Transfer deadline days are among the most manic times in the footballing calendar. It turns rational reporters into raving lunatics, has fans crossing their fingers for a new faces and makes a mockery of coaches who agree to last-minute signings they would never dream of sanctioning at any other time.
However, despite the flurry of activity, not every deal on transfer deadline day was completed, and there were a few high-profile moves which looked on the cards only to fall apart at the last moment.
The most comical of Thursday's near-misses was Peter Odemwingie. In what will go down as a deadline day classic, the West Brom striker rocked up at Loftus Road without the Baggies' permission to talk to QPR in a desperate attempt to force through a transfer. His club had already rejected several bids. And so he waited outisde the ground for a transfer to come to fruition, but to no avail. The next time he turns up to training with his team-mates, it might be just a little awkward ...
Another last-gasp failure was Pajtim Kasami's temporary swap to Pescara from Fulham. Not for the loan move itself collapsing, but for his agent Mino Raiola's reaction to why it fell through. He furiously fumed to La Gazzetta dello Sport: "There was no [internet] connection to finalise the deal. F*** off. You can't do transfers in this s*** hotel."
Another deal that remained unsealed - once again involving Fulham - was Maarten Stekelenburg's loan move to Craven Cottage from Roma. The goalkeeper landed in London expecting to spend the next five months in the Premier League, having fallen out of favour at his Serie A side. However, the Giallorossi failed to find an adequate back-up and the deadline day deal fell through, leaving Stekelenburg to make what must have been a frustrating flight back to the Italian capital. The Netherlands international told sport-promotion.nl: "I really wanted to play for Fulham because it is a beautiful club and the Premier League is not bad either, to be using an understatement."
Everton's 10 million move for Leroy Fer was one of the more surprisingly implosions in January. The fee had been set with Twente, the terms had been agreed, the medical had been undertaken... and yet, no move occurred. What exactly happened is up for debate, with reports ranging from medical issues cropping up to the Toffees trying to renegotiate the fee after everything was concluded. Talks are rumoured to be renewed in the summer, but for now at least the move is a goner.
Finally, Aiden McGeady looked set to end his exile from the British Isles on Thursday, with Wigan set to sign the Republic of Ireland winger for 5m from Spartak Moscow. However, the Latics either failed to convince McGeady to join the relegation-threatened side, or the Russian club simp ly refused to part with their player for the price tag on offer. Roberto Martinez said late on deadline day: "It's not going to happen. Aiden is a phenomenal footballer, but is a footballer that is playing his football in Russia. I don't think that's going to change."
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