The 6 big transfers that didn't happen
Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas to Chelsea. Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao to Manchester United. Mario Balotelli to Liverpool. Alexis Sanchez to Arsenal.
With English Premier League clubs in a spending frenzy as they splashed out a record £835 million ($1.72 billion) on new players, the recently-closed transfer window has been an intriguing one to watch with several blockbuster moves.
But much more money could have been spent if these big transfers had taken place...
1) ARTURO VIDAL
If you believed every word from the various publications in Europe and Chile, Arturo Vidal has undergone more medicals and made more verbal agreements in one transfer window than most players would have in their entire careers.
Yet, despite the wishes of millions of Manchester United fans and the constant reports that a deal was close, the highly-sought after Chilean midfield enforcer remains in Turin with Serie A champions Juventus.
2) MATS HUMMELS
Borussia Dortmund boss Juergen Klopp rightfully poured nothing but scorn on media reports which suggested that Manchester United had agreed a paltry £16m fee for the World Cup winning centre-back.
He famously claimed he would eat a broomstick if the "bulls**t" story came to pass.
It's hard to see Klopp changing his diet in the near future after he handed the Bundesliga side's captaincy to the Arsenal and Barcelona target.
3) SAMI KHEDIRA
The German midfielder, who was attracting admiring glances from Arsenal and Chelsea, looked set to depart Real Madrid for a cut-price £12m after Carlo Ancelotti revealed that he had rejected a new contract with the European champions.
But after Angel di Maria's record transfer to Manchester United, the Italian boss put his foot down to prevent another of his star players being forced out of the Santiago Bernabeu.
4) PETR CECH
He might have lost the aura of invulnerability that he used to have during Jose Mourinho's first title-winning days at Chelsea, but there's no denying that a Petr Cech is still a very good goalkeeper.
Despite losing the No 1 spot to Belgian sensation Thibaut Courtois and with Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool hovering, the Czech international looks set to extend his 10-year association with Stamford Bridge for the time being as back-up.
5) MARCO REUS
Another Borussia Dortmund player that Juergen Klopp vowed to keep, Reus is one of the hottest properties in Europe's elite clubs all keen on securing the exciting attacking midfielder's services.
Reported interest from Liverpool failed to materialise this transfer window, but it looks like only a matter of time before the German international leaves the Signal Iduna Park.
6) EDINSON CAVANI
Reports of the Uruguayan goal machine's unhappiness of being shunted to the wing at Paris Saint-Germain to accommodate Zlatan Ibrahimovic seemed to suggest that a move across the channel to England was nigh, especially with a perpetual interest from Manchester United and Liverpool needing a marquee striker to fill in for Luis Suarez.
Even though Arsenal threw their hat into the ring late in the transfer window, there was to be no move for Cavani, who scored a cracking goal for Laurent Blanc's side in 5-0 thrashing of Saint Etienne over the weekend.
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now