Transfer deadline day winners and losers: Arsenal near Raheem Sterling move, Victor Osimhen's quiet summer

A handful of clubs and players entered transfer deadline day in serious need to do business and while many were kept busy on Friday , not every transfer saga came to a happy ending.

It was a mixed day in London, where Raheem Sterling is close to joining Arsenal after surprisingly being forced out at Chelsea earlier this summer and Crystal Palace added some impressive pieces to their roster during a strong summer of business. Several other clubs in the British capital also reached notable deals, while neither of Victor Osimhen's proposed moves away from Napoli materialized before the deadline.

Friday's moves add a new layer of intrigue with the countdown to the January transfer window officially underway, as well as new storylines with the new season officially underway across Europe's top leagues.

Here's a look at the winners and losers from a busy deadline day.

Winner: Raheem Sterling

A deal might not be across the line just yet, but Sterling is about to swap chaotic Chelsea for ambitious Arsenal and could play a big role as the Gunners aspire to win the Premier League for the first time in two decades. Sterling's spot on the field is not exactly clear but his talent and experience likely means he will play a big part for them, especially after last season's 10-goal, 8-assist performance for Chelsea. Arsenal's move to sign Sterling is also another example that they want to win now, and Sterling is one of the best players they have acquired with that strategy.

Loser: Victor Osimhen

For several months, Osimhen seemed destined for a move away from Napoli. He was one of the best strikers on the market and would have been a star signing for whichever club scooped him up, but he may have been a victim of the quiet transfer market because a serious deal never truly materialized all summer long. He was reportedly close to a deal to Saudi Pro League side Al-Alhi this week but the club seemingly opted for Ivan Toney instead, while a move to Chelsea never felt like a serious possibility with their late interest. He may be forced to stick around at Napoli for the next several months, which is far from ideal.

Winner: Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace had newfound optimism last spring when they hired Oliver Glasner as the manager, and the mood has not soured at all this summer. That includes their deadline day business, landing center back Maxence Lacroix and much-needed forward Eddie Nketiah on loan from Arsenal. It is no easy feat rising up the ranks of the Premier League, but Palace are quietly putting together a roster that actually might escape midtable mediocrity and string together a series of impressive performances this season.

Loser: Matt Turner

Technically, Palace will do one more decent piece of business on deadline day by signing Matt Turner on loan from Nottingham Forest, providing cover for Dean Henderson. It is not exactly good news for the U.S. men's national team goalkeeper, though, since he will essentially go from not playing at Forest to barely playing at Palace. Turner's limited club minutes remain a concern for an ambitious USMNT and endanger his starting role, especially as Mauricio Pochettino emerges as the preferred choice to replace Gregg Berhalter . The U.S. does have some goalkeeping depth, too, making it easy for Pochettino to move on if need be.

Winner: Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur were one of the architects of the quirkiest move of the day, landing an option to sign Real Betis' Johnny Cardoso at a discounted price but a sell-on clause in case they opt not to. They have essentially reserved Cardoso's rights in case they want cover at defensive midfield, where Yves Bissouma and an often-injured Rodrigo Bentancur are currently battling for a starting role. The win here, though, is that they could actually make a quick profit on a player who never even signed for the club, marking a funny piece of business during silly season.

TBD: Jadon Sancho and Chelsea

Jadon Sancho got a much-needed move out of Manchester United, where he has been unwanted for a year, and last season's encouraging loan at Borussia Dortmund inspires some confidence he can repeat from Chelsea. The Blues have played relatively well at the start of Enzo Maresca's tenure in charge, too, and yet it's hard to shake the feeling that this is a bad fit. Chelsea look directionless, still boasting a bloated roster after failing to nail their strategy on outgoing players. It is not a great landing spot for a player who broke out with immense promise and is still eager to live up to the billing as he approaches his peak playing years. There is still a real possibility that Sancho may come out of this move fairly unscathed, but Chelsea's current situation inspires little confidence for anyone who happens to be there.