Modric to NUFC in 2008.
Dennis Wise said he was too small and not good enough 😝
The transfer deals that almost changed football history...
- Zinedine Zidane to Blackburn Rovers.
In 1995, fresh off winning the Premier League, Kenny Dalglish wanted to bring a young Zidane over from Bordeaux. Chairman Jack Walker had other ideas. "Why do you want to sign Zidane when we have Tim Sherwood?" The rest, as they say, is history.
- Gabriel Batistuta to Ipswich Town.
In 1994/95, Ipswich made a serious attempt to land Batistuta from Fiorentina for £2.9 million. Fiorentina offered him a better contract and kept him. Batigol stayed in Serie A and became a legend. Ipswich got on with things.
- Roberto Baggio to QPR.
With Les Ferdinand leaving for Newcastle, QPR briefly looked at Roberto Baggio as the man to replace him in the summer of 1995. Baggio chose AC Milan instead. QPR signed Mark Hateley. He scored twice. The club were relegated.
- Andriy Shevchenko to West Ham
In the late 1990s, West Ham made a serious attempt to bring a young Shevchenko over from Dynamo Kyiv. They could not get the deal done. He went to AC Milan instead, won the Champions League, the Ballon d'Or, and became one of the most feared strikers in football history.
Four clubs who came agonisingly close...