By Grant James

Transfer windows are football fans’ favourite time of the year, where they anticipate their club can pull off the deal of a life time. Football is a game that can throw-up the occasional mouthwatering transfer story no one could predict in a million years and sometimes, these bizarre deals become a reality. Such as when relegation threatened West Ham signed 2 of Argentina’s most highly rated prospects in Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano back in 2006 and German giants Bayern Munich signed Tranmere Rovers winger Dale Jennings in 2011. Unfortunately, many ambitious bids are unsuccessful, so in this article, we look back at six outrageous transfers that, sadly for football, never happened.

6) Rivaldo to Bolton Wanderers

In 2001, Bolton manager Sam Allardyce offered Brazillian legend Rivaldo £1million a year in wages to join the Premier League club. However, representatives at Bolton became frustrated at Rivaldo’s indecisiveness and his reluctance to give the club a final answer. The World Cup and Ballon d’Or winner ended up signing for Olympiakos, with chairman Phil Gartside stating he was focusing on the ‘money side of the game, not football.’

5) Robert Lewandowski to Blackburn Rovers

Sam Allardyce almost pulled off another shock transfer, after a £4.2million bid for the Lech Poznan striker was accepted back in 2008. Unfortunately for the Lancashire club, the Icelandic ash cloud scuppered his flight to England and the Pole went on to sign for Borussia Dortmund.

4) Zinedine Zidane to Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers

Agent Barry Silkman revealed Newcastle rejected the opportunity to sign Zidane from Bordeux for a measly £1.2million in 2001. The Frenchman signed for Juventus for the same price, before moving to Real Madrid for £48million just 2 years later. Blackburn were also in the hunt, but Rovers owner Jack Walker decided against the move, saying “Why do you want to sign Zidane when we have Tim Sherwood?”

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3) Steven Gerrard to Chelsea

During Euro 2004, Gerrard had decided to move to Chelsea and even texted manager Jose Mourinho to announce his decision. A bid in the region of £32million was reported to have been lined-up, but after an ear-bashing from his father and death threats sent to his family home, Gerrard turned his back on Chelsea and an extra £15million in wages to stay on Merseyside.

2) Neymar to West Ham United

In 2010, West Ham bid £16million for Santos wonder kid Neymar, which was followed by a £20million bid from Chelsea. Both bids were rejected by the Brazilian club, who sold him to Barcelona 2 years later for reportedly £71.5million. Imagine if West Ham had pulled that one off!

1) Ronaldinho to St. Mirren

In probably the most bizarre story of all time, Ronaldinho came extremely close to signing for Scottish club St. Mirren in 2001. Unfortunately, due to a fake passport scandal in Brazil and sluggishness on part of the Brazilian FA, the deal fell through in the last minute. What a story that would have been.

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