10 Biggest Premier League Transfers That Nearly Happened

When Luiz Felipe Scolari was unveiled as the new Chelsea boss in 2008, his number one priority was to add a creative edge to the robust squad he had inherited. He made Portuguese playmaker Deco his first signing, but Scolari wanted more.

Chelsea believed they had brokered a deal for Scolari's countryman, Robinho, to join the club from Real Madrid, in a deal believed to be worth around £30 million. However, a number of complications soon arose.

Real Madrid were willing to sell Robinho, but had reservations about selling to a Champions League rival. This was compounded when Chelsea website encouraged fans to pre-order their new away shirt with Robinho's name printed on the back.

Step forward the newly minted Manchester City, who hijacked the deal and made Robinho their first marquee signing of the Sheikh Mansour revolution. Madrid did not appreciate the hubris shown by Chelsea, though the prospect of selling to a club not in the Champions League proved to be the clincher.

Robinho would have a frustrating career in England. He was loaned to Santos just 18 months after joining Man City, before being sold to AC Milan in the summer of 2010 for around half of what they paid for him just two years prior.