Charlotte FC's most notable failed transfer attempts

By Brian Maurer

Photo courtesy of Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Charlotte FC has only been a club for three seasons and their third summer transfer window came to a close with lots of reported excitement. While the number of swirling rumors and reports built up lots of hype, this window will ultimately be a letdown to fans in the Carolinas. Even with the last-minute addition of Pep Biel on the final day of the window.

This is primarily due to reports that Dutch midfielder Calvin Stengs was in London for a medical, but ended up returning to the Netherlands, altering the outlook of this window from one of the club's strongest to their most disappointing.

Here is a look at Charlotte's top almost transfers:

1. Calvin Stengs

The most recent transfer to fall through and for many fans probably the biggest letdown. The Dutch midfielder was set to play in Charlotte pending his medical, after which the deal fell apart. A second reason to not count a deal done in the Carolinas until the ink is dry. What hurt fans most about this deal falling through is that it only gave Charlotte a day to try and switch their plans before the window closed.

2. Darwin Machis

Darwin Machís was supposed to be Charlotte FC's second Designated Player signing in club history. The Venezuelan winger was set to be the club's record transfer at the time. He had arrived in Charlotte for medicals and was set to sign. Then reports of legal troubles back in Spain began to surface which canceled the move. Soon after this deal fell through Charlotte's inaugural Head Coach Miguel Ángel Ramírez said his famous "We are screwed" comment.

3. Miguel Almiron

According to recent reports, Almirón and Charlotte FC were able to agree on contract terms. However, Newcastle and Charlotte were not able to agree on a transfer fee. This would have been an incredible last-minute adjustment this summer after the Stengs deal collapsed, but the valuation was too rich for the Crown which left them with no DP attacking midfielder for the third consecutive summer.

4. Marco Reus

Charlotte had Reus on their discovery rights list. According to reports the chance of him coming to the Carolinas was not great and at the end of the day they sold their discovery rights to the LA Galaxy so that the Dortmund legend could make a move to MLS.

5. Luciano Rodriguez

During this past winter window, Charlotte was reportedly in discussions with the Uruguayan forward. The deal fell apart but the team has continued to monitor the situation. However, his value and notoriety has continued to grow making an MLS move all the more unlikely.

6. Albert Groenbaek

The Crown put in multiple bids for the Danish midfielder in the winter. Those bids ended with Grønbæk earning a new contract with Bodø/Glimt. Grønbæk earned a move to Ligue 1 this summer which makes it seem like this potential move to MLS was always a low probability.

7. Giovani Lo Celso

Charlotte FC also reached out to Argentine international Giovani Lo Celso during the latest transfer window. The 28-year-old midfielder didn't want to commit before seeing what options might be on the table at the end of the transfer window.