Man Utd sign Cavani in late transfer dash
Manchester United swooped for Edinson Cavani among four signings on Monday, but Arsenal completed the biggest deal of transfer deadline day with the arrival of midfielder Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid.
United were beneath the spotlight to respond to a humiliating 6-1 home defeat to Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday.
Dutch international midfielder Donny van de Beek had been the only addition to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's squad prior to Monday's arrival of Cavani, Alex Telles, Amad Diallo and Facundo Pellistri.
Cavani, 33, has been a free agent since leaving Paris Saint-Germain in June and signed a one-year manage the option for a second season.
The Uruguayan scored 200 goals in seven seasons in the French capital to be the club's all-time top goalscorer.
"Manchester United is probably the greatest clubs on the globe, so it is a genuine honour to be here," said Cavani. "I've worked really hard at that time off and Personally i think wanting to compete and represent this incredible club."
The arrival of left-back Telles from Porto for £13.5 million ($19 million, 15 million euros) is arguably a lot more important to aid a United defence which has conceded 11 goals in three Premier League games to get started on the season.
"He is a new player we have been tracking for some time and his performances in the last few years are specifically what we are seeking," said Solskjaer on the Brazilian international.
"He is a fighter and successful and can add real determination and competition to the squad."
After a forlorn chase of Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho, United also secured two promising 18-year-old wingers in Uruguayan Pellistri from Penarol and Atalanta's Diallo, who'll join in January in a deal that could reportedly are as long as 41 million euros.
Thomas a long-term target
Partey is a long-term target for the Gunners, who've matched his 50 million euro (£45 million, $59 million) buyout clause to bolster their threadbare midfield options.
The Ghanaian has made 188 appearances for the Spanish giants and was the main Atletico sides that reached the 2016 Champions League final and beat Arsenal on the path to winning the Europa League in 2018.
"We've been watching Thomas for some time, so we're now delighted to include such a top quality player to your squad," said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. "He is a dynamic midfielder with great energy."
Uruguayan international Lucas Torreira has gone the other way from Arsenal to Atletico on a season-long loan deal, while another frozen out midfielder at the Emirates, Matteo Guendouzi, joined Hertha Berlin on loan.
Premier League table-toppers Everton signed centre-back Ben Godfrey for a reported initial cost of £25 million and Swedish international goalkeeper Robin Olsen on loan from Roma.
- Quiet window for European giants -
According to a written report by the Centre for Economics Business Research, Premier League clubs were on course for an astonishing 95 percent of the net spend in Europe's big five leagues this transfer window.
Barcelona's makes up about the 2019/20 season showed the drastic impact the coronavirus pandemic has already established on even the world's richest clubs as the Catalans revealed 97 million euro losses on Monday.
Barca's financial problems meant they cannot agree deals for Lyon's Memphis Depay or Manchester City defender Eric Garcia, but Rafinha left the Camp Nou in a cut-price deal to become listed on PSG.
Juventus secured among the hottest properties in Italian football as Federico Chiesa joined from Fiorentina on a two-year loan deal worth 10 million euros with an obligation to buy if certain conditions are met for an additional 40 million.
English defender Chris Smalling returned to Roma on a long lasting deal from Manchester United for 15 million euros after impressing during a loan spell last season.
French midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko in addition has returned to Serie A, joining Napoli on loan from Chelsea.
Bayern Munich added a trio of new players as Douglas Costa returned to the Allianz Arena for another spell on loan from Juventus.
The European champions also signed former PSG striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting on a one-year deal and Bouna Sarr from Marseille.
