Everton manager David Moyes accepts he has “to live with disappointments” after admitting he wanted to do more business on transfer deadline day.
A move for Monaco striker Folarin Balogun collapsed after the 25-year-old changed his mind following a medical at the club’s Finch Farm training base.
The United States international emerged as a late target after Guinea-Bissau striker Beto completed a permanent switch to Serie A club Fiorentina.
The Toffees also explored deals for Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee and Aston Villa frontman Tammy Abraham but were unable to convince either to join.
They did sign Jack Grealish on a season-long loan deal from Manchester City, but lost star attacker Iliman Ndiaye to City in a deal worth £65m.
“I am disappointed that we didn’t do more business and things didn’t go our way in the end,” Moyes said.
“Sometimes in football you have to live with disappointments and move on, and we will.”
Issues with Balogun’s medical meant Everton and Monaco renegotiated the initial £40m agreement.
Both clubs signed a deal sheet before the transfer window closed at 23:00 BST to provide extra time to complete the transfer only for Balogun to have a change of heart and walk away.
“It wasn’t anyone’s fault and ultimately it happens in football as the player had a problem in his medical and that was simply it,” Moyes added.
“There are no other stories behind it. That is exactly what happened.”
Moyes said that part of selling Ndiaye, who scored 15 goals and delivered four assists in 67 Premier League games for the Toffees, was to help provide funds for signings.
They failed to secure defender Kenny Tete after Fulham could not find a suitable replacement, but right-back Ainsley Maitland-Niles did arrive from Lyon for £3m.
“We were looking to get some money in,” Moyes said.
“We lost Iliman Ndiaye, which is someone who we definitely didn’t want to lose, but sometimes it is difficult when the likes of Man City come along.
“Some things went against us and some things we could have done better. Ultimately we didn’t want to lose a lot of the different players but for reasons that had to happen.”