Transfer deadline day recap: What might have been

Plenty of speculation throughout the day, but ultimately, nothing doing.

When Adam Johnson went down injured in training last week and was subsequently ruled out for three months, it was suggested that Roberto Mancini could make a late swoop for a replacement. There was talk of Birmingham's Sebastian Larsson, but this was ultimately quashed  - with it being reported that Birmingham had blocked any move.

A replacement for Johnson was the only likely target throughout the day, but given the timing of his injury it left the club little time to find a replacement. The reality was that cover was only required until the end of the season (hence the interest in Larsson) so the fact that no player was brought was not too much of a surprise.

The expectation now is that the trio of Carlos Tevez-Edin Dzeko-David Silva will likely see plenty of playing time, with Mario Balotelli (once fit) and Shaun Wright-Phillips the 'change-up' options from the bench.

Shaun Wright-Phillips was perhaps the big talking point of potential departures following the weekends reports of him handing in a transfer request. The two clubs most heavily linked were Fulham and Bolton, but neither a loan deal nor permanent move were agreed. Ian Ladyman even later tweeted that there wasn't a single offer for Wright-Phillips for a permanent move. The hope is that through Johnson's injury, Wright-Phillips may seize an opportunity that looked closed to him. Time will tell, but you do feel this is a three-four month spell that determines his future.

There had been plenty of talk too regarding both Shay Given and Michael Johnson. Both - for contrasting reasons - seemed to require regular playing time, but Ian Ladyman reported that City had decided to shelve plans to send Johnson out on loan (both Leeds and Leicester were rumoured) due to concerns over his durability given the time he has spent out and preferred to monitor his fitness in-house. The expectation is that he will likely go out on loan for the whole of the 2011/12 season.

Given was a different story. He had talked of even being willing to contemplate joining a Championship side such is his desire to get some playing time and Leicester side were linked, but without a replacement for him being brought in it was always unlikely he would depart. City were linked with Cagliari and Italy 'keeper Federico Marchetti but this never gathered momentum and Given remains.

Players who did depart were young goalkeepr David Gonzalez, David Ball and Andrew Tutte. Gonzalez has made a number of reserve appearances this season. He joins Leeds until the end of the season to back up former City number 1 Kasper Schmeichel. Ball has joined Peterborough in a permanent deal whilst Tutte moves to Yeovil until the end of the season.