What deals didn't happen on transfer deadline day - and what happens next for Marc Guehi, Emi Martinez, Ademola Lookman and Raheem Sterling?
Published 02/09/2025 at 12:51 GMT+1
It was a busy transfer deadline day as a number of big-money moves were completed. Alexander Isak joined Liverpool, Yoane Wissa went to Newcastle, and Manchester United brought in goalkeeper Senne Lammens. But what about the transfers that didn't come off? And what happens now for the players who didn't get the moves that they might have wanted to happen?
Sweden players react to Isak's mega transfer to Liverpool
Video credit: SNTV
You know all about the deals that did happen on a manic transfer deadline day - but what moves didn’t come off?
A remarkable summer window ended with a flurry of signings, headlined by Alexander Isak joining Liverpool in a mega-money deal.
Newcastle helped soften the blow of losing Isak by bringing in Yoane Wissa from Brentford, and when the window closed at an earlier-than-usual time of 7pm, there were a "record number of transfer deal sheets submitted".
But which potential signings didn’t get over the line? And what happens now for the players who ended up not getting the move they might have wanted?
Marc Guehi
Not many players have come so close to getting a move before seeing it fall through at the last hurdle as Marc Guehi did on deadline day.
With a few hours left in the window, Crystal Palace had agreed a deal with Liverpool, a deal sheet had been submitted, and Guehi had reportedly started undergoing a medical.
Palace had even made an apparent farewell video montage - which was later leaked - that signed off with the message ‘Thank you skip’.
But Guehi’s move collapsed at the last minute as Palace were unable to sort a replacement signing, having been in for Brighton defender Igor Julio, who joined West Ham.
Unlike some other players in this window (Isak, cough, Wissa, cough), Guehi did not try to force through a move in the summer and has played 90 minutes in all six of Palace's games so far this season.
That he is staying appears a huge plus for Palace - especially as there are reports manager Oliver Glasner threatened to quit if he was sold - but they do now face losing Guehi on a free next summer as he is entering the final 12 months of his contract.
Emi Martinez
Manchester United wanted a goalkeeper on deadline day.
Emi Martinez wanted a move to Manchester United on deadline day.
It appeared a perfect match - only for Martinez, it wasn't to be, as United instead plumped for 23-year-old Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp.
Martinez is now set to stay at Aston Villa, where he is under contract until 2029 (!), and will likely come straight back into the side to replace stand-in Marco Bizot.
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Emi Martinez
Image credit: Getty Images
But the World Cup-winning goalkeeper might need some time to win back over the fans, having made blatantly clear his desire to move to Old Trafford.
Villa manager Unai Emery also sounded less than impressed with Martinez's behaviour after he was dropped for the defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday.
"We need players who are focused, 100%. He wasn't. It's not helping us."
Raheem Sterling
Chelsea had one of the busiest summers of any club, signing a number of players and shipping even more out.
But amid it all, Raheem Sterling remains at Stamford Bridge.
Signed in 2022 on a five-year deal, Sterling has struggled to impress regularly at Chelsea and last summer joined Arsenal on an 11th-hour loan deal.
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Raheem Sterling at Chelsea
Image credit: Getty Images
This time around, he was linked with Fulham, but the move didn’t materialise.
Which leaves Sterling in limbo.
Still only 30 and reportedly Chelsea’s highest-earning player, Sterling was told last summer by head coach Enzo Maresca that he wasn’t part of his plans.
That stance doesn't appear to have changed, as he hasn't featured so far for the club this season and has been training away from the first team.
Ademola Lookman
It was the summer of player power, and Ademola Lookman joined Isak and Wissa by making clear his desire to leave his club Atalanta.
Lookman submitted a transfer request and said Atalanta were "blocking the opportunity" of him leaving the club.
He also went on strike and didn’t turn up for training, earning him the ire of fans who demanded he "honour the shirt".
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‘Wow’ – Lookman picks out corner with sublime finish to draw Atalanta level
Video credit: TNT Sports
Even though Inter saw two bids for Lookman rejected, there seemed a chance he would get a move on deadline day with Bayern Munich and Tottenham interested.
But a deal didn’t get done, and Lookman will now either stay with Atalanta, where he has been a key player in recent seasons with a number of goals and assists, or move to Turkey or Saudi Arabia where the window is still open.
Joe Gomez
It seemed like a move to AC Milan was close for Joe Gomez on deadline day.
Reports claimed an agreement was in place and Gomez had given the green light to a transfer from Liverpool.
But the deal didn’t get done, seemingly because time ran out, and also because Liverpool didn’t seal a move for Guehi.
It might not be the worst outcome for Liverpool, seeing as just 24 hours earlier, Gomez was being lauded by manager Arne Slot for an "outstanding" display against Arsenal.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk also expressed his desire for his centre-back partner to remain at Anfield.
"Of course I want him to stay, as a friend and as a player."
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