By Toby Prince
The 2015 Barclays Premier League summer transfer window might have come and gone but its scars and memories are still fresh in the hearts of many. Record breaking deals were recorded while career aiding deals were obstructed.
Despite handing their transfer requests, missing training sessions and even skipping games for not being mentally and physically fit to play, some players’ dream of making moves elsewhere were thwarted. What now is the fate of such players? Will they be welcomed back into the first team, banished to the reserves or left in the limbo so as to make them pay for their unfaithfulness to the clubs?
We highlight five of the most anticipated deals in the Premier League that failed to materialise.
- David De Gea ( Manchester United- Real Madrid)
Probably the biggest transfer of the summer that never happened, David De Gea’s dream of returning to Spain came to shreds after both clubs failed to finalise a deal before the transfer deadline.
The former Atletico Madrid goalie was earmarked as a replacement for long-serving keeper Iker Casillas who moved to FC Porto.
He hasn’t played for Manchester United this season as his coach Luis Van Gaal claims “he doesn’t want to play” for the club.
The big question is, what next for De Gea?
- John Stones ( Everton – Chelsea)
Another prospective transfer that failed to see the light of the day was Chelsea’s move to snap John Stones from Everton. Despite the Blues making repeated mouth-watering bids for the youngster, Toffees boss Roberto Martinez insisted “I have said it before that the player is not for sale and that is the end of it.”
The young English defender went as far handing in a transfer request to force his way out of Goodison park but the club was adamant.
Unlike De Gea, Stones has featured in all Everton’s four games thus far despite all the speculations surrounding his future.
- Saido Berahino (West Brom – Tottenham)
After seeing another English youngster Raheem Sterling step up the ladder from Liverpool to Manchester City, Saido Berahino believed the time was right to leave the Hawthorns.
West Brom turned down a couple of offers from Tottenham for their most prized asset with the club reluctant to let him go.
The Baggies even rejected a written transfer request from the 22-year-old. “I have informed Saido that he will not be transferred during this summer and he is staying at the club,” club chairman Jeremy Peace insisted.
Angry that his move to Spurs stalled, the England U-21 star vowed “never to play” for West Brom again.
- Victor Wanyama (Southampton – Tottenham)
The second player desperate to force a move to White Hart Lane, Victor Wanyama only joined the Saints two summers ago from Scottish Champions, Celtic.
The 24-year-old was left out of his club’s 3-0 win over Norwich for not being “mentally and physically good enough to play,” according to Saints boss Ronald Koeman.
The Kenyan asked to leave Southampton but the club insisted the player isn’t for sale.
In his case, the coach is ready to welcome him back with both arms into the first team despite the controversies about his future
“If Victor shows the commitment to the team and he comes back we would like to have him in the team, that is no problem,” Koeman said.
- Emmanuel Adebayor (Tottenham – West Ham)
The case of Emmanuel Adebayor is a really sad one, a different scenario from the aforementioned cases.
Unlike Berahino and Wanyama, the Togo skipper is not wanted by Tottenham as the club is eager to let off the player from their payroll.
Linked with a move to West Ham, Spurs offered to cancel the final season of the striker’s £100,000 a week contract so he could move as a free agent — but he wanted it paid up in full.
Now he is staying at Tottenham after refusing to back down on his demand for a £5million pay-off ahead of a move to West Ham.
The Togo striker, 31, could now spend the season in limbo — he remains out in the cold at White Hart Lane, to such an extent he doesn’t even have a squad number.
