It was another busy transfer deadline day but one that might well be remembered for the moves that didn’t happen rather than the ones that did.
David de Gea to Real Madrid? John Stones to Chelsea? Saido Berahino to Tottenham?
Here we pick out some of the major moves that teams failed to pull off before the summer transfer window closed…
David de Gea
Manchester United supporters seemed resigned to their goalkeeper's departure for much of the summer but Real Madrid were ultimately beaten by the deadline-day clock – failing to send off the relevant forms in time to secure the player's signature. The Spain international has not featured for Louis van Gaal's side so far this season and is out of contract in 2016, but the focus will surely now turn to reintegrating the club's two-time player of the year after he'd been bound for the Old Trafford exit.
John Stones
Chelsea's pursuit of Everton's John Stones became one of the stories of the summer but the Premier League champions were unable to get their man. An initial £20m bid eventually reached £30m but the Toffees stuck to their guns on the 21-year-old defender. Stones had claimed to be "very happy at Everton" in July, but handed in a transfer request the following month – albeit with manager Roberto Martinez later insistent that this was "something he didn't mean to do". The saga is over. For now.
Marquinhos
After failing in their attempts to sign Stones, Chelsea reportedly turned their attention to Paris St Germain defender Marquinhos. The highly-rated 21-year-old Brazilian was the subject of two Blues bids in excess of £25m but their efforts were rebuffed by the wealthy French champions. Ultimately, Chelsea did deals for fellow centre-backs Michael Hector and Papy Djilobodji but Marquinhos stayed in Paris.
Saido Berahino
Such is Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy's penchant for late business, their long-mooted move for the West Brom forward always seemed likely to drag on – but that proved problematic in the end. Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace declared that "the timing made no allowance for our own recruitment of a suitable replacement" and accused Spurs of "antics which were designed to get him out of our club cheaply". Not that Berahino seems to be blaming Spurs, taking to Twitter to suggest he'll never play for Peace's Albion again.
Dimitar Berbatov
The mercurial Bulgarian forward was the Premier League's top scorer as recently as 2011 so was bound to attract interest after being released by Monaco in the summer. Newly-promoted Bournemouth were linked with a move for Berbatov as early as May, but by the end of the window it was Aston Villa pursuing the 34-year-old. However, personal terms were believed to be an issue and there was to be no Premier League return with Berbatov agreeing a deadline-day deal with Greek side PAOK Salonika instead.
Charlie Austin
The Queens Park Rangers striker was the fourth highest goalscorer in the Premier League last season but he'll be playing his football in the Championship until January at the earliest. Despite being linked with more than half of the top flight this summer, no club was able to meet QPR's valuation amid fitness fears, leaving the 26-year-old set to see out the remaining year on his Loftus Road deal. Austin can't afford to sulk as he'll need a huge goal haul to get to Euro 2016 with England now. "Big season ahead," he told Twitter on Tuesday.
Emmanuel Adebayor
Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood remains a big admirer of the Tottenham striker having coaxed a series of fine performances from him in early 2014, but he was unable to persuade Adebayor to join the club on deadline day. West Ham had also been keen on the Togo forward for the second summer running, but money appears to have scuppered the deal with Adebayor apparently unwilling to walk away from the final year of a lucrative contract at White Hart Lane.
Jon Walters
The long-serving Stoke forward looked set for a late move after contract talks with the club stalled and a transfer request was submitted. Walters was even given permission by Ireland to delay his arrival for their Euro 2016 qualifiers in order to help finalise a deal with Norwich. But the 31-year-old stayed put in the end and could even resume contract talks with Stoke. He appears in relaxed mood anyway, telling Twitter: "Helicopter away for the year. Sorry LVG (Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal), it's not happening."