Rickie Lambert turned down a deadline day move to Aston Villa, but will he regret it…
Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert was forced to reject a move to Aston Villa on transfer deadline day, after he was given the option to move on or stay and fight for his place at Anfield. Lambert chose the latter, but will he live to regret that decision?
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It proved to be a quiet January transfer window for the vast majority of Premier League teams, with several players that were expecting to leave instead deciding to stay put. Here are ten players that will regret not moving last month:
10) Christian Benteke (Aston Villa)
Villa have scored just 11 Premier League goals so far this season and the Belgian simply isn’t getting the service he craves. If Benteke continues to suffer as a result of Villa’s problems, his value and prospect will plummet.
9) Kevin Mirallas (Everton)
Everton have been dire for much of this Premier League season. Add in the issues Mirallas has had following his penalty clash with Leighton Baines and maybe he would have done better to follow up on interest from Spurs.
8) Fabian Delph (Aston Villa)
Delph had been attracting interest from a number of Premier League teams, most notably Liverpool. Commendably, he decided to stay put at Villa. However, could he – like Benteke – regret missing out on a move to a ‘major’ side.
7) Adnan Januzaj (Manchester United)
It was never likely that the United youngster was going to leave the club, but should the Belgian have considered a loan move rather than allow his career to stagnate on the Old Trafford substitutes bench.
6) Roberto Soldado (Tottenham Hotspur)
The Spaniard has endured a miserable 18 months at White Hart Lane and is now firmly behind Harry Kane in the North London side’s pecking order. With a return to Spain seemingly on the cards, perhaps he’d have done better to leave.
5) Rickie Lambert (Liverpool)
Lambert has managed just three goals in a Liverpool shirt thus far, while his place in the team is likely to be even more under threat following the return from injury of Daniel Sturridge. His England place will surely be under threat in the near future.
4) Stevan Jovetic (Manchester City)
The arrival of Wilfried Bony means that Jovetic is now fourth in line for a City striker slot. Plenty of teams expressed an interest in the Montenegro international, but a move never looked on the cards. How long will he last at the Etihad?
3) Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion)
West Brom fought off interest from Liverpool and Tottenham for their young striker, but with his attitude having been called into question, would Albion have done better to sell the player at the peak of his value.
2) Emmanuel Adebayor (Tottenham Hotspur)
The Togolese international has struggled so far this season, and his goalscoring form has not improved since his self-enforced break from the team for personal reasons. His popularity at White Hart Lane is dwindling and maybe he would have done better to seek a move.
1) Mario Balotelli (Liverpool)
The Italian is still awaiting his first Premier League goal, and you have to wonder if it will ever come. Like Lambert, his opportunities will be limited following Sturridge’s return, so maybe it would have been better for all concerned if he’d jumped ship.
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