Palace’s Van Dijk Snub, Blackburn’s Lewandowski Near Miss: 5 Transfers That Nearly Happened

After listing our worst transfers of the season so far last week, we have decided to delve deeper into the archives for this article, looking at some transfers that could have happened.

There are all sorts of complications when it comes to sealing a player’s signature. Transfer demands changing at the last minute, agents muddying the waters by asking for a bigger cut, while players may back out after having a change of heart.

However, some of the reasons given on this list of failed transfers will surprise you, especially considering some of the players the clubs lost out on.

Press the next page as we go through five transfers that nearly happened.

Crystal Palace Turned Down Chance To Sign Virgil Van Dijk For £6m

Neil Warnock has confirmed that Palace tried to sign van Dijk from Celtic in 2014 for only £6m, but the club’s chief scout was worried by the Dutchman’s lack of pace.

After staying at the Scottish champions for another year, van Dijk moved to Southampton before a £75m switch to Liverpool in 2018.

Wigan And Manchester City Both Rejected Pep Guardiola

Guardiola has revealed that he tried to join a Premier League club as a player on two separate occasions during his mid-30s but he was “too old.”

After leaving Qatari side Al-Ahli in 2005, Wigan and Manchester City were both approached by the player but neither decided to take him on.

Blackburn Lost Out On Robert Lewandowski Due To An Ash Cloud

Rovers had agreed an €8m fee with Lech Poznan for the striker in 2008 but an ash cloud from a volcano in Iceland stopped flights coming in and out of the UK.

It gave Borussia Dortmund time to swoop in and secure Lewandowski’s signature a couple of weeks later. The Polish legend has scored 486 goals in his senior career.

West Ham Rejected Andriy Shevchenko

Harry Redknapp claims that he had Shevchenko on trial at the Hammers in 1995 but the forward did not stand out and, with Dynamo Kyiv demanding £1m, he opted against a deal.

The Ukrainian forward went on to lift multiple trophies with AC Milan, as well as winning the Ballon d’Or in 2004.

Burnley Lost Out On Michael Essien

The midfielder had impressed playing for Ghana at the Under 17 World Cup in 1999 and he was given a trial by Burnley who were impressed with his ability.

However, Essien was not signed as the Clarets weren’t willing to pay any of their youth players more than £60 a week.

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