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Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez shakes hands with new signing Glen Johnson - Source: Reuters
Top 10 transfer cops and flops
I think it is fair to say that after the spectacular climax of 2008, the 2009 summer transfer window slammed shut with a whimper rather than a bang.
As the likes of Tottenham, Portsmouth, Hull and Villa scrambled round for last minute deals, the 'big four' kept their hands and their money firmly in their pockets.
Of course there were rumours that Franck Ribery was spotted in London, David Silva was spotted in Manchester and a size 10 pair of shoes was ordered for a shoe shop in Liverpool which meant that David Villa WAS joining the Reds after all, but no, just like the reported deals of Vieira re-joining Arsenal and David Bentley going to City, they were not to be.
But that's not to say that the transfer window did not have some shocks and scandals as you will read below as we re-cap the top 10 transfer cops and flops of the summer transfer season 2009.
Transfer cops
Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid (30 million)
Liverpool's loss was most definitely Real Madrid's gain as the La Liga giants broke all transfer records in Florentino Perez's pursuit of a new set of 'galacticos.'
After rumours surfaced that there were dressing room issues between Alonso and Liverpool's Spanish manager Rafa Benitez, most possible to do with the fact Benitez tried to sell the influential midfielder to Juventus just one year before, only to see him become a Euro 2008 medal winner and one of the clubs best players in the 2007/08 season, it was perhaps no surprise that Alonso opted for a move from Merseyside to join Ronaldo, Kaka and Benzema at one of Spain's most celebrated clubs.
There is no doubt that Benitez tried to keep hold of his prized asset, but the wheels where in motion and on the August 5 2009 Alonso sealed his move to Madrid.
After their 5-0 thrashing at the hands of the Reds in the Champions League last season, Real Madrid must surely now feel some sort of redemption for stealing one of Liverpool's best players, while Liverpool, well, they get left with Lucas - an unfair swap if ever there was one.
Michael Owen to Manchester United (free)
This is a story of which transfer dreams are made of.
Michael Owen, one of England's most prolific goalscorers and Newcastle crock was left clubless after declining to re-sign for dark and stormy nights playing the likes of West Brom in the Championship with the relegated Magpies.
Just weeks before Ferguson made the sensational swoop for the former Liverpool hero, a desperate Michael Owen had enlisted the help of his agent, who duly distributed a 32-page brochure that listed all of Owens talents and attributes, including Owen being 'cool, young, dynamic, charismatic' and of course, most importantly 'fit and healthy.'
Needless to say the brochure made the 29-year-old striker a laughing stock of the football world, but it was Owen who had the last laugh when Alex Ferguson of Premier League Champions Manchester United came calling.
Before the call from Sir Ferg, Owen was getting offers from the likes of Hull, Stoke, Everton and Aston Villa, but a two-year deal that came 'out of the blue' was offered to the hitman and the rest, as they say, is history.
Since signing for United, Owen has been handed the No shirt recently vacated by one C. Ronaldo and has scored 5 goals for the Red Devils, leaving other clubs, like cash-strapped Liverpool, to wonder just why they didn't take a chance.
Adebayor to Manchester City (25 million, reported)
This was possibly not one of the most shocking transfers of the summer, but it might prove to be the most worthy to cashed-up Manchester City as the North-west club bid to smash the strangle hold on the 'top four' this season.
After a troubled time at Arsenal, due to dressing room bust-ups and infamous newspaper interviews last season, it was clear that Ade's time at Arsenal was done.
Unlike other fans who had to resign themselves to losing their 'star players', Arsenal fans couldn't wait for Ade to be shown the Emirates exit, even going so fan as to produce a 32-page glossy brochure in a Michael Owen stylee which listed the Togo international as 'Good at impressions, definitely NOT lazy, fond of Godzilla and, er, 'not Irish.'
In previous seasons Ade had been linked to the likes of Barcelona and AC Milan, but it was City's Mark Hughes who stood up and took notice after he made the 25-year-old his fourth signing of the summer transfer season - giving him a five-year-deal at the club.
Since switching to Eastland's Adebayor looks like a player who has had the weight of the world lifted off his shoulders.
He has hit out at former Arsenal fans, telling them he is now once again enjoying football because of the love he feels from the City supporters, which must be true since he has banged in three goals in three appearances since the start of the season, helping City to sit a comfortable fourth on the Premier League table.
Glen Johnson to Liverpool (18 million)
Former Portsmouth star Glen Johnson became one of only two 'major' signings for cash-strapped Liverpool this season, but he has proved more than a match for the Real Madrid bound Alvaro Arbeloa since starting for the club
Many people balked at the 18 million pound price tag for the 25-year-old versatile right-back but with 2 goals and 2 assists in four games for Liverpool the critics are starting to change their minds.
What makes this move even sweeter for Liverpool is England international Johnson snubbed a switch to Man City and former club Chelsea in favour of joining 'Rafa's revolution' and since coming to Anfield he is playing like he has always been there.
Liverpool might be struggling at the start of the new Premier League season, but there is no doubt that by the looks of his performances so far the money Benitez shelled out on Johnson is going to worth every penny for the club.
5. Thomas Vermaelen to Arsenal (10 million, reported)
It's no secret that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has come in for a bit of criticism for failing to splash the cash gained from the sale of Adebayor and Toure in order to strengthen his depleted squad (and no last-gasp transfer deals for Wenger, what's that all about?!) but one player they did land was former Ajax ace Thomas Vermaelen.
Arsenal had their eye on this swift defender since March 09, but in the summer transfer window they finally nabbed the youngster who former Man United star Jaap Stam has predicted to become a 'top class Premier League performer.
And Jaap could be right if the 23-year-old's early performances are anything to go by.
Just like his Premier League rival Alex Ferguson, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is known for his ability to nurture young footballing talent, and after scoring on his debut for the London side against Everton in their first game of the Premier League there is definitely great things to come from this relatively unknown star.
Other notable transfer cops: Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid - Carlos Tevez Man United to Man City - Joleon Lescott Everton to Man City - Peter Crouch Portsmouth to Tottenham - Alberto Aquilani Roma to Liverpool - Yuri Zhirkov CSKA to Chelsea - Michael Turner Hull to Sunderland - Johnny Heitinga Atletico Madrid to Everton - Nico Kranjcar Portsmouth to Tottenham - Sylvian Distin Portsmouth to Everton - Stephen Warnock Middlesbrough to Aston Villa - Damien Duff Newcastle to Fulham - Lee Cattermole Wigan to Sunderland - Antonio Valencia Wigan to Man United - Darren Bent to Sunderland - Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Barcelona - Samuel Eto'o to Inter Milan
Transfer flops
John Terry to Manchester City
The John Terry to Manchester City story was one of the most interesting of the summer transfer season. Would the heartbeat of Chelsea REALLY give up playing for the club he loves to play with Carlos Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz for muchos cash at City? Er. As it later transpired, no.
But that doesn't mean there were not some heart-in-the-mouth moments as this rumour gathered momentum.
For weeks JT refused to make clear just where his playing future lay as Mark Hughes' club dangled enough money to save an African village, or five in front of the England skippers nose (a reported 200,000k per week was on the table).
But what JT was REALLY holding out for was a pay rise and more commitment from the club he had devoted his career to and after weeks of silence and speculation, JT put paid to rumours that he would leave London for Manchester.
Since then, John Terry has signed a five-year deal at Stamford Bridge, reported to be in the region of 40 million quid, keeping the defender at the Chelsea until the end of his playing career.
There has also been reports that he will be offered a coaching position at the club when he finally decides to hang up his boots, and City, well, they got Joleon Lescott.
David Villa to Liverpool
Ever since his spectacular performance for Spain in the 2008 European Championship Valencia's David Villa has been on the radar of every top European club.
And so in 2009, rumours once again surfaced that the Spanish striker could once again be on his way to the Premier League.
Real Madrid wanted him, Chelsea, Barcelona and United too, but the most likely destination seemed to be England's very own Spanish scousers, otherwise known as Liverpool.
The thought of David Villa linking up with Spain team mate Fernando Torres in attack for the Reds was enough to get Liverpool fans salivating, but sadly it was not to be as Liverpool's lack of cash scuppered any hope of sealing a deal for the 27-year-old and Villa committed himself to seeing out the rest of his contract at struggling Valencia.
Franck Ribery to Man United
The Franck Ribery to Man United rumour started before last season had even finished, which in retrospect may show that the Red Devils were resigned to losing C.Ronaldo to Real and were already in the market for a replacement.
It was reported in May that United HAD made a 62.5 million pound bid for the France star, and the deal looked likely as Ribery made clear his desire to leave Bayern Munich.
But as the transfer merry-go-round got into full swing, it was not just United who were in for the star, as Real Madrid, Man City and Chelsea also tried to tempt him from Germany.
After admitting early in the season that Bayern would consider letting Ribery go, general manager Uli Hoeness then changed his mind after the record-breaking 80 million pound sale of Ronaldo, saying he would accept no-less then 80 million for the 26-year-old hitman.
Man United, Chelsea and Real were all still interested in Ribery, but none of the deals came to fruition after Bayen played hardball with their star.
It's a shame for United really, as Ribery could have be the perfect partner for Wayne Rooney upfront, BUT don't think this story has gone away yet as rumours suggest Ribery is still keen on a move away from the Bundlisliga - and with 80 million burning a hole in Sir Ferg's back pocket expect this one to blow up again come January.
Gareth Barry to Liverpool
Along with the will he, wont he Ronaldo transfer saga of 2008, the Gareth Barry to Liverpool was one of the longest and painful stories of last years summer transfer season.
Barry wanted his 'dream move' to Liverpool to fulfil his 'dream' of playing Champions League football but the deal broke down as stubborn Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill refused to let his long-standing skipper leave.
So it was perhaps a surprise to some that in the summer of 2009, instead of completing his 'dream' move to Liverpool in order to fulfil his 'dream' of playing Champions League football, Gareth Barry's head was turned by the glitz, glamour and money of Manchester City as he became the clubs first signing of the summer transfer season.
The 12 million pound move infuriated Villa fans, and left Liverpool stunned as Benitez had lined up Barry as the perfect partner for Steven Gerrard after seeing the two link-up so well for England.
Later Barry claimed he decided on a move to City, who last year finished 10th in the Premier League last season and will NOT be playing European football this season, because he was 'excited' by what the club was attempting to achieve - but everyone knows he did for the money.
Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona
Another on-going transfer saga that failed to transpire in 2009 was that of Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas' rumoured transfer to Catalan giants Barcelona.
How amazing it would have been to see the influential Spanish star linking up with the likes of Messi and Iniesta for the European Cup winners and La Liga champions - but like the rest of our flops list, this transfer was not to be.
And while Barca made no secret of their desire to bring their former youth player back to the Nou Camp, Arsenal officials were furious at the tapping of their star.
Fabregas himself half opened the door for a return to Spain when he publicly gushed about the clubs coach Pep Guardiola, and Barcelona themselves have defended their pursuit of the Gunners star, with Barca president Joan Laporta saying the midfield ace is a 'special case'
Adding 'I apologise if I bothered Mr Wenger, but he knows perfectly that the case of Cesc Fabregas is special. He is a Catalan player from our youth team and it is not a secret that we love this player.'
And just like the transfer rumours surrounding Ribery, don't expect this one to be going away anytime soon!
Other notable transfer flops: David Silva to Liverpool, Man United - Kaka to Chelsea - Marouane Chamakh to Arsenal, West Ham - Patrick Vieira to Arsenal, Tottenham - David Beckham to Chelsea, United, Tottenham - David Bentley to Man City - Karim Benzema to United - David James to Tottenham - Pato to Chelsea - Deco to Inter Milan - Robino to Barcelona
Who were your top transfer cops and flops of the summer transfer season 2009? Have your say below
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