Graeme Souness has revealed he was close to completing a move for Nicolas Anelka during his time at Newcastle United - only for Freddy Shepherd to block the deal in favour of a club-record transfer for Michael Owen.
The Magpies turned to the Liverpool legend after Sir Bobby Robson was sacked just four matches into the 2004/05 season. The former Blackburn Rovers was seen as a disciplinarian who could bring the St James' Park dressing room under control.
Souness fell out with the likes of Craig Bellamy and Laurent Robert, but guided United to the FA Cup semi-final and UEFA Cup quarter-final in his first season in charge. However, Newcastle finished a lowly 14th in the Premier League.
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The Magpies splashed the cash the following summer, with Jean Alain-Boumsong and Albert Luque arriving alongside Owen. The England international had pushed for a return to Liverpool following a single season at Real Madrid, but ultimately agreed a club-record switch to Tyneside.
Former owner Freddy Shepherd lauded the deal, but Souness has since outlined he was initially keen on signing former Arsenal and Real Madrid striker Nicolas Anelka. The former manager had met with the then-Fenerbahce forward, and been told he was 'all for coming'.
It is a move Souness' previously discussed in his autobiography 'Football: My Life, My Passion', where he rued the decision to convince Alan Shearer to play on instead of signing another forward. However, the 69-year-old has now discussed Shepherd's role in both deals.
When asked by presenter Jim White if he had any say in the Owen transfer, Souness told talkSPORT: "No...the story of Michael Owen, and who wouldn't want Michael Owen, he's a big player at Real Madrid.
"I wanted Anelka, he was at Fenerbache at the time. I had met his representatives and he was all for coming. He wasn't acceptable to Freddy Shepherd, he didn't want him.
Souness added: "Yeah, that wasn't the only time that happened there. I found that job...the fact I never worked again tells you how much that job put me off being a manager."
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