The ones that got away – players that so nearly signed for the Valiants.
Deklan Wynne joined the Valiants in April 2024 but despite two spells lasting till July of that year, he never managed to make a competitive appearance for the club.
A book by well-travelled manager Stephen Constantine reveals he turned down the Port Vale manager’s job back in 2016.
Port Vale came close to adding midfielder Chris Burns to their squad in a swap deal which is mired in confusion…
In our series of players who could have featured for the club, we look at Port Vale’s failed pursuit of Chris Price in the mid 1980s.
In our series of players who could have featured for the club, we look at tragic story of Frank McGinnes, a Scottish starlet who was set to light up Port Vale’s entry to the Football League…
In our series of missed Port Vale transfer targets, we look at the time when the Valiants remarkably passed up on a chance of signing Dutch defender Jaap Staam…
Yes, midfield journeyman Tony Kelly did have a brief spell with Port Vale FC, so he’s not technically a “nearlyman” but arguably it could have lasted much longer and influential…
In recent years, Vale have tried out numerous trialists – here is a selection who were not taken on by the club…
One is a very well-known name to Vale fans and the other is somewhat surprising – we reveal more two Port Vale transfer near-misses.
Released from the Port Vale youth set-up the striker has proven to be prolific in non-league and is now being scouted by Premier League sides…
Lee Trundle’s Port Vale move – how the Valiants nearly got their man. The Welsh striker was Port Vale’s top transfer target in 2003 only for the club to be thwarted by a transfer embargo…
Port Vale tried five other strikers before opting to sign Ron Futcher. This is the story of those failed transfer deals…
In the latest “nearly men” episode, we examine how Port Vale almost signed two Manchester United players.
Port Vale tried to sign Lee Hughes twice but this “nearly man” feature has a happy ending as Hughes finally joined Vale at the third time of asking.
Rob Fielding recalls the time that John Rudge attempted to sign the then unknown Liverpool teenager Steve Staunton.
In this second episode, we reveal how Vale came close to completing what could have been one of the club’s highest-profile signings of all-time.
In this article we explain how John Rudge nearly pulled off a stunning coup for the Valiants… signing striker Steve Bull!