Moises Caicedo joins Mahrez and five stars forced out as Arsenal wait for an offer.

The January transfer window is drawing to a close with just three days left. Deadline day is likely to be very busy again as clubs scramble to complete their transfers for the second half of the season. Moises Caicedo wants to join Arsenal before the window closes on January 31.

The Ecuadorian attempted to join the Gunners last week after the North London club had their £60million offer rejected by Brighton, who are unwilling to sell the 21-year-old this month. Chelsea and Liverpool have also been linked with the midfielder, but Arsenal are in pole position to secure his signature.

Whether it’s waiting in the club’s car park at the training ground or driving halfway across the country, the desire to change clubs can convince players to make questionable decisions in order to land the transfer of their dreams. Caicedo used the power of social media to make his desire to leave public, causing a split among Brighton fans. And it remains to be seen if he will be welcomed back home after being asked to leave.

But as history shows, sometimes the end justifies the means. Express Sport looks at seven players who used every means at their disposal to leave their club in favor of a move elsewhere.

Riyadh Mahrez

Shortly after Leicester’s historic 2015-16 title, the exodus began at the King Power Stadium, with N’Golo Kante’s move to Chelsea in 2016 paving the way for players like Mahrez.

The Algerian was one of the stars of Claudio Ranieri’s side and his talents were recognized by Pep Guardiola, who launched a £60m bid for the winger. And Mahrez soon pushed for a move, as he waited in an airport lounge on deadline day unsure if the clubs would strike a deal in 2017.

This was not the case, meaning he was forced to return to the club and wait a full season before joining the Etihad Stadium, after failing to secure a move in January, before finally moving in 2018. With three more Premier League titles to go along with his success at Leicester, few would suggest that Mahrez made the wrong call – even if his legacy among Foxes fans is tarnished.

Dimitri Payet

An instant favorite with West Ham fans, things turned sour for Payet when he asked to leave the club after just 18 months with the Hammers. Payet became one of the stars of the 2015-16 season after moving to the Premier League, but his family wanted to return to France, forcing him to take drastic measures.

With West Ham not interested in selling their star, the attacking midfielder went on strike and refused to play until the club reluctantly parted ways.

He signed a £25million deal with Marseille where he has remained ever since and scored 61 goals in 234 games for the club, suggesting he made the right choice at the expense of his relationship with the fans.

Carlos Tevez

In what remains one of the longest strikes in recent history, Argentine striker Tevez has been handed an indefinite ban by his club and fined for refusing to come off the bench against Bayern Munich in the League of Nations. champions in 2012. There was a rift between him and manager Roberto Mancini as Tevez attempted to seal a move to Italy with AC Milan.

Despite his efforts to secure a move to Italy, the two clubs failed to agree a deal in January and he eventually returned to action under Mancini. He even scored a hat-trick against Norwich City which prompted him to celebrate in the form of a golf swing which only added to the admiration of the City fans.

But it was clear that his time in England was over after a number of off-pitch incidents, and Tevez eventually joined Juventus in 2013.

Diego Costa

Mixing Costa with the enthusiastic Antonio Conte was always going to create fireworks at Chelsea and it didn’t take long for things to go downhill between the two. Just months after the Brazilian-born striker helped Conte to the Premier League title in 2016-17, the former Atletico Madrid striker asked to leave in January to join club Shanghai SIPG. Chinese Super League.

Chelsea were reluctant to sell their star striker, who scored 52 goals in three seasons at the club and helped them win two titles. But Conte had other plans, texted Costa saying he would be sold this summer and the fiery striker decided to sit out pre-season, returning to his hometown of Lagarto while his agent arranged his return to Atletico Madrid.

The two clubs eventually agreed a fee of £57million and Costa joined Atletico in January 2018 after three months without a game. But his acrimonious exit has left a dark cloud over a successful spell in the Premier League.

William Gallas

A player who has represented three London clubs Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham clearly has no problem angering fans and William Gallas has proved he is willing to go to extraordinary lengths to secure his move.

The defender became a key player for the Blues in their Premier League double triumph in 2004-05 and 2005-06, but he soon felt uneasy at the club and wanted to leave for Arsenal, the offer of a regular that football tempts the Frenchman.

Chelsea refused to accept his transfer request in 2006, however, and Gallas decided to act immediately. Not only did he refuse to return to Stamford Bridge, but it was claimed that he strangely threatened to score own goals – which Gallas denied. Chelsea eventually signed Ashley Cole for £5m in one of the most controversial transfers of all time, and Gallas went the other way.

Dimitar Berbatov

If Harry Kane leaves Tottenham to join Manchester United, there is a historical reason from Berbatov that could give him some advice on how not to. The Bulgarian was one of the Premier League’s hottest properties in 2008 when Manchester City and United appeared both interested in signing the Spurs striker.

Chairman Daniel Levy insisted he would not be sold despite Sir Alex Ferguson publicly declaring his interest, leaving Spurs with no choice but to report United to the Premier League for their behaviour. But Berbatov was keen on the move given United’s status as the Premier League’s top club at the time and on deadline day he sealed a club record £30.8million move to Old Trafford after Tottenham surrendered.

Berbatov went on to score 56 times in 149 appearances for the Red Devils, winning two Premier League titles in the process, perhaps showing Kane that he needs to force his move if he wants to achieve the likes. that is his career goal.