So Near, Yet So Far! Top 10 EPL Transfers That Almost Happened
So, the curtain closes on one of the more memorable January transfer windows in the Premier League. £200 million has rapidly been fluttered away in merely a month.
Here is a quick look at the 10 best proposed deals, that never quite materialised, despite strong, in some cases persistent rumours suggesting otherwise. No particular order for this one.
David Beckham: Tottenham
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Do you remember back at the start of January, when journalists camped outside Tottenham’s training ground for what seemed like days, waiting, hoping that David Beckham would return to English shores? Harry Redknapp was basically accosted by hordes of reporters every time he arrived or departed the Spurs training complex, as the latest news was desperately sought.
Nothing ever really changed during this "training period." LA Galaxy always wanted him back by the middle of February, and Tottenham were never going to pursue him and add him to a Premier League squad, if he could only play a handful of games. Despite this, rumours persisted.
Beckham’s every step was headline news, and his protracted move was surely portrayed with ample amounts of hope over much expectation? There was even half an hour of panic as Beckham sat down during training and was seen to rub his ankle. Headlines were instantly fashioned—David Beckham collapses injured! What will LA Galaxy say? Will he ever play for Galaxy or England or ever kick a football again?
Then half an our later, more headlines submitted—It was only a blister! Has there ever been more drama over a blister?
This was probably the moment when it was secretly admitted that the focus was slightly over the top. Beckham continued to train for the rest of January without quite as much intrusion, though for several days, it did seem as though he was on the brink of becoming a Tottenham player.
Ronaldinho: Blackburn
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At the start of January, it was a little peculiar that the top transfer hype surrounded players from an elder generation of footballers.
Undoubtedly once world class and deserving of back page headlines, the likes of Ronaldinho and Beckham are now sadly experiencing a slow regression in their careers and are more accustomed to their younger peers grabbing the spotlight. Yet, this did not stop avid interest in their potential moves.
Blackburn admitted they made a bid for the flamboyant Brazilian, and the new owners at Ewood Park even predicted his arrival was fairly likely, as he wanted to play in the Premier League. However, before Blackburn fans could count their chickens (sorry, awful, but far too tempting), Ronaldinho was being mobbed by 20,000 Flamengo fans, as he secured a move back to Brazil.
Robbie Keane: Birmingham
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A longstanding rumour that continued throughout the transfer window, with Birmingham constantly linked to the Irish international. Alex McLeish was continually quizzed over Keane, and for a while, the move seemed a formality.
However, midway through January, Keane abruptly denied he was ever close to joining the Midlands outfit, and finally the rumour was quashed. McLeish later expressed his frustration at missing out on his target, who went on to join West Ham.
Phil Neville: Tottenham
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With Chelsea seeking Torres on the final day of the transfer window, and then, Liverpool chasing Carroll and Suarez, it was fairly amusing to see Tottenham’s sole target rumoured to be Phil Neville.
With a bid tendered earlier in the window, rumours persisted that the Everton skipper would follow team-mate Steven Pienaar to White Hart Lane to have one last adventure in the Champions League. Neville remained silent over the prospect, fuelling the rumours further, though Everton scoffed at a final offer made just before the deadline, meaning he never got an opportunity to fully mull it over.
Chris Eagles: Everton
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Despite David Moyes insisting that Everton would not be spending any cash this transfer window, this rumour would not go away. Linked with the Toffees most transfer windows, Moyes has watched Burnley on numerous occasions over the past few years, which often initiates these rumours.
With Steven Pienaar’s departure to Tottenham, many saw Eagles as a natural replacement. Eagles himself admitted Everton wanted him, yet nothing ever materialised, suppressing the speculation once again for another transfer window.
Moyes stuck to his word, and Everton go forth with a seemingly thin squad.
Shaun Wright-Phillips: Half of the League
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Whereas Wayne Bridge and Roque Santa Cruz escaped their Manchester City nightmare, Wright-Phillips was unable to get away, with City favouring a permanent deal for the pocket-sized winger.
Nobody seemed willing to come up with any funds, favouring a loan scoop. Regardless of this, he was continually linked away from Manchester. Various rumours arose during the final days of the window, involving countless clubs lodging loan bids, but all were rebuffed by City.
Sergio Aguero: Tottenham/Chelsea (plus Diego Godin)
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Another player that appeared to be close to joining Tottenham—perhaps the continued presence of Spurs on this list lends itself to Harry Redknapp's stubborn refusal to ever conceal his transfer targets. A noble deed for those eager to gossip on transfer potential.
A few days before the transfer deadline, it was announced that Tottenham had launched an audacious bid for Aguero, that was set to trigger the release clause in the Argentinian's contract. For a while, social networks were convinced Tottenham had landed one of Europe’s deadliest predators, yet in response, Atletico Madrid simply extended his deal further.
A week earlier, it seemed Aguero, with defensive team-mate Godin, were all set for London, though this time West London, as Chelsea apparently sent in a hefty £50 million proposal. This was denied by Chelsea, but that did not stop the rumours from going into overdrive over Aguero's possible arrival.
Seb Larsson: Manchester City/Newcastle
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First, Larsson was on the brink of joining Newcastle, before it was announced he was unable to agree on personal terms. Then when Adam Johnson went down injured for Manchester City, there was incessant gossip that he would end up at Eastlands.
This would have surely ended up as one of the more peculiar twists of the January transfer window. No disrespect to Larsson, he is not exactly the calibre of most Manchester City targets. His contract runs out in the summer, perhaps I am wrong, and he will dazzle at City then.
Charlie Adam: Aston Villa/Birmingham/Liverpool/Tottenham
9 of 10
Blackpool managed to secure the services of their talismanic leader despite his personal transfer request, something not often achieved in modern day football.
However, this could be largely down to the fact that with minutes to go in the transfer window, with a bid accepted from Tottenham, Blackpool could not locate two shareholders, whose signatures were imperative to the transfer deal (impressive tactics Blackpool fans, hide your shareholders).
You have to feel for Adam, who had apparently left the football club beaming, fully expecting the move to transpire, yet ended up missing out.
Adam’s name was frequently bandied about the headlines, with bids submitted from Birmingham, Villa and Liverpool, all appearing to be at least £10 million short of Ian Holloway’s valuation of his man—and you cannot blame him considering the inflated figures that some players have gone for this window. Adam stays, for now.
Charles N'Zogbia: Newcastle
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Sure, this rumour was around for all of two minutes, before Dave Whelan flatly rejected it, but it qualifies for sheer amusement.
Newcastle sell their best striker for £35 million, leaving themselves seemingly short up top, with only Leon Best, Shola Ameobi and Peter Lovenkrands left. With barely minutes remaining until the deadline, rumours about Carlton Cole, Jay Bothroyd, Peter Crouch, among many other strikers permeate gossip chains, yet Newcastle launch a bid to sign...Charles N’Zogbia...for double what they sold him to Wigan just two years ago! Brilliant.
Fair enough, this can hardly be classed as almost happening or appearing to be on the cards, as it was rebuffed straight away—but great speculation.
Charles N'Zogbia is an impressive player, improved since his time apart from Newcastle. However, Geordie supporters would surely have been infuriated at their club's lack of appropriate action and preparation for what is now half a season without Carroll. At the very least, a stop-gap replacement should have been ready to bring in, even if only until the end of the season.
