Even for a club like Chelsea, who spend a lot of money on their squads to improve as much as humanly possible, there is always one who gets away.
Every top club in the world has been in that situation where a player has gotten away. There was a player that they just were not able to sign, because of one reason or the other, and had to look at other targets.
Some of those signings were big enough to change the landscape and history of the two clubs in question, and Chelsea are no different to these situations. Here are five players that Chelsea could have signed back in the day, but did not do so because of one reason or the other.
5 best players Chelsea almost signed (but didn't)
Neymar Jr
I mean, that name is going to be on every list like this for any top club on the planet. Everyone knows just how many suitors were around for Neymar's signature when he was leaving Santos and inevitably joining Barcelona. There were frankly too many clubs who just wanted that signature.
Well, even before that, Chelsea tried to sign him. In 2010, according to various reports, Chelsea sent a 10 million bid to Santos for the player, which was rejected.
Neymar, at the time was the biggest talent in world football by a country mile, so it is no shock that Chelsea wanted him. Unfortunately, it was a move that just did not materialise.
Steven Gerrard
This was a move that would have sparked a lot of discussions. Gerrard, a Liverpool great who had already achieved so much with the club, including spearheading that brilliant UEFA Champions League final comeback against Milan in Istanbul, would have broken media pages and headlines had he moved to another great English club like Chelsea.
It did not happen, though, as Gerrard's loyalty to Liverpool came through once again.
Can you imagine if it did? The very fact that Gerrard's prime would have coincided with Chelsea if that move had happened makes any midfield look tasty. He was world class, probably one of the best midfielders of all time in his prime, so having him at Chelsea would have been a dream for any coach, and it certainly was for Jose Mourinho.
Kaká
Another top, top midfielder who could have joined Chelsea back in the day. According to reports worldwide, Chelsea made a last minute offer to Milan in order to hijack Kaká's move to Real Madrid in 2009. It did not end up happening, but it was not because of a lack of effort or initiative from Chelsea.
Kaká ended up joining Real Madrid that summer, but had to deal with a number of injuries and form problems, and was never the same player he showed himself as at Milan.
The only thing that interests me in this scenario is how much different it would have been for Kaká and his career - and possibly, even Chelsea - if he had moved to London instead of Madrid. Maybe Kaká would not have had those troubles at Chelsea. Maybe he would have been able to keep himself fit for a bit longer.
Chelsea fans cannot say that they missed a bullet. It could have been a successful move. What Real Madrid had to deal with wouldn't necessarily apply to Chelsea. It could, but it also couldn't have. It would have depended on how much differently Chelsea would have treated him.
Dani Alves
One of the most decorated players in all of football, Alves was close to joining Chelsea before he eventually moved to Barcelona.
To be honest, he was so close to joining that according to an exclusive interview with the player from Sky Sports, he said that he thought the move was done.
"I thought it was done, that I was going there to work with him," said Dani Alves. "I don't know if he got different information, that I didn't want to go or whatever, because since then our relationship hasn't been so good, but it wasn't my fault.
"I was convinced that I was going to work with him and form part of his team."
He ended up joining Barcelona and became one of the winningest players of all time, but this would have been huge for Chelsea at the time.
Yaya Toure
It seems like Chelsea were really hell-bent on signing midfielders in 2005. They reportedly bid for Gerrard but were rejected, but they also saw their striker try to convince Yaya Toure in the same year.
Didier Drogba was trying really hard to convince Toure to join Chelsea back in 2005, but it was a move that never actually materialised.
Toure talked about it himself in an interview a few years later, but it is just ridiculous to think of the potential of that midfield in 2005 if he had joined. Mental.