12 Ridiculous Sunderland Transfer Rumours That Never Happened

10. Mathieu Valbuena

From one end of the height scale to the other, as French wizard Mathieu Valbuena was linked with a switch from Marseille to Sunderland in a reported £8 million deal following a fantastic World Cup for the diminutive midfielder. At 5'4", Valbuena wouldn't have added any muscle to the midfield, but what he lacks in height, he more than certainly makes up for with sheer skill. There was never a chance Sunderland were realistically going to land a player like him, though it was surprising to see him pen a deal with Dynamo Moscow soon after.