If there is one thing that can be said about Arsene Wenger, it is that he is the greatest ever ‘almost’ manager in the transfer market.
The Arsenal boss has come close to signing nearly every world class player in the game of football over the last two decades, but the Gunners eventually missed out on them.
Just this summer, Monaco pair Kylian Mbappe and Thomas Lemar were in talks over a move to north London, but decided against linking up with Wenger.
So, what would an Arsene Wenger ‘almost signed’ XI look like? Click the right arrow, above, to find out…
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon – click the right arrow to see the rest of the Arsene Wenger 'almost signed' XI – One of the greatest keepers to have ever played the game, Italy legend Buffon was linked with the Gunners after admitting a move to north London appealed in he was to leave Juventus. That never occurred, and he still remains with the Serie A champions.Right back: Djibril Sidibe – A member of Monacos excellent 2016/17 team, Sidibe is one of few players to have stayed with the Ligue 1 club. They signed him before the start of last season from Lille, but Arsenal were frontrunners for his signature before then. They held talks with the full-back, who seriously considered moving to north London. But he revealed he turned down the switch because in terms of playing time I knew I would be very limited.Centre back: Gerard Pique – When Cesc Fabregas was bought to north London in the summer of 2003, Arsenal wanted to also poach another midfielder away from Barcelona. A deal for Pique could not be completed though, and he instead moved to Man United the following year. He was converted to a defender, and after four years at Old Trafford (where he was nothing more than a back-up), Pique returned to Camp Nou to establish himself as one of the best centre-backs in the modern game.Centre back: Vincent Kompany – Missing out on one world class defender would be bad enough, but three years after failing to sign Pique, Wenger couldnt bring another superstar to north London. Also a defensive midfielder at that time, 20-year-old Kompany was a target to replace Sol Campbell in Arsenals backline, but he opted to join Hamburg instead to be guaranteed game time. He developed into an excellent defender, and joined Man City in 2008.Left back: Roberto Carlos – When his Real Madrid contract was expiring, Roberto Carlos suggested a move to Arsenal would be on the cards. He wanted the move, but Wenger decided against calling Carlos maybe because he was in his mid-30s by then. Instead, a few years later, Wenger went out and signed the new Roberto Carlos Andre Santos.Centre midfield: Yaya Toure – Toure came closer than most to signing for Arsenal, considering he actually played a game for the Gunners. He trialled with Wengers side in 2003, and played for their youth team against Barnet. His performance wasnt too good, so Toure left and signed for Metalurh Donetsk instead. Wenger put the failed move down to work permit issues. He was here as a young boy but we cannot get players in here if they are not internationals, he said. He had no work permit and was too young. We tried to wait until when he was in Belgium, we tried to get him a European passport. He was not patient enough and left.Centre midfield: Claude Makelele – In recent years, Wenger has failed to bring both Paul Pogba and NGolo Kante to the Emirates, but Makelele is proof Arsenal have been missing out on superstars since the 1990s. Offered a 23-year-old Makelele by Nantes in 1996, Wenger turned down the move as he had just brought Patrick Vieira to north London. Now, Vieira was superb for the Gunners, but missing out on Makelele is sure to be a sore one for Wenger, as he was a key figure behind Chelsea replacing Arsenal as Londons biggest club a few years later.Right attacking midfield: Kylian Mbappe – Mbappe admitted Arsenal wanted him this summer before choosing to move to PSG instead, but the Gunners also missed out on signing the young star last summer for just £230,000 under FIFAs compensation rules. Wenger said: "Well, I believe that we were on the case last year. He was close to joining us, maybe closer last year than this year because the competition was a bit smaller than it is today. Mbappe signed for PSG on loan with the Parisians buying him outright from Monaco for £166m next summer.Centre attacking midfield: Lionel Messi – As mentioned previously, Wengers move for Cesc Fabregas was intended to also bring Gerard Pique to north London. But in reality, he wanted to sign a trio of Barcas academy talents the third player being Lionel Messi. Any manager in the world would regret signing Messi as a teenager, and Wenger has explained why the move broke down refuting claims that it came down to Messis parents wanting accommodation as part of the deal. I think in the end he was not so keen to move. It was not completely down to a flat in the end, it was down to the fact that Messi was comfortable at Barcelona.Left attacking midfield: Thomas Lemar – Arsenal had a £30m bid for Monaco star Lemar rejected in July, then came back on deadline day with a £92m offer when it appeared Alexis Sanchez would be joining Man City. But they left the deal too late, and it broke down with no time to renew talks before the transfer deadline passed. Wenger said on the deal: £92m for Lemar? Yes all true, I wanted him. The player has chosen to stay at Monaco.Centre forward: Zlatan Ibrahimovic – A move that collapsed for reasons that change depending on who is asked, Zlatan was close to signing for the Gunners from Malmo for £3m when he was 19. This is where things get hazy. Wenger says: He was 16, I asked him to have some training with the first team. He did not want to do it and I did not sign him. However, Zlatan, in typical Zlatan fashion, says: I didnt like being asked to prove myself. I know Im good enough. I dont need to show it to you. Either you know who I am or you dont. Zlatan doesnt do auditions.
