Transfers that did not happen, Part Fourteen

1- In 1968, Belgium’s Wilfried van Moer almost joined Club Brugge from Antwerp.

He had even signed a pre-contract. Club Brugge dragged on the negotiations hoping to get a reduced fee. One day or so before the transfer deadline Standard Liege came in and offered 3 Million Belgian Francs plus Velko Naumovic.

Antwerp refused as they only wanted money. Standard therefore offered 1 Million more. Brugge counter-offered with 5.5 Million.

Standard Liege offered 6.3 Million Belgian Francs and acquired van Moer, even though the player himself had his mind set on joining Brugge.

Photo From: Mondial, New series, issue 22, January 1982

(Wilfried van Moer during the 1980 Euros)

2- In February 1989, Rangers Glasgow Player-Manager Graeme Souness tried to sign Dynamo Kiev and USSR midfielder Vasily Rats.

Nothing materialized and the player shortly afterwards joined Spain’s RCD Espanol Barcelona.

Photo From: Mondial, new series, Issue 91, October 1987

(Graeme Souness at Rangers Glasgow)

Photo From: World Soccer, April 1989

(USSR’s Vasily Rats)

3- On April 28, 1978, Brazil and Flamengo’s Zico disclosed that Barcelona had contacted him. The offer was refused.

Photo From: Onze, Issue 8, August 1976

(Zico at Flamengo)

4-In the Spring of 1985, it was reported that SV Hamburg’s General Manager Gunter Netzer had tried to sign Kaiserslautern’s Andreas Brehme.

He had offered a substantial fee, in addition Scottish striker Mark McGhee and Jurgen Groh.

SV Hamburg publically denied of making this exchange deal.

Photo From: Fussball Magazin, Issue 5, September October 1979

(Gunter Netzer)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 19, August 1990

(Andreas Brehme, July 4, 1990, World Cup, West Germany 1-England 1)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 89, May 1983

(SV Hamburg’s Jurgen Groh)

Photo From: Fussball Magazin, Issue 1, January February 1985

(Scotland’s Mark McGhee at SV Hamburg, 1984/85)

5-In December 1978, it was reported that Manchester United had approached Austria’s Wacker Innsbruck to sign their International goalkeeper Frierich Koncilia. The deal did not materialize and Koncilia joined Anderlecht the following season.

Photo From: Mondial, old series, Hors-Serie, Issue 2, 1978

(Austria goalkeeper Friedrich Koncilia)