Deadline Day Drama- The Crushing Of Dreams!

Transfer spending by Premier League clubs during this summer window has set a new record of £870million (€1.2bn), according to industry experts.

Clubs spent about £80million on transfer deadline day on 1 September, taking the total outlay past the £835m spent in last year’s summer transfer window.

However, it is the players that didn’t get their dream move that have been grabbing all the headlines.

The high profiled summer transfers of Saido Berahino from West Brom to Tottenham, David De Gea from Manchester United to Real Madrid, John Stones from Everton to Chelsea and Jonathan Walters from Stoke City to Leicester City failed to materialise, despite the strong wishes of the players.

While De Gea resisted the urge to file an official transfer request, Berahino, Stones and Walters tried to force through their dream moves by handing in transfer requests.

With reputations and relationships considerably damaged, where do De Gea, Berahino, Stones and Walters go from here?

Saido Berahino- West Brom to Tottenham

West Bromwich Albion’s Saido Berahino has claimed he will never play for the club again after failing to secure a last-minute transfer to Tottenham Hotspur on a frenetic deadline day.

England Under-21 striker Berahino was the subject of four failed bids from the London club and reacted angrily on Twitter, saying he would not play for the Midlands outfit again under chairman Jeremy Peace.

“Sad how I can’t say exactly how the club has treated me, but I can officially say I will never play (for) Jeremy Peace,” he said.

While Peace responded by saying he made it clear to Spurs that West Brom would not accept a bid for Berahino so late in the window, he admitted the player had been unsettled by what he called Tottenham’s “antics.”

It is evident that the failed transfer has left a bad taste in the mouth of Berahino, Peace and the West Brom faithful. The relationship between the player and club appear damaged beyond repair, leaving only one likely outcome; that being West Brom biting their lip and Berahino moving on to pastures new.

David De Gea- Manchester United to Real Madrid

The breakdown in De Gea’s deal has led both teams to blame each other for a bureaucratic failure to file all the documents in time for the transfer to be processed.

Unlike the Berahino situation, De Gea, Manchester United and Real Madrid all reportedly wanted this move to happen, the fact it didn’t can only be described as incompetence.

Whether Real Madrid didn’t want to pay the £40million or Manchester United didn’t want to loose one of the worlds best goalkeepers is anyone’s guess. What is clear is that De Gea will be a Real Madrid player this time next year, and that is likely to happen on a free when De Gea’s contract expires.

Whether De Gea plays this season for Manchester United remains to be seen. The Spaniard is said to be devastated as his dream was left in tatters and Louis Van Gaal doesn’t take kindly to those who want to leave the club and don’t comply with his philosophy as Victor Valdes; whom also failed to secure a move, will testify to.

John Stones- Everton to Chelsea

John Stones put in a transfer request and was the subject of three bids of 20, 26 and finally £30million ($45.91million), which were all rejected by Everton, whom held firm and insisted that the player was not for sale.

Even more bizarrely, Everton boss Roberto Martinez claimed that Stones had handed in a transfer request by mistake. He said “The transfer request was something he didn’t mean to do.”

Stones’ professionalism is the only reason his Everton career isn’t over. Stones’ relationship has been somewhat tarnished by this transfer saga, however all will be forgotten in a month. Stones will be a regular starter for the blue side of Liverpool until at least January. However, don’t be surprised to see Chelsea attempt to get Stones in either the January or summer 2016 window.

Don’t be surprised if Stones kicks up more of a fuss should the opportunity to move to a Champions League around come back around. This is most likely Stones’ last season as an Everton player.

Jon Walters- Stoke City to Leicester

Jon Walters has bridges to re-build with Stoke City after failing to force through a move to Leicester City.

Walters submitted a transfer request to smooth the wheels of an exit from Stoke, with Leicester City being the protracted deadline-day destination.

Stoke City however, were not prepared to sanction his sale without bringing in a replacement and Walters’ departure was quashed when Stoke’s move for Crystal Palace’s Australian midfielder Mile Jedinak broke down.

It is highly likely that Walters will be one of the first out of the door come January. Stoke are certain to be lining up a replacement in the coming months.

As for Walters’ position at the club, he is expected to play a bit-part until January. Walters will have to swallow some pride, sit tight and wait for the next transfer window.

When a player requests a move, it’s very difficult for a club to keep hold of them. Players can become a nuisance at clubs they don’t want to be at and in most situations, its best for clubs to get rid of the want-aways to keep harmony within the squads.

While you have to admire the stance of Everton, West Brom, Manchester Utd, and Stoke City. One has to also be realistic and understand that players want to progress in their careers and a decision on where they apply their trade is for the players themselves to decide along with their representation.

Author- Luke Adam