Deadline Day: The transfers which got away

While it was a blockbuster summer transfer window, there were several big-name players who didn't make the big-money moves they may have done.

From buying clubs not matching sellers' valuations to players failing to agree personal terms, there were a range of reasons for these potential transfers falling through.

Here, we take a look at the ones that got away…

Alexis Sanchez to Manchester City

It would have been a huge Premier League transfer had it come off, but Manchester City eventually missed out on signing Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez - despite a Deadline Day offer of up to £60m for the attacker.

Pep Guardiola was keen on a reunion with the player he coached at Barcelona. However, despite Sanchez having just one year left on his contract - and so free to leave Arsenal for nothing next summer - Arsene Wenger was reluctant to sell.

Arsenal's stance on Sanchez, coupled with their inability to secure a late deal for Monaco's Thomas Lemar, ended any chance of him joining City.

Thomas Lemar to Arsenal

In a dramatic twist on Deadline Day, Arsenal made a huge £92m offer to Monaco for winger Thomas Lemar. The transfer would have potentially facilitated Alexis Sanchez's subsequent switch to Manchester City. But, despite Monaco accepting the bid from Arsenal, Lemar expressed concerns that he hadn't had enough time to consider such a big move.

After all, the offer was only made shortly before Lemar started France's World Cup Qualifier with the Netherlands in Paris. Lemar's involvement in that match would have made negotiation of personal terms and any medical very difficult. Arsenal had been interested in Lemar throughout the summer but, in the end, couldn't get the deal done.

Ross Barkley to Chelsea

In a sensational Deadline Day development, Ross Barkley pulled out of a £35m move from Everton to Chelsea mid-medical.

The England international, who had been linked with Tottenham throughout the summer, had travelled to London with his agent and was seemingly set for a switch to Stamford Bridge, despite a hamstring injury currently keeping him on the sidelines. Instead, after a change of heart, he returned to Everton, with Barkley saying he wants to reconsider his position in January.

Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool

It was the transfer saga that ran and ran throughout the summer but Virgil van Dijk remains a Southampton player, despite repeated reports claiming he would end up at Liverpool. The Netherlands international defender had seemed close to a move to Anfield earlier in the window, but Liverpool apologised for an alleged illegal approach for the player and announced they had ended their interest in the deal as a result.

That didn't end the speculation, though, and Van Dijk has been training on his own, away from the first team, as he attempted to convince Saints to sell. However, despite Chelsea and Manchester City also reportedly interested, there were no bids for the centre-back on Deadline Day.

It now remains to be seen when Van Dijk - who signed a six-year contract with Southampton in May 2016 - is reintegrated into the first-team squad, after missing their first three Premier League games.

Riyad Mahrez to Roma

It seemed Riyad Mahrez would be on his way out of Leicester when the Algeria national team announced he had been released from the squad to complete a "transfer to his new club" on Deadline Day. However, there were no new bids for the player and he will remain with the Foxes until January, at least.

Roma had looked the most likely to acquire his services, however their third and most recent bid of £31.8m was rejected over three weeks ago, as Leicester considered it to be way below their valuation of the 2015/16 Premier League winner.

Mahrez - also a reported target for Arsenal - handed in a transfer request in July but his commitment and good attitude in training has impressed boss Craig Shakespeare, who has included the winger in his Premier League squads so far this season. The Algeria international has already notched assists against Arsenal and Brighton.

Jonny Evans to Manchester City

West Brom defender Jonny Evans was a surprise target for Manchester City in the final days of the window. City saw a £18m bid rejected for the former Manchester United centre-back, while Arsenal were also reported to be interested in bringing the player to the Emirates Stadium, and Leicester saw bids of £10m and then £21m turned down.

Evans trained at the Manchester City training centre on Wednesday - but only because he was part of the Northern Ireland squad using those facilities. Ultimately West Brom boss Tony Pulis, who made Evans his captain ahead of this season, did not want to sell the defender.

Eliaquim Mangala to Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace made a Deadline Day move to try to capture Manchester City's Eliaquim Mangala. However, the south London club - who have lost their first three Premier League fixtures - were unable to agree a deal with City.

It was understood that had City been able to bring in Evans from West Brom, Palace's move for Mangala would have stood a better chance of progressing.

Diafra Sakho to Rennes

West Ham striker Diafra Sakho had a hectic couple of days but will remain with West Ham until January at least, after failing to force through a move to French club Rennes.

The forward has skipped training to travel to France on Wednesday, where he agreed personal terms and completed a medical with Rennes - without West Ham's permission. He then missed another Hammers training session on Deadline Day, as he was still returning from France.

When Sakho eventually made it back to the UK, he travelled to Chelmsford Racecourse, where his representatives were cheering their horse, Siege of Boston, to victory in the 3.20pm. From there he went on to the London Stadium to tell West Ham's owners - who had said on Wednesday evening he wasn't for sale - he wanted to leave the club for "personal problems which have nothing to do with football". However, after the meeting he decided to stay.

Andre Gomes to Tottenham

Tottenham were reported to be discussing a deal to sign Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes on Deadline Day. Barcelona were believed to have put both the Portugual international midfielder and Arda Turan on the market and Spurs, put off a move for Barkley due to his injury, were understood to be interested in a move.

West Ham were another Premier League team keen on Gomes but in the end, neither transfer materialised.