Transfer deadline day 2018: English clubs ready for early deadline

Chelsea are set to confirm the loan signing of Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic from Real Madrid, with goalkeeper Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois set to join the Spanish club.

On Wednesday, the Blues signed Courtois’ replacement by paying £71m deal – a record for a goalkeeper – to sign 23-year-old Spaniard Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao.

There are no other transfers that seem inevitable on deadline day – but plenty of top clubs are still looking to sign players.

Tottenham are the only Premier League club not to sign a single player this summer despite manager Mauricio Pochettino saying at the end of last season they would need to “take risks” to improve.

The Argentine wants to add to his squad but will he be able to get any deal done in time? He wanted Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish, who is understood to be furious at being priced out of a move to White Hart Lane.

Real Madrid also reportedly want Chelsea winger Eden Hazard – while Willian says he wants to stay at the club after being linked with a move away. The Blues are unlikely to let any of them go unless they sign a replacement on Thursday. They have only signed one first-team player since Maurizio Sarri’s appointment as manager.

“Like Willian, Hazard is world class now and, if Chelsea are to have a successful season, then Sarri cannot afford to lose either of them,” BBC pundit Matt Upson said after the Community Shield.

Arsenal and Liverpool did their business early and are not expected to make any more big signings – but both sides’ managers say players could yet leave to trim their squads.

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez has had another frustrating transfer window, while Burnley’s three signings have all come in the final few days.

The early deadline means any signings will be able to feature in the opening games of the Premier League season – which begins with Manchester United v Leicester on Friday (20:00 BST).

In Italy, Inter Milan are being strongly linked to Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric – but no Premier League clubs would be likely to let the European champions sign a midfielder to replace the Croat if that move happened after the English deadline.