Deadline day can be frantic for many clubs. It’s a situation similar to rushing through your assignments just hours before its submission. Clubs, just like most students, like to leave their work until the end. The excitement and unpredictability of the deadline day adds to the drama that unfolds.
But not everything goes according to plan. There have been occasions where transfers that looked certain to be completed took an unexpected turn.
Let’s look at some deadline day deals that fell through.
-
Peter Odemwingie
Peter Odemwingie took matters into his own hands by trying to force a deadline day move to QPR. The forward drove to Loftus Road in an attempt to convince the club to sign him and rid him of his miserable time at West Brom. Under comical circumstances, the Nigerian forward felt it would be okay to do an interview while in the car-park. This news didn’t do him any favours as he lost quite of lot of fans at West Brom. Till this day, he remains firm that his decision to go there was only because he felt the deal was complete.
-
Ross Barkley
Ross Barkley has always been unpredictable. On his day, he has the ability to unlock any defence with his passing, otherwise, he can have a pretty miserable outing. Little did we know that this unpredictability would follow the Englishman in his transfer forays too.
Chelsea and Everton had agreed on a deal of £30 million for Barkley in the dying hours of Deadline day 2017. However, in what can be termed as bizarre; the midfielder changed his mind midway through the medical to announce his decision of staying at Goodison Park.
-
Alexis Sanchez
His name deserves a mention. After toying with most of the top clubs in the summer over a potential move, Alexis has to stay at Arsenal for the time being. Arsenal’s 4-0 loss to Liverpool saw Sanchez sulk to the ground, a sight that has become eerily familiar to Arsenal fans. It was only a matter of when, and not if, he would leave the club. After a frantic 24 hours, where it seemed all but certain that the Chilean would move to Manchester City; the deal did not fall through following Lemar’s refusal of moving to the Emirates.
-
Riyad Mahrez
This one is a shocker. Riyad Mahrez’s move away from Leicester City seemed inevitable after he was officially given a leave from national team duties to finalize his transfers. Hours of speculations later, he remains a Leicester player. The reasons for his deal not falling through remains to be seen, but it was definitely strange.
-
Fernando Llorente
Another one that got away? Chelsea were linked with the then Swansea striker, Fernando Llorente for most of the transfer window. However, much like most of their transfer targets; he too slipped from their buttery fingers. Tottenham Hotspurs were the beneficiaries in this transaction. Llorente had shaped Swansea’s fight last season, thanks to some crucial goals.  Chelsea have looked to add some more resilience up front as Batshuayi has failed to live up to his price tag.
