Arsenal were poised to land the biggest deal on transfer deadline day after agreeing a fee with Real Madrid for playmaker Mesut Ozil, Press Association Sport reported late last night.
It has been a frustrating summer for the Gunners, who have failed to complete any big-money moves, despite heavy interest in Gonzalo Higuain, Luis Suarez and Yohan Cabaye among others, yet they were on course to smash their transfer record had Ozil completed his move to north London.
The 24-year-old was expected to discuss personal terms over the proposed transfer, believed to be a club-record bid of €50 million (£42.2million), and then complete a medical ahead of the midnight transfer deadline.
For a brief period yesterday morning, Manchester United were rumoured to be planning to hijack the move but that was dismissed out of hand.
Arsenal did complete one signing as Palermo goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano signed a season-long loan deal with the North London club, with the Gunners having the option to make the deal permanent.
The 27-year-old Italy international is Arsene Wenger’s third signing of the summer and will compete with Wojciech Szczesny to be the Frenchman’s first-choice stopper for the remainder of the campaign.
Arsenal also made a move to sign Chelsea striker Demba Ba on loan.
However, the Gunners pulled out of a deal after the Blues informed them that they had no plans of letting the Senegal international join a rival club.
United last night were facing a race against time to bring in midfield reinforcements.
Reports in Spain claimed three United officials were at Spanish league headquarters to pay the clause in Ander Herrera’s contract at Athletic Bilbao that would allow him to complete an Old Trafford move but ‘bureaucratic problems’ threatened the deal.
Manager David Moyes was also looking to bring in Marouane Fellaini from his former club Everton. The Blues had rejected all offers from United throughout the day but the Belgian seemed to be forcing the issue after handing in a transfer request as he looked to rejoin his former mentor at Old Trafford.
Stoke have brought in Austrian striker Marko Arnautovic from German club Werder Bremen, while West Brom have confirmed a season-long loan deal for Marseille midfielder Morgan Amalfitano.
Newcastle have been quieter than expected, with Loic Remy’s loan move from Queens Park Rangers the only deal completed by new director of football Joe Kinnear.
Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni confirmed 22-year-old McCarthy has been given permission to delay joining up with the national team ahead of their World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Austria in order to complete a potential transfer.
West Brom have also bolstered their ranks in goal, snapping up Northern Ireland international Lee Camp, who was a free agent, on a rolling contract.