BST: Bayern Munich defender David Alaba could become a free agent in 2021 when his current deal at the Allianz Arena is set to expire.
However, the Austria international sent positive signals during the international break when he told reporters that: "Munich has been my home for 12 years and I feel great there."
Contract talks between Alaba, 28, and the club have been stalling and Bayern do not want to make any financial adjustment to the offer which has been on the table for a while.
Alaba has been linked with a number of Europe's top clubs in recent weeks (see Paper Talk section below) as his contract impasse stretched beyond the summer and into the new season.
09.31 BST: Barcelona remain confident that goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will sign a new contract, according to Marca.
The Spanish outlet reports that ter Stegen's wage demands of €18m a year have proved to be a sticking point, but the two parties have been working on a way to structure a new deal.
Germany international ter Stegen's current contract expires in 2022, but Barca are keen to get the 28-year-old to commit his long-term future to the club before he enters the final year of his deal.
08.59 BST: Brazilian forward Robinho has signed a five-month contract with former club Santos where he will play for less than $75 a week.
The 36-year-old, without a club since helping Turkish side İstanbul Basaksehir win the club's first Super Lig title last season, now begins his third stint with Santos after signing a deal worth $271 (R$1,500) a month.
"Santos FC is going through a difficult financial time," former Real Madrid and Manchester City player Robinho said. "So this is the time for those who can do something. I want to help the club that always gave me everything.
"Santos FC has already done a lot for me and this return is still little. I will play for a minimum wage, but the most important thing is to be here. I am well physically and mentally, obviously there is still a little bit of rhythm, but that over time we will gradually evolve."
08.27 BST: Ryan Giggs could put him in contention for the Manchester United hotseat has strengthened his managerial credentials with Wales and a successful European Championship, former United striker Mark Hughes has said.
Giggs, 46, won 13 league titles and two Champions League crowns during a 24-year spell at United and was named the club's player-coach towards the end of his career. He took over as interim player-manager after David Moyes was sacked and also served as an assistant to Louis van Gaal when the Dutchman was appointed in 2014.
Giggs left United after the appointment of Jose Mourinho in 2016 and secured his first managerial role with Wales two years later, guiding them to Euro 2020.
"I think Ryan is in a good place in his management career," Hughes, who managed Giggs when he was Wales boss, told the BBC. "He is on an upward trend.
"He is probably more likely to get an opportunity at United than he was when Van Gaal left in 2016.
"Maybe they felt his management CV wasn't strong enough at that point, but if he goes to the European Championship and does well, then there's no reason why he won't be in the frame."
- Insider Notebook: Man United transfers special
08.00 BST: Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng has yet to decide what his next move will be as he approaches a decade at the club.
Despite several ups and downs in recent years, Boateng remains an important part of Bayern's defence under coach Hansi Flick. However, his contract is set to expire next summer, and he will turn 33 in September 2021.
Having been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2018 and Juventus last year, Boateng had a quiet summer on the transfer front this year and became one of the few players to win the Treble twice.
"In the end, I am delighted to still be at FC Bayern," Boateng told kicker, not ruling out signing a new deal at the club. "I can imagine that. It's a lot of fun with Hansi Flick as a coach and this squad."
But his time at Bayern will eventually come to an end one day, and he told kicker that he could consider moving to MLS once this happens.
"Another culture," he said when asked about what could thrill him after Bayern. "I like to get to know something new and must not always be at the same place. USA, Asia or maybe another European country. We'll see about that."
PAPER TALK (by Nick Judd): Three more clubs join race for Alaba
After reporting on Sunday that Juventus were hoping to secure the signature of Bayern Munich defender David Alaba in January, three other clubs also like the prospect of adding his experience to their ranks in the next transfer window, and have seemingly joined the race for his services.
According to German platform Sport1, Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid could battle it out alongside the Bianconeri for the Austrian's expertise.
Chelsea have had an expensive summer transfer window but know they still need to add further protection to their back line, while Barca and Real would both be interested in gaining a wealth of experience without having to pay an astronomical transfer fee.
Alaba's contract ends in the summer and so is free to talk to other clubs in January, which has several clubs salivating. The 28-year old appears unwilling to commit to a new contract with the German champions, and so he could make another club very happy, should he decide for a change of scenery next year.
Ozil not keen on Saudi move
Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr have bid £5m for Arsenal's Mesut Ozil, but the German is not keen on a move to the Middle East.
This is according to Argentine TV channel TyC Sports, who are reporting that though the Asian club have offered Ozil a two-year deal, he is keen to stay and fight for his place at the Emirates Stadium instead.
Ozil has been frozen out at Arsenal and hasn't played for the Gunners since March 7, with Mikel Arteta making it pretty clear that the 31-year-old doesn't play a huge part in his plans.
Ozil has been left out of Arteta's 25-man Europa League squad and with just nine months left on his £350,000-a-week contract, Arsenal would most likely want to recoup some money on their investment before he leaves on a free next summer.
Tap-ins
- Tuttomercatoweb believe Tottenham Hotspur and Everton are the most likely clubs to land the signature of Napoli striker Arkadiusz Milik. Both clubs were among a host of sides around Europe looking to land the forward to no avail in the last transfer window. Milik has since been left out of Napoli's squad for the rest of the season, which has boosted hopes of any would-be suitors looking to prise him away from San Paolo Stadium when the next transfer window opens.
- Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce is believed to be interested in having a bit of a clear out at St James's Park and one of the players likely to be packing his bags in the new year is Christian Atsu, according to the Northern Echo. Atsu, who has been told he doesn't figure in the Magpies' plans this season, has interested both Watford and Nottingham Forest in the Championship, but both clubs want Newcastle to continue to pay part of his salary.