Ten players who unexpectedly stayed put after months of transfer speculation.
10. Eliaquim Mangala (Porto)
Talented young Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala looks like being one of the next big things in world football, after a queue of clubs appeared to be fighting it out for his signature this summer. The 22-year-old is an outstanding prospect after his impressive displays in Portugal, and will surely not be there for much longer, despite eventually staying put this summer. Valued at over £20million, the French international attracted strong interest from Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City this summer, and with his name appearing in the paper almost every day, it’s a big surprise no one eventually snapped him up. Jose Mourinho remains a big fan, and may be the favourite to move for him again, depending on how his defence performs this season.
9. Nani (Manchester United)
Skillful, but frustrating winger Nani endured one of his least productive seasons in a Manchester United shirt last season, despite the team doing well overall to run away with the Premier League title. Way short of the numbers you’d expect from him in goals and assists, it seemed likely that the Portuguese international would not survive the chop under new manager David Moyes. The 26-year-old was strongly linked with some big clubs this summer, with the likes of Juventus, PSG, Monaco, Roma and Galatasaray all believed to be willing to take a punt on his inconsistent talent. In the end, however, he looks set to continue at Old Trafford for at least another year – though it may be worth noting that the Turkish transfer window has not yet closed!
8. Ander Herrera (Athletic Bilbao)
Although he only came into focus in the final few days of the transfer window, talented Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera looked a dead certainty to be joining Manchester United, before a move fell through in bizarre circumstances in the final hours of deadline day. The 24-year-old seems the ideal player to fill the void left by the retiring Paul Scholes, but United will now have to wait until January to attempt to sign him again, and it is believed Moyes still remains keen on bringing him to Old Trafford this season. Fortunately for United, they managed to confirm a happy ending for another long summer transfer saga, by signing Marouane Fellaini from Everton just before the deadline.
7. Tom Ince (Blackpool)
One of the most highly rated young players in English football, Blackpool starlet Tom Ince looked very much like becoming a Premier League player this summer. The 21-year-old winger scored 18 goals in the Championship last season, and looks too good to be playing in England’s second tier. However, having rejected a move to newly-promoted Cardiff City, interest from the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham, Everton, Newcastle and Aston Villa never amounted to anything, and Ince will continue to develop under the management of his father Paul at Bloomfield Road. He will surely be the subject of more speculation again in January, and may even end up abroad, with Inter Milan credited as another club to have watched him this summer.
6. Demba Ba (Chelsea)
A disappointment since joining Chelsea from Newcastle in January, it seemed unlikely that new manager Jose Mourinho would persist with Demba Ba. The Blues boss had a number of big-name striker targets lined up this summer, eventually bringing in Samuel Eto’o from Anzhi Makhachkala, in a move that seemed to signal the death knell for Ba at Stamford Bridge. Former club Newcastle, Roma and Arsenal were all keen on taking the Senegalese international on loan, and late on deadline day it looked like the Gunners were in pole position to land the 29-year-old, until a late change of heart from Chelsea, who decided against letting a player leave to a potential title rival. Instead, it was youngster Romelu Lukaku who made way in a loan move to Everton, although it is widely thought that he would make a better option than Ba at Chelsea right now. Surely third choice now behind Eto’o and Fernando Torres, Ba could be the subject of more interest again in the January transfer window.
5. Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle)
After Newcastle only narrowly survived relegation last season, it was widely expected that a number of their top players would look to leave the club in the summer. Yohan Cabaye was certainly someone who attracted a lot of interest for much of the summer, with PSG, Arsenal and Manchester United all thought to be chasing him. Arsenal made the first step, seeing a £10m bid rejected for the 27-year-old, and were expected to return with a higher offer closer to the Magpies’ £20m valuation of the midfielder. Cabaye seemed keen on a move, and notably sat out Newcastle’s opening game of the season away to Manchester City. On deadline day, however, Pardew confirmed that he would not allow the French international to leave this summer, with little time to bring in a potential replacement.
4. Leighton Baines (Everton)
Along with Marouane Fellaini, talented left-back Leighton Baines was a top target for David Moyes ever since he left Everton for Manchester United. The England international was a highly impressive performer for the Toffees last season, and was keen to be reunited with Moyes at Old Trafford. However, after several failed bids that didn’t truly come close to matching Everton’s asking price for the player, Baines has ended up staying at Goodison Park for the time being. Differing rumours now indicate that he will either sign a new contract and commit his future to the club, or possibly make the move to United when the transfer window opens again in January. Despite the loss of Fellaini, Everton’s late transfer activity and their unexpected ability to hold on to Baines will cap a great summer for them.
3. Juan Mata (Chelsea)
Although no one can quite understand why Chelsea would sell Juan Mata, it seemed a distinct possibility towards the end of the transfer window. Jose Mourinho has hinted that the talented Spaniard may not be part of his plans this season, after playing him in only one game so far this season, as well as bringing in Willian and Andre Schurrle as players who can also play in his position. Mata will not want to be on the bench during a World Cup year, and was reportedly keen to join any one of interested parties in Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United or Atletico Madrid, as well as PSG who were linked with a late bid for the 25-year-old on deadline day. A bizarre situation indeed, and hopefully not one that will see one of the game’s top talents wasted at Stamford Bridge this season.
2. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
After Sir Alex Ferguson claimed that Wayne Rooney had submitted a transfer request at the end of last season, it seemed inevitable that the long-running saga involving the England striker would surely only end in him ending his nine-year stay with the club. From day one, top clubs from all over Europe were linked with the 27-year-old, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and PSG, as well as a number of United’s Premier League rivals, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea. Despite the speculation over Rooney’s happiness at the club, Moyes remained adamant that he would not be sold. By the end of the transfer window, Chelsea were very public with their interest in the former Everton star, and Jose Mourinho encouraged him to submit a formal transfer request at Old Trafford. To everyone’s surprise, he did not take this advice and looks to have committed his future to the Red Devils.
1. Luis Suarez (Liverpool)
After a sensational season last year, Luis Suarez was on the radar of a whole host of top clubs this summer, particularly after expressing a desire to leave Liverpool to escape the English press, who he believed had victimized him during his time in the Premier League. Real Madrid looked to be one of his biggest admirers for some time, before Arsenal made a surprise move for him in August. Liverpool were understandably keen, however, not to sell the skillful Uruguayan to a rival, and managed to hold firm and persuade the 26-year-old to stay at the club for another season, despite being unable to offer him Champions League football. Real Madrid were linked with a last-ditch effort to sign him on deadline day, but Suarez will now be gracing our shores for at least another season, with more of his great moments of quality and controversy in equal measure.