The dust has just about settled on a wild 2026 summer transfer window that saw Premier League clubs spend a combined total of close to £3.5 billion. It was notable how many Premier League clubs opted to buy players with experience in the division as oppose to gambles from abroad, with Manchester United and Spurs among those to focus almost exclusively on existing talent from England’s elite league.
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Meanwhile, Gameweek 3 of the Premier League gets underway tonight, with Ipswich Town vs Liverpool serving as a tantalising Friday night offering to kick things off. Other highlights of a packed weekend include Chelsea’s trip to London rivals Arsenal, Man City hosting newly promoted Coventry City, and Everton taking on Manchester United.
Today’s rumours round-up begins at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea are no doubt still kicking themselves after failing to bring in a replacement for Enzo Fernandez, who finally got his much desired exit to Man City on Deadline Day. According to The Athletic, it took City so long to conclude the deal due to the complexity of their negotiations with Chelsea.
They say that the Blues made a series of intriguing proposals - something which the report notes that the club deny - including asking City to “step aside” so they could sign Ayyoub Bouaddi instead, and suggesting a bizarre swap deal involving Man City boy wonder Nico O’Reilly coming to Stamford Bridge with Malo Gusto heading in the other direction as part of the Fernandez agreement.
The 3AM Verdict: Oh, to be a fly on the wall in the presumably satin-wallpapered room where those negotiations took place. The Blues had an excellent window overall, but they really made a hash of the Fernandez deal for the sake of an extra £5m or so by dragging it out so long. They now have a gaping hole in their midfield, and as for the alleged O’Reilly-Gusto proposal? City would have had to be off their rocker to accept it.
Everton’s nightmare deadline day detail emerges
Real Betis' Abde Ezzalzouli looks to be one of several players Everton tried and failed to sign on Deadline Dayplaceholder image
Real Betis' Abde Ezzalzouli looks to be one of several players Everton tried and failed to sign on Deadline Day | Getty Images
Next up, it’s over to Goodison Park, where David Moyes must be trying to work out exactly how he’ll get through the 2026/27 Premier League season with only one recognised full-back on each flank, and just a solitary striker in Thierno Barry. We covered the six transfers the club failed to get through on Deadline Day, and now it appears that there may have been a seventh.
According to Spanish print outlet Sport, via Sport Witness, the Toffees also attempted to sign Real Betis left winger Abde Ezzalzouli, but were unable to get the Spanish side to budge on their demand that a fee close to the player’s £52m release clause was paid. It’s said that Everton did make an offer, but is was “nowhere near” enough to get the deal done.
The 3AM Verdict: In fairness to Everton, they clearly worked their socks off on Deadline Day. In the end, all it got them was £5m former Arsenal flop Ainsley Maitland-Niles. We’re not entirely sure what the Toffees were up to trying to sign a big money winger, given their needs elsewhere. Being charitable, we can only imagine it was a move made as cover should Jack Grealish’s loan deal not have gone through.
Arsenal already eyeing January raid
Arsenal are believed to be long-term admirers of Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupiplaceholder image
Arsenal are believed to be long-term admirers of Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi | Getty Images
We’ll finish up at Arsenal, who had such a dreary Deadline Day they ended up with a senior Sky Sports presenter singing improvised songs outside the Emirates Stadium. Excruciating business for all involved. The Gunners were unable to sign a left-sided forward to complete their expensively assembled squad puzzle, but a report from The Independent claims they’re already thinking about doing it in January.
Eli Junior Kroupi, who was believed to be valued at around £85m by the Cherries earlier this summer, is said to be their top target. The report says the young Frenchman will “almost certainly be an option” for the Gunners, and that manager Mikel Arteta has “taken note” of how quickly Man City moved to sign Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth last January.
The 3AM Verdict: Arsenal’s failure to sign a player in that one position has gone a little bit under the radar. They messed up signing Morgan Rogers, couldn’t get Vinicius Junior or Julian Alvarez to join, and didn’t have any luck with Yan Diomande or Bradley Barcola either. Kroupi would be a top signing - but they really should have signed him before the window shut.