SIMON JONES: You could almost hear the tumbleweed blow across Premier League HQ
You could almost hear the tumbleweed blow through Premier League HQ last night as Armando Broja completed his anticipated move from Chelsea to fulham.
The window did not slam shut, it was delicately put back on the latch to end one of the most underwhelming transfer periods in recent memory.
Broja’s trundle across west London represented the most high-profile deal and will cost Fulham an initial £750,000, and up to £4million depending on how many games the striker starts.
It was a significant climbdown from Chelsea as they had quoted Wolves and Fulham up to £50m for the 22-year-old earlier this week. Their hope is that the Albania international boosts his value by the summer so he can be sold and the cash reinvested in a striker such as Napoli’s Victor Osimhen.
Nottingham Forest, who face potential sanction for their spending, still showed a penchant to wheel and deal. They made so many moves for goalkeepers yesterday that even Peter Shilton must have thought he had a chance of a comeback.
After exhausting talks with Crystal Palace for Sam Johnstone, they had a £15m bid for liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher rejected before trying Rui Silva of Real Betis and Koen Casteels of Wolfsburg. Ultimately, they brought in Belgium’s Matz Sels, 31, for £5million.
Forest allowed keeper Ethan Horvath to joinCcardiff while Orel Mangala joined Lyon, Joe Worrall set off to speak to sheffield united and Serge Aurier joined Galatasaray.
Forest tried and failed to land Ajax forward Chuba Akpom but added Gio Reyna on loan from Borussia Dortmund and Ruben Ribeiro from Sporting Lisbon.
Pablo Fornals joined Real Betis from west ham for £7m. There was late drama surrounding Said Benrahma, who headed off to Lyon in the morning only to find out on the
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