Nottingham Forest and Norwich City were both said to be in for Arsenal defender Karim Bielik.
Forest and Norwich were both in for the youngster, who they wanted to sign on loan, but they missed their opportunity.
The Championship duo had both announced their interest in Bielik ahead of the transfer window, but the defender picked up an injury.
The Polish youngster’s problem with his shoulder ultimately cost him his chance to move to the City Ground or Carrow Road.
And Bielik said, after signing for Walsall: “The next day [after the injury] I learned that I am leaving for a loan, I could choose between two major clubs from the Championship – Norwich or Nottingham. Well, I could not, because it turned out that the shoulder had to be operated.
“I got to League One and I’m glad that we managed to find a club in the senior football program by the end of the season. People think what they want. This league is as hard as the Championship.”
Bielik has not played for Walsall yet, due to his injury problems, but he could have aided Forest or Norwich’s defence.
Both Forest and Norwich have performed below expectations so far this season, with the pair struggling.
Aitor Karanka has made a poor start to life at Forest, with the Reds currently in 16th place in the Championship table.
Norwich, meanwhile, are only three places above Forest – and their play off chances already look very slim.
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