Four deadline day signings Spurs just missed out on over the years

Tottenham Hotspur pulled off a little deadline day magic this summer, bringing in Giovani Lo Celso and Ryan Sessegnon in the dying hours.

Deadline day signings are no stranger at Spurs. The club has made several last-ditch signings on the last day possible and they have often worked out, from Hugo Lloris to Rafa van Der Vaart.

However, many players came close to signing for the club on deadline day over the year, but the deals ultimately fell through.

We look at the four-deadline day ‘nearly transfers’:

Leandro Damiao

For years, Tottenham Hotspur was heavily linked with Leandro Damiao. The whole situation became a long-running joke with the club unable to complete the transfer.

Damiao seemed destined for a move to north London due to a sporting partnership with Internacional.

However, the deal fell through, and Spurs never got their man (Guardian).

Damiao would go on to play for Real Betis – his first time at a European club, but only managed three appearances.

Now the Brazilian striker finds himself playing for Kawasaki Frontale in Japan.

Fernando Morientes

After Real Madrid completed the signing of Ronaldo from Inter Milan in 2002, Morientes’ place in the team seemed at risk.

Many clubs including Spurs showed genuine interest in the Spanish striker (Independent).

Morientes reportedly had a poor relationship with his manager at the time, sparking further debate over his future.

Eventually, Morientes stayed in Madrid for another season after the transfer saga in the summer of 2002.

He got loaned out to AS Monaco for the 2003/04 season and eventually made his way to the Premier League with Liverpool for a single season.

Saido Berahino

The transfer for Saido Berahino to join Spurs took so long that Berahino’s relationship with West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis became strained.

Following a strong season in the 2013/14 campaign, Tottenham had a strong interest in signing the Burundi-born attacking player.

However, the transfer saga dragged out until the very last day, where it eventually fell through (BBC).

Arguably, Berahino’s form dipped following the saga, and he endured a 913 goal-scoring drought from February 2016 to August 2018.

In January 2017, Berahino did leave West Brom, signing for Stoke City. However, after just a single season he was released with three years remaining on his contract.

Jack Grealish

Nobody knows how Jack Grealish didn’t end up at Tottenham Hotspur.

The now 23-year-old seemed destined for a move to White Hart Lane, even saying his goodbyes to the fans in a match against Hull City in 2018. However, the deal failed to eventuate (Sky Sports).

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