Transfer Deadline Day
Everton once again took their winter window shopping to the final day, with David Moyes and Kevin Thelwell adding Carlos Alcaraz on loan an hour after the deadline had passed.
The former Southampton player was on Merseyside yesterday to undergo a medical ahead of a loan move from Flamengo in Brazil, a deal that includes an obligation to buy for £16m if certain conditions are met over the remainder of the season.
However, the 11pm deadline passed without the transfer having been concluded and it took the submission of a deal sheet to the Premier League to give the two clubs more time to finalise the terms, which they eventually did .
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Armando Broja expected to be sidelined until April and Youssef Chermiti still three or four weeks away from full fitness, Moyes was on the lookout for another centre-forward at the very least but that search came up empty.
With no deal struck with Chelsea over ending Broja’s loan, the Blues had no more domestic loan spots available and a rumour suggesting that Fulham were eyeing Jack Harrison was quashed when Willian returned to Craven Cottage on a free transfer. Harrison is out of favour at Goodison Park but still has six months left on his loan deal from Leeds.
Speculation that Everton were in talks with Rennes over a temporary transfer deal for left-back Adrien Truffert were played down by local sources but while reports persisted, most notably from the Mail, nothing came of the reports.
In terms of outgoings, Harrison Armstrong has joined Derby County over a loan move until the end of the season after signing a new 3½- year contract with Everton.
The Independent report that West Bromwich Albion have turned down a £15m bid from the Blues for Tom Fellows.