The Premier League is set for one of the quietest January transfer windows in recent history as clubs attempt to conclude any last-minute deals during Monday’s deadline day.
Premier League clubs spent £230m during last January’s window, the second-highest total in history, but only £25m of that came on the last day of the window.
This time around, only four clubs have spent money on signings. Manchester United paid £19m for Amad Diallo, Aston Villa signed Marseille midfielder Morgan Sanson for a reported £16m, West Brom bought Robert Snodgrass for an undisclosed fee and West Ham made Said Benrahma’s loan move permanent for £20m.
The last time less than £100m was spent by Premier League clubs in the January window was in 2012, when £60m was paid in transfer fees.
The transfer window shuts across most of Europe on Monday.
Will Dele Alli leave Spurs? Is Christian Eriksen set for a Premier League return? Which clubs will make their moves as the battle for the title, Europe and survival intensifies?
When is deadline day this year?
As 31 January falls on a Sunday, the transfer deadline for Premier League and EFL clubs is at 23:00 GMT on Monday 1 February.
In Scotland, the window shuts an hour later at 00:00 GMT.
It will be the start of a busy week, with a full round of Premier League fixtures on 2 and 3 February.
How about around Europe and elsewhere?
Spain, France, Italy and Germany also have their deadline on 1 February.
In La Liga and Ligue 1, the window closes at 23:00 GMT, in Serie A the deadline is 19:00 and in the Bundesliga it is 17:00.
Is there anything new?
Yes, and it’s because of Brexit.
Since Britain has left the European Union, Premier League clubs are no longer able to sign European players freely, as the UK is no longer part of the EU’s single market with its provision for free movement of labour.
European signings now have to go through the same protocols as those players from outside the EU have done until now, obtaining a “governing body endorsement”.
This is essentially a work permit, and being granted one depends on a player’s appearances in international matches as well as his country’s Fifa ranking.
Find out more direct from the Premier League here.
Will it be busy?
As with most events in the world at the moment, who knows?
There were 12 deadline-day Premier League signings on 5 October – the lowest total in recent years. Arsenal signed Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey for £45.3m in the biggest deal of the day.
Will the current economic pressures on football clubs have an effect? Expect to see plenty of loan moves.
Money worries or not, clubs fighting relegation or chasing a Champions League spot may still be tempted into action.
Liverpool are in talks to sign Preston’s Ben Davies, 25, as they look to find a solution for their central defensive crisis, while Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers says he wants to bring in a midfielder.
Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Watford midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah are said to be among the Foxes’ targets.
West Brom have also been linked with Maitland-Niles.
Baggies boss Sam Allardyce has been the busiest manager during the January window with three signings, but says he wants another two before the window closes.
Meanwhile, Fulham boss Scott Parker is keen to add a striker to his squad but is not confident of securing a deal before the window closes.
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A constant talking point in this transfer window has been whether out-of-favour Tottenham attacker Alli will leave the club, with a move to link up with Mauricio Pochettino at Paris St-Germain reportedly on the cards.
But Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho says he does not expect that to happen.
“I believe that he’s staying,” Mourinho told BBC Radio 5 Live. “I never had during all this window one feeling or sign of doubt that Dele could not be here, so for me it is nothing new.”
How can I follow across BBC Sport?
You won’t miss a minute of transfer deadline day on BBC Sport.
A running text commentary confirming all the transfers, discussing the rumours and analysing the best of the business will be live on the BBC Sport website throughout the day.
There will be regular updates on BBC Radio 5 Live, before ex-Manchester City defender Micah Richards, former Blackburn striker Chris Sutton, ex-Liverpool midfielder Don Hutchinson and senior football reporter Ian Dennis join Steve Crossman on the 5 Live Monday Night Club from 19:00 to discuss all the deals.
You will also find regular updates and breaking news across BBC Sport’s social media channels, including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.
