Transfers that did not happen, Part Seven

1- Internazionale Milano tried to sign West Germany’s Uwe Seeler in 1961. Seeler revealed that Inter had offered him a 200,000 British Pounds signing on fee and a Villa and a car.

However, he was reluctant to be tied to Inter contractually for a substantial amount of time, therefore he asked that he be granted a 150,000 British Pounds payoff at the end of three years and a free transfer back to West Germany.

This broke the deal as Inter found this too demanding.

Photo From:  World Soccer, December 1995

(Uwe Seeler, July 23, 1966, World Cup, West Germany 4-Uruguay 0)

2- Russian striker Oleg Salenko, who was the joint top goalscorer of 1994 World Cup, had signed for Tottenham Hotspur from Dinamo Kiev in January 1993. However, the deal was cancelled after he was not able to obtain a work permit from the British Government.

The rule at the time was that foreign player (not from the European Community) should at least played in 75% of their respective national team’s matches from the previous two years to be considered and Salenko did not meet the quota.

Photo From:  Onze-Mondial, Issue 66, July 1994

(Oleg Salenko with Roger Milla, June 28, 1994, World Cup, Russia 6-Cameroon 1)

3- Around 1978 Nottingham Forest Manager Brian Clough attempted to sign Kevin Keegan, however, Keegan chose to remain at SV Hamburg.

Photo From:  Onze, Issue 35, November 1978

(Kevin Keegan with SV Hamburg, 1978/79)

Photo From:  World Soccer, November 1980

(Brian Clough and his assistant Peter Taylor)

4-Arsene Wenger was approached in 1994 by Bayern Munich to be their Manager for the 1994/95, but he declined choosing to stay at AS Monaco.

Bayern turned instead to Italian Giovanni Trapattoni.

Photo From:  World Soccer, September 1976

(Arsene Wenger with AS Monaco’s two new English signings in 1987, Mark Hateley and Glenn Hoddle)

5-Sir Alex Ferguson tried on numerous occasions to sign Sheffield Wednesday striker David Hirst. However, Sheffield Wednesday Manager Trevor Francis was not willing to sell.

Finally, Ferguson opted to sign Eric Cantona instead in November of 1992.

Photo From:  England, Player by Player, Author Graham Betts

(Sheffield Wednesday’s David Hirst)