Once a non-event, the January transfer window has become busier and busier as the teams of the Premier League deem improving their lot for the second half of the season almost as important as the first.
Makes sense, right?
[ MORE: Earlier done deals ]
We’re monitoring things at Chelsea and Newcastle amongst other venues before the window slams shut at 6 p.m. ET.
Be sure to follow the Sky Sports deadline show on NBCSN until 5 p.m. ET before the NBC Sports Soccer crew picks up for three more hours of dynamite coverage.
So here we go.
6:21 p.m. ET -- Yannick Bolasie is leaving Everton on loan to Anderlecht for the rest of the season after cutting a loan with Aston Villa short.
6 p.m. ET -- The window is closed, but that just means deal sheets had to be submitted to the Premier League. Stay tuned for further announcements.
5:56 p.m. ET -- Celtic have pushed another deal over the line in its bid to hold off Rangers and Aberdeen and win another Scottish Premiership title.
Jeremy Toljan will join the Bhoys from Borussia Dortmund on loan, having struggled to get playing time on the Bundesliga leaders.
OFFICIAL: Jeremy Toljan has joined Celtic from Borussia Dortmund for the rest of the season. Celtic were in need of a right-back and he’s finding it hard to get into Dortmund’s XI due to their brilliant form in the Bundesliga. Quick and agile, he’ll do well there. #BVB #CelticFC pic.twitter.com/4WJdLdW6fX
— Ronan Murphy (@swearimnotpaul) January 31, 2019
5:52 p.m. ET -- A couple late deals coming through for peripheral PL players.
Everton’s Beni Baningime will go on loan to Wigan Athletic, having seen his playing time pretty much disappear after Sam Allardyce left Goodison Park.
And long time Leicester City man Andy King is leaving the King Power Stadium to join Derby County for the rest of the season.
5:38 p.m. ET -- A bit slower now with 22 minutes to go in the window. Of course, moves can be announced after 6 p.m. ET but there is paperwork to be filed...
Will Michy Batshuayi finish his move to Palace? Jacob Murphy to West Brom?
5:11 p.m. ET -- A report out of Italy has a couple of eye-popping notes.
DC United has reportedly turned down almost $12 million from Paris Saint-Germain for Luciano Acosta, hoping to get closer to $14m for the 24-year-old former Boca Juniors man.
Acosta does not hold an international roster spot for DC, who saw the playmaker team up with Wayne Rooney to push the Black-and-Red up the Eastern Conference table last season.
Acosta has 19 goals and 27 assists in 103 appearances for DC, and would help PSG plug the hole opened by Neymar’s 10-week layoff.
5:03 p.m. ET -- The BBC is reporting that Fulham has landed former West Ham midfielder/defender Havard Nordtveit.
The Norwegian will arrive on loan from Hoffenheim. The 28-year-old has mostly played center back in 11 matches between the Bundesliga and Champions League this season.
Fulham also sold combustible striker Aboubakar Kamara to Malatyaspor.
Welcome to #FFC, Håvard Nordtveit!
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) January 31, 2019
👉 https://t.co/EBXq2F7Og2 #HeiHowie pic.twitter.com/aswtngofGa
4:35 p.m. ET -- Woah. Michy Batshuayi has apparently reached terms with Crystal Palace in the hopes of a permanent deal.
UPDATE: Sky reports that Palace CEO Steve Parrish says the deal is ON.
The big Belgian striker, 25, would take more attention off of Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend, and hopefully feed off the crosses of the latter, Patrick van Aanholt, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
This could be a big, big deal and a stunner of a lower-half signing.
4:32 p.m. ET -- Our noted KC writer Andy Edwards has thoughts on an exciting report that longtime USMNT prospect Gedion Zelalem may move from Arsenal to Major League Soccer.
Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes has a knack for developing young talents, so it’ll be interesting to see whether this is a loan or a permanent deal (should it happen).
This would be a VERY intriguing signing with MASSIVE upside should KC be the place he finally finds good healthy and playing time. #SportingKC https://t.co/CzLnni4ZRT
— Andy (@AndyEdMLS) January 31, 2019
4:30 p.m. ET -- A note from Major League Soccer, where Toronto FC is ready to splash some cash to replace outgoing megastar Sebastian Giovinco.
Remember, their last few Designated Players include Giovinco, Jermain Defoe, Jozy Altidore, and Michael Bradley...
In case there was any doubt... Toronto plan to go big to replace Giovinco and Vazquez. Told club is aiming to sign a younger attacker as a DP in next couple weeks. If signed, the fee will likely be among the highest in MLS history. Targeting 1-2 TAM signings this window, as well.
— Sam Stejskal (@samstejskal) January 31, 2019
4:22 p.m. ET -- Everton’s potential sale of Idrissa Gana Gueye of Paris Saint-Germain has been quiet, but Sky Sports has broken into their coverage to say that Gana is now the subject of a $34 million bid.
The Toffees still do not plan on selling the industrious center midfielder, but he’s also 29 years old and the Toffees are neither in danger of being relegated nor finding their footing as a European club.
4:07 p.m. ET -- Michy Batshuayi is one of the topics of conversation, as the Belgian striker looks to find regular playing time away from Chelsea.
Batshuayi, 25, tore up the Bundesliga on loan at Borussia Dortmund last season, but could not find the back of the goal often in a half-season at Valencia.
He’s been linked with moves to Real Betis, West Ham United, and -- most unlikely -- Spurs, but his wages are reportedly holding up the deal. Speaking on Sky Sports’ transfer deadline show, Sam Allardyce unsurprisingly said West Ham would be the best place for him.
3:49 p.m. ET -- Some Americans in Scotland (and America) news.
A pair of players have signed with Celtic, though neither will spend the rest of this season with Brendan Rodgers’ men.
It looks like MAC Hermann Trophy winner Andrew Gutman was not able to get the proper papers to activate his time at Celtic, as the Indiana University left back and USMNT hopeful has been sent on loan to Nashville SC.
Also signing leaving Celtic on loan is NC State’s Manny Perez, who is off on loan to North Carolina FC.
And there’s a Yank making a move to the Scottish Championship, as 23-year-old Evansville product Ian McGrath makes the move from Nashville SC to Queen of the South.
🆕🇺🇸 We can confirm the club has signed young Americans @_andrewgutman and Manny Perez on three-and-a-half-year contracts.
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) January 31, 2019
Both players will continue their development through loan moves back in the USA. Welcome to #CelticFC, Bhoys! 🍀
➡️ https://t.co/8pCaSEHqI9 pic.twitter.com/PiBPETO8nK
3:18 p.m. ET -- It’s a loan swap deal, but the big piece moving between Monaco and Leicester City is versatile and dangerous Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans.
The 21-year-old has five goals and an assist in Ligue 1 play, and operates in the center of the park.
Going back the other way is Adrien Silva, 29, who just hasn’t settled at Leicester following a paperwork snafu at the start of the 2017-18 season.
3 p.m. ET -- A move from MLS to a top European team, but it’s more for the future.
Real Salt Lake’s Taylor Booth is on the move to Bayern Munich. The U.S. U-19 midfielder, 17, joins FC Dallas youngster Chris Richards and Vancouver Whitecaps star Alphonso Davies at the Allianz Arena.
More info: Here.
Make sure to tune-in for our special Transfer Deadline Day show on NBCSN today from 5 p.m. ET as we focus on all of the moves across the Premier League in the January window. You can stream the show live online right here.