Sometimes the transfers that don’t happen on deadline day are as interesting as the ones that get over line.
In fact, they’re often more fascinating. If a transfer collapses, especially this late in the window, it’s because a club may have performed a sudden U-turn, a player has failed a medical, or something completely unforeseen arises.
This summer contained multitudes of drama, which continued right up until the last day of the transfer window. So we’ve collated a few Premier League deals that failed to come off and why.
Two clubs in particular, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur, feature prominently after they attempted to complete a slew of deals, but were left disappointed in most cases.
The Premier League transfers that collapsed on deadline day:
Mo Salah to Al-Ittihad
This transfer can still happen due to the fact that Saudi Arabia’s deadline isn’t until September 7, but with Liverpool unable to sign a replacement now there is no chance they will sell Mo Salah. Al-Ittihad made a verbal offer of £100 million plus another £50m in add-ons for the Egyptian, but that was rejected out of hand. It emerged that the Tigers were willing to pay up to £200m, but no concrete offer was made before the deadline. Will they return for Salah in January?
Liverpool sign Gravenberch to complete nightmare deadline day for Bayern
Trevoh Chalobah to Spurs/Forest/Bayern
Chelsea sold a fair few academy graduates in the summer window to fund their lavish spending, but one man they could not shift was Trevoh Chalobah, and it wasn’t for a lack of suitors. A loan deal with Bayern appeared to be all but done, but the German club turned their attentions to Southampton’s Armel Bella-Kotchap and missed out on both. Nottingham Forest attempted a £25m swoop for the centre-back, before Tottenham came in with a late offer, but a move never materialised.
Deadline Day XI: The best players to move clubs on final day
João Palhinha to Bayern
What a disaster of a day that was for Bayern Munich. Not only did they lose Ryan Gravenberch to Liverpool, but they failed to sign any of their four transfer targets on deadline day. The headline player they went for was Fulham’s Joao Palhinha, who completed his medical and even promotional duties, but the Cottagers couldn’t find a replacement (more on that coming up). If Germany’s deadline wasn’t 5pm, the Portuguese would probably be a Bayern man right now. With drama like this, no wonder they’re known as FC Hollywood.
Deadline Day drama as Bayern Munich miss out on £55m transfer
News #Palhinha: It’s over – the Portuguese international is leaving Munich. Flight back to London at 9pm.
????⚪️@SkySportDE | @Plettigoal pic.twitter.com/XVghhROI5L
— BenHeckner (@SkySport_Ben) September 1, 2023
Conor Gallagher to Spurs
Tottenham made a late effort to sign Conor Gallagher from Chelsea, which would have been the first deal between the two London rivals since Gus Poyet in 2004. In the end the 23-year-old decided he wanted to stay and fight for his place in the first team under Mauricio Pochettino, who seems to rate the midfielder.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to Fulham/Atletico Madrid
The Dane was linked with Manchester United this summer, but the Red Devils shifted their focus onto Sofyan Amrabat, who has moved to Old Trafford on a season-long loan from Fiorentina. Fulham wanted Hojbjerg as a replacement for Palhinha, but he wasn’t keen on joining the west London outfit. Neither did he want to join Atletico Madrid on loan. It could prove to be a positive for Tottenham, as Hojbjerg is still a useful midfielder and certainly better than Oliver Skipp.
Every single Premier League transfer on deadline day
Ian Maatsen to Burnley
Another Chelsea academy grad who the Blues tried to shift, Ian Maatsen was lined up to join Burnley on a season-long loan. He helped the Clarets win the Championship last season, but chose not to reunite with Vincent Kompany. The Dutchman was then filmed celebrating the fact that he would be remaining at Stamford Bridge.
Ian Maatsen was recorded on Snapchat saying ‘Up the Blues, I’m still here’ whilst Sky sport is saying hest off to Burnley. ???????? pic.twitter.com/nZNMbVYXQn
— CFCDatro (@CFCDatro) September 2, 2023
Demarai Gray to Lille
Having been linked with possible moves to Fulham and and the Saudi Pro League, it seemed likely that Demarai Gray would leave Everton on deadline day. Lille had a loan deal lined up, but reports in France suggest that the Toffees changed their mind and he stayed put as a result.
Tosin Adarabioyo to Spurs/Monaco
The centre-back looked set to join Monaco last week, but Fulham wanted to send him to Tottenham as part of a swap deal for Eric Dier. Neither deal came about by deadline day and Adarabioyo will remain at Craven Cottage with his contract running out next summer.
Spurs sign Johnson but miss out on Chelsea transfer
Harrison Reed to Everton
Everton were hoping to add reinforcements with another struggle in store for the Merseyside outfit this season. In the end they let four players leave and signed nobody after being linked with a move for energetic Fulham midfielder Harrison Reed.
Transfer fee revealed as Man Utd sign Amrabat
Eric Dier, Scott McTominay and Stuart Armstrong to Fulham
I did say Fulham would feature prominently. Marco Silva did want Dier as a potential replacement for Adarabioyo, but that felt like a long shot from early on in the day. They were also linked with midfielders Scott McTominay of Man United and Southampton’s Stuart Armstrong, but neither move was going to happen after they failed to shift their own players.
Read – Why Premier League clubs are spending so much on midfielders
Read Also – Forest pip Premier League rival to ex-Liverpool hero
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