5 transfer targets Arsenal failed to sign this summer

#3 Domagoj Vida (Besiktas)

Vida became a national hero after his impressive Croatia displays helped them to finish World Cup 2018 as runners-up

They say that a good World Cup can always convince top sides into making big-money moves and Arsenal were close to doing precisely that, when mulling over a late £27m bid for Besiktas centre-back Domagoj Vida.

Vida, 29, joined the Turkish side from Dynamo Kyiv at the start of this year and made 36 appearances (all comps) combined for both sides prior to the World Cup in Russia.

Having watched from the substitutes' bench four years ago in Brazil, he started and played in all but one match (2-1 group stage win over Iceland). Here, he formed part of an impressive backline and his contributions could not be understated either.

Not without his faults, it was seen as a risk that Arsenal were ultimately unprepared to take. Spending so much on a 29-year-old defender with no Premier League experience and one who earned a reputation for some suspect decision-making in the past.