There is always a fair share of drama involved in each transfer window. That is what makes it so exciting, right?
From deals going through at the last minute to moves not materialising at all, the drama usually continues right up to the final minute. But there are some past dealings that have been unfavourable to say the least. Whether it be a player dragging his feet as his boss punts him on loan or a manager standing guard to kick an incoming star to the kerb, football has seen it all. Or how about a week-long deal? Does anyone want to hedge a guess on who I might be talking about there? Does your brain FLOOD you with memories? Whether or not fans are best pleased with recruits it is also a key factor, and there have certainly been some arrivals who have royally ticked supporters off.
There are most definitely too many unusual and unexpected switches to mention. We don't have all day! But there are a fair few worth a shout so Record Sport have detailed some of the most unwanted transfer deals through the years....
Marian Shved
How is this for not exactly feeling like you were number one choice? "We’ve got about a million wingers and don’t need another one." That was the response from Brendan Rodgers when asked about Celtic's pursuit of the winger from Ukraine.
The Hoops boss then went on to say: “The club have been in contact with Marian’s representatives and he’s a talented young player for the future. They’ll look to get the deal done and he’ll probably be out on loan and come into the club in the summer. I haven’t seen a great deal of him. It’s something that’s come to the club through circumstance and he’s been watched and looked at, but I can’t say I know a great deal about him." It wasn't exactly a ringing endorsement.
The former Celtic man is currently refusing to play as he looks to force a move away from Belgium side Mechelen. Shved has put his foot down as he attempts to negotiate a move back to his homeland. The 25-year-old is looking for a transfer to Shakhtar Donetsk before the window slams shut this this summer. Let’s hope for his sake Shaktar’s boss makes him feel more welcome than Rodgers did back in 2019.
Kenny Miller
Kenny Miller was subject to widespread fan disapproval on a number of occasions. But none more so than in 2008 when the striker was gearing up to return to Rangers for a third stint at the Ibrox side. Trouble is he’d also played for Celtic.
Miller completed his move to join Ally McCoist's team, with the boss also in the firing line as fans made their stance on the deal very much known. But, having won the support over in style the last time, Miller was determined to repeat the trick as he made his return to Govan, again.
Even Gers legend Walter Smith stepped up to back Miller. Sir Walter had made the move to the board room, and was quick to hit out at the drama, insisting it was only the "most narrow-minded of supporters who would continue to dislike the forward simply because he spent one season in the other side of the city. If the reason people don't like him is because he's been here before and they don't think he's good enough then that's fine. It's not my opinion but it is what it is."
Julien Faubert
There were just two days left in the 2009 January transfer window when Yvan Le Mée picked up his phone to hear a Real Madrid representative on the other end. The club rep was keen to find out whether his client Julien Faubert could be available on loan from West Ham for the rest of the season.
At the time, Faubert had been capped just once for France - three years prior - with just eight appearances for West Ham since joining from Bordeaux in 2007. Let's call a spade a spade, the injury prone winger was not your usual target for one of Europe's most famous clubs. Even the player himself couldn't quite believe it after receiving a call from a man claiming to represent Real as he travelled back from Fulham on the Hammers team bus. "I told him I had to prepare for an important game and I had no time for this s***,” he said in an interview with the Athletic. “I turned off my phone.”
However, it was full steam ahead and the negotiations began when the reps arrived at Heathrow. The Frenchman went on to pen a loan deal worth £1.5million, with the option to sign the player on a three-year contract. Although, the permanent move never materialised after Faubert made only two appearances for the Spanish side. Judging by the picture above, even legendary Madrid man Alfredo di Stefano couldn’t quite believe the transfer.
The surprises didn't stop there, though, with the winger making the headlines after mistakenly thinking he had the day off and being accused of falling asleep on the bench as his new side took on Villarreal. He later admitted to closing his eyes because he was 'bored'. Wouldn't we all be? Probably not...
Willo Flood
If you look up 'unwanted transfer' in the dictionary, you may well find Willo Flood's move to Dunfermline in 2018. The Irishman netted an impressive zero goals over zero appearances, leaving just one week after joining the Fife outfit.
The midfielder joined the Pars after his fourth spell with Dundee United came to an end the previous season. He had also enjoyed spells elsewhere in Scotland with Celtic and Aberdeen. But his time at Dunfermline was certainly short-lived. Some may say his heart was only Pars-tially in it? One look at his coupon upon being paraded certainly suggests so.
The then Scottish Championship club "regretfully" announced that they had terminated the midfielder's contract as a clause in his newly signed contract allowed him - for a short window - to depart the club and move abroad if the opportunity arose.
Republic of Ireland Under-21 cap explained: "I would like to thank Allan and the club for their understanding in this matter, as I fully appreciate it leaves them in a very difficult and embarrassing position. This opportunity is just too good for me and my family to turn down. I have only been in training for a week, but I have really enjoyed my short time at East End Park and genuinely wish the club every success this season."
Peter Odemwingie
Peter Odemwingie was more than keen to make his move away from West Bromwich Albion during 2012/13 season. The arrival of goalscoring prodigy Romelu Lukaku cast an overbearing shadow over the player, who took to Twitter to share his frustrations.
His social media campaign did not go down well with boss Steve Clarke. The Nigerian faced the prospect of being fined two weeks' wages before further ostracising himself, decreasing the likeliness of his Baggies' career comeback.
In the midst of the drama, rumours began to circulate linking the striker with a move to Queens Park Rangers. But as the January transfer window edged towards its final days, the Odemwingie saga continued, before reaching a confusing conclusion in the Loftus Road car park.
In between leaving the West Brom training ground, saying goodbye to his teammates to arriving at Loftus Road, nobody had taken the time to tell the forward his move was not going...forward.
The clubs knew this, the reporters knew this, the only person who wasn’t privy to the move was apparently Odemwingie himself. As the player pulled up in West London, TV cameras surrounded his Range Rover as he talked positively about his 'move'. He even declared his desire to keep QPR in the Premier League. Awkward.
Jules Kounde
In more recent confusion, Jules Kounde could be set for a Barcelona exit before his arrival has even been made official. The centre-back made the £46million move to the Catalan club at the end of July. But his career at the Nou Camp could be over before it has even begun as he remains unregistered for La Liga matches amid the Spanish giant's financial problems.
The Spanish top-flight side are stamping their feet, refusing to allow Barca to register Kounde until they cut down their massive bill. It means that at least one player will need to pack their bags. Kounde has a clause in his contract that states he is free to leave Barca if he is not registered by August 31.
The activation of the clause in his contract is now looming with the defender thought to be increasingly annoyed at his situation. So, now the struggling side have just days to sell either fringe players or agree a big money move for the likes of Frenkie de Jong - who hasn't been in the news much this summer...
Olivier Ntcham
Olivier Ntcham's loan move to Marseille was easy, light, breezy. Aye, very good.
The Hoops ace joined the French outfit on loan in February last year for the remainder of the 2020/21 campaign. But the switch was clouded by controversy as it lead to boss Andre Villas-Boas' suspension and subsequent resignation. In a remarkable press conference, AVB stunned those present by saying: "This is a decision not made by me. He's a player I specifically said no to. I learned about it when I woke up and went on the number 1 website for OM news." Ouch. What good are first impressions anyway, eh?
The Marseille boss had previously informed the board that he was not interested in signing the player. But the deal was done anyway. The gaffer didn't take it lying down, though, and came out to publicly criticise the club chiefs. The diss resulted in the club suspending the manager before Villas-Boas quit for good.
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