Transfer deadline day: Can players sign after 11pm and when does the loan window begin?

THE transfer deadline is just hours away and clubs are scrambling to do their last minute business.

But will they be forced to go with what they've got until next season if deals aren't completed in time?

Here's all you need to know about what happens after the window shuts.

When is the transfer deadline?

The transfer window the Premier League and EFL will shut on Wednesday, January 31 at 11pm GMT, with another frantic last day expected.

Can players still sign after the transfer deadline?

No players can be purchased from other clubs once the transfer deadline has passed.

But signings can be announced at any time of the year, provided that a deal sheet has been submitted to the Premier League while the window is open.

A deal sheet is effectively a notification of intent from the buying club, selling club and player in question to complete the deal as soon as the final terms are agreed.

So don't be surprised to see a number of players unveiled in the early hours of Thursday.

Can players be loaned after the transfer deadline?

Until last season, players were able to sign on short-term loans (up to three months) once the deadline had closed.

But Fifa changed the rules last year to close that loophole, meaning loans must also be agreed during the transfer window.

Can players sign on a free transfer after the transfer deadline?

Unattached players are free to join a new club outside the transfer window.

But Premier League clubs must name a 25-man squad at the end of every window.

That means that if a player signs, they will only be able to play in the Premier League if a club has not named a full squad or if they are under-21.