The top six clubs could have had another look to them after the
summer transfer window - today we look at the deals that almost happened
and how different things could have been
Today I'll review the most high-profile of these and looks at just how different
the 2011-12 season could have been for the players and clubs involved if
only certain deals had just got over the finishing line.
Charlie Adam was minutes away from
securing a switch to Tottenham but in the end had to stay at Blackpool
Gary Cahill looked like one of the
dead certainties to be on the move to a top club last summer. moved to Chelsea recently instead of Tottenham.
Radamel Falcao, the prolific striker who had
helped fire Atletico to treble glory in a 38-goal season.
Liverpool had a bid accepted by
Blackburn for Phil Jones and seemed to be leading the chase for his
signature for a brief spell before he was instead tempted to Old
Trafford by champions Manchester United.
Romelu Lukaku was
attracting admiring glances from a number of clubs in the summer but it
was London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea who were leading the race to
secure him having been long-term admirers.
. Last summer, the Spaniard finally left Mestalla,
joining Chelsea in a €28m deal
Samir Nasri - Manchester United |
One of the biggest transfer sagas
this summer saw Samir Nasri at the centre of a tug-of-war between
Manchester City, Manchester United and his then current club Arsenal.
Many Arsenal fans have believed Scott
Parker is exactly what their side need for a number of years and this
summer the Gunners were strongly linked with a move.
As well as chasing Luka Modric
throughout the summer, Chelsea’s search for a creative midfield took them close to bringing in Argentine Javier Pastore from
Palermo.
Ashley Young - Manchester City |
After it became clear Ashley Young
would not be extending his Aston Villa contract – which had one year
left to run – in the summer, it was the two clubs from Manchester who
led the chase to sign him.