The Nearly-Signings of the Benitez Era

[goodrobotusses]

Hello All,

 

I'm writing a tactical article on the team that Rafa was trying to put together season-to-season, specifically focusing on players where deals appeared to be in place (or were pursued strongly), only to fall through for the much-debated reasons we've come to know and not love (money, Parry, being gazumped on price by other clubs, Hicks/Gillett/Purslow). I've got a list together, but I'm just double-checking that I haven't forgotten any major ones...

 

Simao

Dani Alves

Vidic

Kaladze

Heinze

Malouda

Barry

Jovetic

 

If there are any I've missed off, could you qualify them with what the story was at the time (ie not speculative stuff like "they were seen at Burger King" or "it was on Tribal Football")? I remember mention of interest in Pato pre-Milan, but I don't know if that was just a case of us being one of many clubs that were interested.

 

Thanks guys.

[Hightown Phil]

Aaron Ramsey is one.

[Gilps]

Luis Figo

[Rimbeux]

Eto'o

[Jarg Armani]

David Silva

Michael Turner and/or Ryan Shawcross

[Murphman]

Kenwyn Jones.

Neil Lennon.

[Andy-oh-six]

Owen in 2005. Don't think Rafa was that into him though.

[Bologna]

Marco Di Vaio

 

I attended a question and answer session with him last September and he said "I was very close to joining Liverpool but they opted for Morientes instead."

[yellow jumper]

are these just names we were linked with? because there's a difference between that and alves/simao where we know there were offers made.

 

anyway, pretty sure banega, higuain and aguero were all on the radar before they moved to spain.

[épieur]

harsh to put Heinze on that list. No liverpool manager was ever going to sign him.

 

Same with Villa. We may have tried for him but he didn't want to come to England.

 

 

[domlfc]

Owen in 2005. Don't think Rafa was that into him though.

He was, club dithered on a deal for him so Owen went with the safe option which he knew 100% would complete in time!!

[JonShar]

Freddy Adu.

[Antynwa]

Wasn't Simao on the plane and the club changed it's mind?

[Swipe]

David Villa before he joined Valencia?

[honourablegeorge]

harsh to put Heinze on that list. No liverpool manager was ever going to sign him.

 

Same with Villa. We may have tried for him but he didn't want to come to England.

 

 

Tried for him before he went to Valencia, didn't we? He was one of the first players we were linked to.

[Benzo-13]

Yep Villa was at Zaragoza.

[fred milne]

harsh to put Heinze on that list. No liverpool manager was ever going to sign him.

Not sure I follow that.

[Hassony]

Kenwyn Jones.

Neil Lennon.

 

Neil Lennon?

 

you mean Aaron no?

Emile Heskey

Edited April 27, 2011 by Hassony

[Gomez]

Ramsey was a deal agreed wasn't it? Not sure how far we got with Walcott, but we were interested as was he (allegedly), and Rafa spoke out about not matching the 'crazy' wages.

[Rimbeux]

Not sure I follow that.

 

 

If we're in accordance with the OP, it's just the ones that can in some way be pinned on owners or execs.

[Conrad]

Chamakh

[Epic Swindle]

Tompkins will help you out.

[downunder]

Aaron Ramsey is one.

 

Although Rafa didn't want him, according to what I was told by the person who recommended him to Rafa.

[jimmylibel]

Aguero. We were supposedly monitoring him very closely and there was a lot of speculation that we were going to sign him as a 'one for the future' type signing ala Lucas.

 

However Atletico then came in with a big bid which gazumped us apparently.

[épieur]

If we're in accordance with the OP, it's just the ones that can in some way be pinned on owners or execs.

 

And this one didn't happen solely due to Ferguson.