The transfer window has officially ‘slammed shut’!

In true deadline day fashion, it could not be closed quietly, as yesterday’s events demonstrated.

There was plenty of activity but all regarding outgoing transfers rather than incomings. The Alexis Sanchez ‘saga’ and alleged pursuit of Jonny Evans proved fruitless, while the Blues bid farewell to Wilfried Bony and Jadon Sancho with Jason Denayer and Kean Bryan heading out on loan.

Although the final day did not herald any new recruits, the press have been impressed with City’s summer business.

Paul Merson awarded an A- rating in his Sky Sports column. Praise indeed!

“You have to give Pep Guardiola credit for going out and buying what he needed,” he reflects.

“I would have given them a higher grade if they’d signed the centre-half they probably still need.

“Jonny Evans would have made it an A+ window for them.”

Speaking with the BBC, former Blue Trevor Sinclair echoed: “City had a very good transfer window.

“They dealt with a lot of the issues they had with full-back positions, bringing in Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy and Danilo.

“They started well. Towards the end, I think they wanted to bring another central defender in so didn’t finish as well as they’d hoped - but they did well.”

Naturally, the journalists of the footballing world have been trying to dig deeper into the deadline day drama – particularly the Sanchez story.

The Mirror insist the chase is not over though and believe City will attempt to land the Chile star in the January window.

According to Simon Mullock: “Pep Guardiola thought he had landed his No 1 target at 10am yesterday morning when Gunners chief executive Ivan Gazidis called his City counterpart Ferran Soriano to tell him the Blues’ second offer for Sanchez had been accepted.

“City had tabled a bid of £55million plus £5million in add-ons after having their initial £50million gambit rejected.

“Gazidis informed Soriano that Arsenal had a replacement – Monaco’s Thomas Lemar – lined up.

“And that the Sanchez transfer would hinge on a deal with the French champions being sealed.

“But despite having a £90million offer accepted by Monaco accepted later in the day, Lemar was not interested in making the move to the Emirates.

“Arsenal then told City that the agreement for Sanchez was off the table.

“Sanchez is said to be devastated by the news after telling his Chilean team-mates that his move to City was about to be completed as they prepared for their World Cup qualifier against Paraguay.

“Arsenal claim that City left it too late to make their move for the 28-year-old.

“But the Manchester club first contacted the Gunners in May to tell them that they wanted to sign the forward.

“City will attempt to sign Alexis Sanchez next year.”

In other news, there is praise for Gabriel Jesus, after the forward executed a glorious assist for his country in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Ecuador.

Brazil’s official website describes the move leading up to Philippe Coutinho’s strike as ‘a work of art.

A translated article reads: “A painting. There is no other definition for the goal of Philippe Coutinho.

“It started with the start of the shirt 11, which left behind three defenders and gave a futsal pass to Gabriel Jesus.

“Coutinho dragged his foot on the grass and lifted the ball over the back to find the striker inside the area.

“Then it was Jesus’ turn to paint the picture that already had a sketch. He drew a balloon almost in the small area and had the intelligence to complete with a touch of head for whoever came in speed through the middle.

“Who came in was Coutinho, who appeared like a rocket and signed the work of art.”

Very poetic!