Deadline day is almost upon us and teams in the EFL are scrambling around to try and do any late business. Here is the latest news on EFL transfers, including all of today’s done deals and rumours.
Latest EFL Transfers: Rumours and Done Deals
Portsmouth Loan in Azeez
Arsenal youngster Miguel Azeez has joined League One side Portsmouth on loan for the 2021/22 campaign.
The 18-year-old England youth international brings Europa League experience to Fratton Park having featured in Arsenal’s victory away at Dundalk last season.
As well as that, Azeez has featured in the EFL Trophy for the Gunners, scoring the winner against Crawley Town last season.
He has also recently been called up to the England U20 squad for their friendly against Romania next week.
Pollock Links Up With Cheltenham
Cheltenham Town have signed Watford teenager Mattie Pollock on a season-long loan.
Pollock penned a five-year contract with the Hornets right at the start of the transfer window after standing out in what was ultimately a dismal season for Grimsby Town last year.
He came onto the scene at the Mariners as a 17-year-old and featured regularly across his two full seasons at the club.
Pollock could be available to make his debut in tomorrow night’s Papa John’s Trophy tie at Bristol Rovers or next weekend’s home match against MK Dons.
Hartlepool Sign Hendrie
League Two side Hartlepool United have completed the signing of former Grimsby Town defender Luke Hendrie.
The 26-year-old joins on a permanent deal and is set to begin his second spell at the club. He featured three times for Pools in 2015 before an ankle injury cut short his loan spell from Burnley.
Hendrie came through the academy system at Manchester United and became professional with them in 2012.
He also had loan spells at York City, Kilmarnock and Bradford City before joining Shrewsbury Town in a permanent deal.
However, he made just ten appearances there before linking up with Grimsby on loan and signing permanently a year later.
Gray Undergoing QPR Medical
Watford striker Andre Gray is undergoing a medical at Queens Park Rangers ahead of a loan move, reports Adam Leventhal of The Athletic.
The two clubs have agreed a deal in principle and the striker is set to spend the remaining year of his Hornets contract away from the club.
The former Burnley striker has fallen down the pecking order at Vicarage Road following the summer arrivals on Emmanuel Dennis, Joshua King and Ashley Fletcher.
Gray was once Watford’s record signing when he joined in 2017 for a fee of £18.5 million, but a record of just 21 goals in 126 games has seen him unable to hold a regular place in the side.
Garner Signs for Fleetwood
Former Preston North End and Rangers striker Joe Garner has signed a two-year contract with League One side Fleetwood Town.
The 33-year-old was most recently with Cypriot side Apoel FC, where he scored eight goals in 11 games.
Garner has a vast experience in the EFL and has scored over 100 goals across the three divisions. His best spell was his three years at Preston where he scored 57 goals in 151 games and helped them secure promotion to the Championship.
Walton Joins Ipswich on Loan
Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Christian Walton has joined Ipswich Town on a season-long loan.
He becomes the club’s 17th signing of the transfer window and he embarks on his eighth loan spell away from Brighton.
Walton’s most successful loans have been two separate stints at Wigan Athletic and also with Blackburn Rovers during the 2019/20 season.
The 25-year-old comes into an Ipswich side who are yet to win this season – they have drawn 2-2 three times, against Morecambe, MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon, were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Newport County and lost league matches to Burton Albion and Cheltenham Town.
Oxford Sign Herbie Kane on Loan
Oxford United have signed Barnsley midfielder Herbie Kane on loan for the rest of the season.
The 22-year-old former Liverpool player joined Barnsley last year and made 26 appearances in the Championship, with most of them as a substitute.
Kane has impressed at this level before in a loan spell at Doncaster Rovers, where he scored seven goals in 49 games.
Despite his young age, Kane has racked up almost 100 senior appearances.
Bristol City Agree Deal for Tanner
Lyall Thomas of Sky Sports reports that Bristol City have agreed a deal with Carlisle United for defender George Tanner.
The ex-Manchester United academy player is expected to complete the move for around £300,000.
Tanner has been at Carlisle since leaving United in 2020 and he previously had loan spells at both Morecambe and Salford City.
Hourihane Set for Another Loan
The Telegraph’s Matt Law reports that Aston Villa midfielder Conor Hourihane is set to join Sheffield United on a season-long loan.
The 30-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Swansea City and scored five times in 19 appearances to help them into the play-offs.
Hourihane’s last appearance for Villa was in the 2-1 loss to West Ham United on November 30, 2020.
Championship Trio Keen on Obafemi
Southampton striker Michael Obafemi could still leave the club before the end of the deadline, with a trio of Championship clubs interested in the youngster, according to Sky Sports.
Blackburn Rovers have already been reported to hold an interest in Obafemi, particularly since Adam Armstrong left Blackburn to join the Saints earlier in the window. Blackburn are also hopeful of bringing in Reda Khadra from Brighton & Hove Albion.
Fulham and Bournemouth also hold an interest in the Republic of Ireland international, and Southampton could sell as it would free up another space in their squad for an incoming – currently, they could only bring in another loan player.
Swansea Reject Bid for Matt Grimes
Swansea City have rejected a bid from Fulham for captain Matt Grimes, report Stuart James and Peter Rutzler of The Athletic.
Grimes is out of contract at the end of the season and has consistently been linked with moves away from the Swans throughout this transfer window.
Fulham have now reportedly made two offers for the 26-year-old, with Swansea’s valuation of the player yet to be reached.
It is unclear at this stage whether Fulham will return with a third bid.
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