Top 5 Football Transfers That Didn’t Happen in Time
Top 5 Football Transfers That Almost Happened
During Deadline Day there some football transfers that nearly happened and many football transfers that never happened. Another transfer window is in the books, and squads around the country have been chopped and changed, and set in stone until the window opens again in the New Year. And while a host of deals were completed, and vast amounts of cash changed hands, some deals dominated the column inches, but never materialised, whatever the reason.
Top 5 Football Transfers That Didn’t Happen in Time
Silly Season looks into top 5 deals that didn’t quite happen in time! Here are 5 major deals that did not happen, but were very close.
5) David De Gea (Manchester United to Real Madrid)
The De Gea Deal is one of the Transfers that didn’t happen in Time. The Spanish stopper earned United a host of points as they scraped back into the top four last term, and back into the Champions League this season. However, rumours persisted that he was unhappy, homesick, and wanted to move back to Spain. Even his other half chimed in, saying she did not like Manchester.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid were after a replacement for legendary keeper Iker Casillas, and saw De Gea as an ideal replacement. And all the signs were that, with Euro 2016 on the horizon, a move to the Bernabeu would be a better fit for the Spanish number one. Despite the ten-time European Cup winners chasing De Gea, United would not budge.
United manager Louis van Gaal was adamant that De Gea was not going anywhere. But De Gea has not featured for United once this season. Van Gaal claimed that De Gea was unsettled by all the transfer talk, and Sergio Romero has been between the sticks for the Red Devils for all of their league games so far, and the two-legged Champions League qualifier with Club Brugge. Romero, though, was at fault for Bafetimbi Gomis’ winner for Swansea at the weekend, and calls may well increase for De Gea to be recalled after the international break.
The deal was so close to being done just before Deadline Day started, but while United got their paperwork sorting just before the Spanish deadline passed, Real did not, and the deal was called off by UEFA. Real had planned to appeal this decision, but since decided against it. De Gea will be staying at Old Trafford, at least for another couple of months.
4) Karim Benzema (Real Madrid to Arsenal)
The Benzema Deal is one of the Transfers that almost happen. On the subject of Real Madrid and their Galacticos, one player who seemed to be on his way out was striker Karim Benzema.
Arsenal had been after reinforcements up front pretty much all summer, to lighten the workload and pressure on Olivier Giroud, with Lukas Podolski leaving for pastures new. The Gunners have struggled for goals, and Benzema was seen as an ideal fit to build an all-French front line at the Emirates Stadium.
Even Giroud himself has admitted that he would have liked to have seen his fellow Frenchman join the Gunners. But Benzema has insisted all along that he is happy where he is, and with Euro 2016 looming in his homeland, was in no rush to push for a move. As the window closed, the only arrival was goalkeeper Petr Cech.
3) John Stones (Everton to Chelsea)
The Stones Deal is another Transfer that almost happen. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is a man who clearly knows what he wants. And for most of this summer, the Special One wanted John Stones at Stamford Bridge.
But despite bidding for the youngster time and again, and again, and again, Everton held firm. Four £20m+ bids were turned down, each one angering Toffees boss Roberto Martinez a little bit more.
Stones wanted the move, even handing a transfer request. But this was refused as well, and Chelsea eventually gave up the relentless pursuit, and instead signed Papy Djilobodji instead for £2.7m. Chelsea may well come back again for Stones in the New Year, and will test Everton’s resolve once more.
2) Gareth Bale and Jasper Cillessen (Real Madrid and Ajax, respectively, to Manchester United)
Two players heavily linked with Manchester United this summer, for different job roles. But in the end, for the time being, neither is at Old Trafford. Both deals never happend.
Welshman Gareth Bale, a true wing wizard, may have endured a difficult time at the Bernabeu since arriving from Tottenham. Both the Spanish media and Real fans have been critical, and a bit harsh in my opinion, of Bale. Rumours of him not getting on with Cristiano Ronaldo do not really help either, some insiders claiming that Bale does not pass to the Portuguese superstar enough.
But Bale, who hopes to edge Wales to Euro 2016 next year, insists he is up to any challenge, and is hell-bent on being a success in the Spanish capital. This has not deterred United though, who have been in need of a superstar or two of their own to take the heat off Wayne Rooney, who has been misfiring in front of goal in the League. It may well take a world-record fee (around £90m) to secure Bale, but it would be money well spent if he could help bring the glory days back to the Red Devils.
Cillessen, goalkeeper with Dutch giants Ajax, is another who United were reportedly chasing, in the midst of the David De Gea transfer unrest. Victor Valdes arrived from Barcelona, but has only played in pre-season, Anders Lindegaard has been sold, and Sergio Romero under pressure. Cillessen was seen as a potentially vital piece of cover at the back. Alas, he will remain at Ajax.
1) Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion to Tottenham)
This list would not be complete without Saido Berahino, who wanted to move to Tottenham. He wanted to go, Tottenham wanted him. But, the Baggies of West Brom did not want to lose their star player.
With echoes of the John Stones situation at Everton, WBA had to bat back multiple bids from the London club. Albion chairman Jeremy Peace clearly did not want to sell Berahino, as losing him would be a huge loss. Berahino was obviously upset by not getting his way, and took to twitter to express his anger, basically refusing to play for WBA ever again while Peace was there. Not the best way to express frustration, maybe a better way would have been a quiet word in private. Berahino is not exactly endearing himself to Baggies fans with his actions.
by Steve Osborne