10 Biggest Premier League Transfers That Nearly Happened

In 2008, Aston Villa were a club with a series ambition to break into the Premier League top four, and thus qualify for the Champions League. Frustrated at the lack of progress being made on his domestic transfer targets, Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe, Villa manager Martin O'Neill decided to cast his net further afield.

Columbian striker Falcao, who was plying his trade in Argentina for River Plate, soon emerged as a realistic target. The British press began reporting that a deal for the then relatively unknown 22 year old was on the verge of completion for a mere £5 million.

For whatever reason, the deal was never completed, and Martin O'Neill eventually settled on Wigan striker Emile Heskey for £3.5 million.

Perhaps it was the degree of risk involved in bringing an unknown commodity to England, but it is a decision that Villa fans must surely rue to this day.