Forward Gift Orban was considered one of the most exciting emerging prospects when north London outfit Tottenham considered signing him in 2023.
The transfer market always generates enthusiasm among supporters.
When your club is associated with a high-profile player, imagination runs wild about what they could achieve.
Tottenham supporters may have experienced this enthusiasm several years back when significant interest emerged in a young, prolific Nigerian striker by the name of Gift Orban.
On paper, they had solid justification for their optimism.
During the summer of 2023, Orban, aged 21 at the time, was widely recognised as one of the most sought-after talents in the sport.
After finding the net 16 times in 22 appearances for Norwegian top division team Stabaek, he transferred to Belgian club Gent and maintained his remarkable scoring form, striking 20 times in 22 games.
During an extraordinary four-day stretch in March 2023, he netted seven goals across two fixtures. He contributed four goals in a 6–2 league victory away to Zulte Waregem, becoming the first Gent player to score four times in a single match during the 21st century.
He subsequently followed this with a rapid hat-trick during a 4–1 triumph away to Istanbul Basaksehir in the Conference League round of 16.
That treble was achieved within three minutes and 25 seconds, setting a record at that point for UEFA club competitions.
Orban spent last term on loan at Verona before securing another temporary move, this occasion to Turkish top-flight club Amedspor.
With England captain Harry Kane expected to depart for Bayern Munich that same summer, Tottenham required another striker.
Orban was even suggested in the BBC Gossip Column as the club’s successor to Kane. A subsequent article asked whether Orban could become a worldwide star.
However, Spurs, with newly appointed manager Ange Postecoglou, were unwilling to meet the £25m valuation and the proposed transfer fell through.
In the three years since, Orban has represented four clubs, most recently linking up with newly promoted Turkish top-flight side Amedspor on loan last week.
He has found goals harder to come by, managing just three goals for Gent during 2023-24, three for French club Lyon and four for German Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim, though he did manage seven goals in Serie A during his loan spell at Verona last season.
While his career has yet to fulfil its initial promise, other failed transfer pursuits have produced rather different results…
Kaka to Manchester City
Kaka collected the Ballon d’Or trophy for being the best player in the world in December 2007.
In January 2009, the recently wealthy Manchester City were eager to invest part of their substantial funds to acquire Brazilian midfielder Kaka.
AC Milan and Kaka were swayed by City’s remarkable £108m proposal, which would have exceeded the world record transfer fee by more than double.
One City supporter was reportedly so confident the deal would go through that he had the midfielder’s name tattooed on his chest.
Ultimately, the 2007 Ballon d’Or recipient decided the moment wasn’t appropriate and declined the opportunity to move to Manchester.
Kaka did complete a world-record transfer later in 2009, joining Real Madrid for £56m six months subsequently.
He secured the Spanish Cup in 2011 and La Liga the year after before one season back at AC Milan.
He then spent three years at Major League Soccer club Orlando City before concluding his playing days back in his home nation with Sao Paulo.
Rivaldo to Bolton
Rivaldo played against Liverpool in the Champions League in 2004-05, but would have faced them in the Premier League had he joined Bolton.
In 2004, Bolton Wanderers were performing impressively, harbouring ambitions of European qualification.
Manager Sam Allardyce made a bold move, submitting an enquiry for 32-year-old Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo, who had been excluded at AC Milan.
Rivaldo himself issued a statement indicating he wanted the challenge of trying to get Bolton into Europe for the first time in their history, describing it as an exciting time.
Ultimately, he reconsidered and instead joined Greek club Olympiacos, where he remained for three seasons.
Bolton concluded that 2004-05 season in sixth position, level on points with Liverpool and just three points short of the top four. This secured them a spot in UEFA Cup qualifying, progressing to the last 32.
Following his time at Olympiacos, Rivaldo represented AEK Athens, then clubs in Uzbekistan and Angola before returning to Brazil.
Zidane to Blackburn
Zinedine Zidane was already a France international by the time Blackburn wanted to sign him in 1995.
In 1995, Blackburn Rovers had recently secured the Premier League championship and declined the opportunity to sign a young French midfielder, Zinedine Zidane, from Bordeaux.
Club officials recommended to owner Jack Walker that he sign Zidane and French forward Christophe Dugarry, but Walker famously responded by questioning why they needed Zidane when they had Tim Sherwood.
Sherwood had lifted the Premier League trophy a few months prior and both Zidane and Dugarry had travelled to England for discussions with the club, though no agreement was reached.
Zidane and Dugarry subsequently won the World Cup with France in 1998 and the European Championship two years later, with Zidane adding two Italian titles with Juventus before capturing La Liga and the Champions League with Real Madrid.
Dugarry featured at AC Milan, Barcelona, Marseille and back at Bordeaux, though he did finish his career in England with two seasons at Birmingham City.
Gerrard to Chelsea
Steven Gerrard helped Liverpool past Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea on their way to the 2005 Champions League title.
In 2005, directly following a remarkable Champions League triumph when Liverpool mounted a comeback from 3–0 down at half-time against AC Milan before prevailing on penalties, Steven Gerrard upset the red half of Merseyside. He submitted a transfer request.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was keen to secure the England midfielder’s signature in a potential £32m deal, with Gerrard unwilling to sign an extended contract.
Eventually Gerrard chose to remain at Liverpool, citing family reasons. Gerrard would go on to make over 700 appearances for the club and lead them to the 2007 Champions League final, though AC Milan would gain revenge.
A decade later, Mourinho described his inability to sign Gerrard as one of his biggest transfer regrets.
Mbappe to Liverpool
Kylian Mbappe cost Paris St-Germain £166m when he moved from Monaco.
France striker Kylian Mbappe holds the record for goals scored at World Cups, helping his nation win the 2018 tournament and then netting a hat-trick in the 2022 final as Les Bleus lost on penalties to Argentina.
However, he could have been plying his trade at Liverpool in 2017 as he held discussions with the Merseyside club while still at Monaco.
Mbappe explained that he talked to Liverpool because it was the favourite club of his mum, adding that his mum loves Liverpool.
Then-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp recently disclosed how the club arranged a private aircraft and catering for Mbappe and his family.
Despite his mother’s preferred club being Liverpool, Mbappe instead joined Paris Saint-Germain, where he accumulated six Ligue 1 titles before moving to Real Madrid in 2024.
Griezmann to Fulham
Antoine Griezmann scored 205 La Liga goals before moving to Orlando City earlier this year.
France striker Antoine Griezmann has enjoyed an impressive career, though never featured in the Premier League.
But he nearly did, with Fulham submitting an unexpected £12m offer for him in January 2014 when the Cottagers were battling against relegation from the Premier League.
Fulham made enquiries about Griezmann to his club Real Sociedad and received a valuation of £12m. In the end, the west London club allocated that sum to Olympiacos striker Kostas Mitroglou, who managed just three Premier League appearances without scoring before the Cottagers were relegated.
Mitroglou subsequently spent time on loan back at Olympiakos and then Benfica, joining them permanently in 2016-17.
Griezmann remained in Spain with nine seasons across two periods at Atletico Madrid and two years at Barcelona. He contributed to France’s World Cup triumph in 2018.