The football might be over for now but the summer months are a hectic time for clubs, managers, players, agents and supporters as the transfer market gets into gear.

Although Chester FC already have the foundations of a squad in place, the Blues will still be pretty active with boss Steve Burr looking to bring in somewhere in the region of eight new faces.

As a supporter-owned club, the Blues must operate to a strict budget to ensure financial stability and the manager will have identified realistic targets who can fit into the club's budget.

But the Deva Stadium hasn't always been the place for such straightforward thinking.

In seasons past, particularly through the mid-2000s, the club was linked with ambitious transfer swoops on a frequent basis and The Chronicle has picked out five of the more memorable transfer misses:

Phil Jevons

Ex-Everton forward Phil Jevons was rumoured a target for the Blues a number of times but the most serious – in the loosest sense – attempt to lure him to the Deva Stadium took place in December 2004.

Chester were struggling in League Two and manager Ian Rush identified Yeovil Town's leading scorer as the answer to his side's goal shortage.

Chairman Stephen Vaughan lodged a 'substantial bid' for the then 25-year-old, who had scored 17 goals in all competitions.

Vaughan said at the time: "Phil is the sort of quality player who would improve our squad. He has played with Michael Branch during their time together at Everton, and we hope to have him on board quickly."

Yeovil rejected the offer outright but, undeterred, the Blues returned with an increased bid for Jevons. Again, the offer was turned down outright with manager Gary Johnson insisting his star forward was 'going nowhere'.

Jevons remained at Huish Park and ended the season as the division's top scorer with 27 goals, firing the Gloves to the title and promotion.

Rush resigned as manager in April after Vaughan sacked his assistant Mark Aizlewood and Chester finished in 20th place.

David Nugent

With the chase for Jevons hitting a brick wall, Chester and Ian Rush turned their attentions to Bury's in-demand striker Dave Nugent.

Chairman Stephen Vaughan offered £50,000 for the 19-year-old in December 2004 but the Gigg Lane club told the Blues the offer would need to be increased substantially.

"We have received a reply from the Bury board of directors and basically what they are saying is that they want more money for David Nugent," said Vaughan at the time.

"It's a harsh reality unfortunately that everybody in football has their price. We know how we value David. We will just see if we can come to a compromise agreement with Bury."

Vaughan submitted a revised player-plus-cash offer for the Liverpool-born forward but the Shakers turned that down too, ending Chester's interest.

Nugent moved to Championship club Preston North End for £100,000 a week or so later and now plays for Leicester City in the Premier League.

Kevin McLeod

Another to be targeted more than once during the Vaughan-era, winger Kevin McLeod turned down the Blues in 2005 and 2006.

The former Everton apprentice emerged as manager Ian Rush's top target soon after the unsuccessful pursuits of Jevons and Nugent.

McLeod was with Queens Park Rangers in February 2005 when Chester offered a club record £125,000 for the left-footer. Rangers accepted but the player rejected the move and ended up joining Swansea City.

Rush said at the time: "Kevin has said he wants to play at a higher level. I am disappointed – sometimes in football you have to take a step back to move forward in the long run and I'm sorry Kevin didn't see it that way."

A little over 12 months later, Mark Wright attempted to sign McLeod on loan from Swansea, where he had been transfer-listed, but again the Liverpool-born midfielder decided the move wasn't for him.

Pegguy Arphexad

Chester unsuccessfully attempted to sign French goalkeeper Pegguy Arphexad on two occasions. Guadeloupe-born Arphexad moved to the UK in 1997 and acted as back-up at Premier League clubs Leicester City and Liverpool.

Following his release from Anfield, he joined Coventry City but again found first-team opportunities limited. He was languishing in the reserves when Chester came calling in January 2004 with Mark Wright needing a new keeper after first-choice Wayne Brown got injured and stand-in Ian McCaldon emigrating to Australia.

Coventry gave the Blues the go ahead talk to the then 30-year-old but the ex-Lens stopper rejected the move despite chairman Stephen Vaughan insisting the club could meet his wages.

Vaughan said: "Coventry were very helpful and gave us permission to speak to him. However, after discussions and agreement to meet his wage demands, Arphexad said that he wasn't prepared at this stage of his career to join a club lower than the second division."

Chester eventually signed Iain Turner on loan from Everton and he went on to have an important role in the club winning the Football Conference titlle and returning to the Football Legaue.

Arphexad reemerged as a target in July 2005 as a 32-year-old free agent. He was invited for a trial but again decided not to take up the offer.

John Hartson

Chief executive Bob Gray had a major hand in an audacious attempt to sign ex-Wales centre forward John Hartson in November 2007.

Hartson, who had commanded almost £20m in combined transfer fees, was out of favour at Championship outfit West Bromwich Albion.

Chester had made a good start in League Two under Bobby Williamson and made an approach to take the 32-year-old on loan with a view to a permanent deal in January.

West Brom agreed to the move but the ex-Wales international turned the temporary switch down.

Gray said at the time: "John Hartson feels that he needs to play at a higher level, but he was pleased to hear of Chester’s interest and he spoke to our manager, Bobby Williamson, who is a good friend of Hartson."

That wasn't the end of the club's interest in the ex-Arsenal and Celtic forward, however.

A couple of months later the Blues offered Hartson a coaching role but he turned them down, deciding it would be in his best immediate interests to stay on the playing staff with the Baggies.