Berbatov and Lampard among free agents who got away on Deadline Day
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With over £200m spent by Premier League clubs this January, money clearly wasn’t a worry for most of the top-flight. But there were a number of former legends who were ready and waiting to be snapped up for free.
Of course, these freebies can be signed at any point, but that mid-season window offers a prime opportunity for both players and clubs.
Having admitted in the last seven days that he would listen to an offer, were it the right one, we priced up Frank Lampard at 10/11 to cut a deal on Deadline Day.
But as the clocks ticked on, it appeared no top-tier outfit wanted to land a man who has won three Premier League titles, four Emirates FA Cups, a Champions League and Europa League.
And then there’s the fact with the 177 Premier League goals, only three men have been more successful in front of goal since 1992 than Lampard.
Plenty of us in the Ladbrokes News office fancied the former Chelsea man making a late move to Bournemouth or Southampton, but it wasn’t to be.
Another man tipped for a Prem return was cult hero Dimitar Berbatov.
Rumours continued to circle yesterday that the former Manchester United forward was in the country, with West Ham and Aston Villa the likely destinations.
Indeed our original price on Berba to sign a deal of 5/1 was quickly backed into 2s by mid-afternoon.
But no deal was forthcoming for the 2010-11 season’s top goalscorer.
Another former Tottenham forward being talked of yesterday was Robbie Keane.
The Republic of Ireland hero was strongly tipped to move to Fulham, but though his odds on joining an English club tumbled from 11/2 into 3/1, today the 36-year-old remains a free agent.
Given some of the money spent yesterday, we wonder if more than a few Premier League sides missed a trick by not snapping up these experienced, talented, and of course, free, star players.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
