Liverpool icon John Barnes admits Man Utd wanted to sign him - before Sir Alex Ferguson call

Former Liverpool winger John Barnes has explained how Sir Alex Ferguson told him he considered signing the Reds legend for Manchester United .

Back in 1987, Barnes swapped Watford for Merseyside, joining the Reds who were then managed by Kenny Dalglish. In his first season at Anfield, Liverpool won the league title, with Barnes scoring 15 goals in 38 games.

The season after they finished runners up to Arsenal after they snatched the title away on the final day of the 1988/1989 campaign, with the Gunners winning 2-0 at Anfield thanks to goals from Alan Smith and Michael Thomas. But, the season after, the Reds and Barnes got back to their title winning ways.

Following a down season the year prior, where he scored eight goals in 33, Barnes was back to his best, enjoying statistically the best season of his career. He netted 22 goals in 34 league games, helping the Reds to their final domestic title before Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool claimed their 2019/20 Premier League crown.

However, things could have been different for Barnes and Liverpool had Sir Alex Ferguson pursued him harder. And the 60-year has revealed Fergie told him had they not had Jesper Olsen on their books, they would have looked at signing Barnes from Watford prior to his move to Merseyside.

Barnes exclusively told Ladbrokes, the official betting partner of Liverpool FC: "Was a move to Manchester United ever really close to happening? Not at all; you have to remember, this was 1987... Liverpool were the best team in the country - they were one of the best teams in the country.

"Everton were the second best team in the country, they'd just won the league. Man United weren't the Man United of 1992/93, where everything started happening for them. So, if there was a situation where Liverpool and Man United wanted me - or wanted anybody - you were always going to go to Liverpool... it wasn't even close.

"I didn't really know anything about it; Fergie [Sir Alex Ferguson] said later on that had they not have had Jesper Olsen, it would have been a possibility, to sign me. But, unfortunately, had he have come in for me, and had Liverpool have come in for me at the same time... it was just never going to happen! I mean, nobody would've done that, at that particular time. That's not to belittle Manchester United at all, but the decision in 1987... you were always going to go to Liverpool.

"I've crossed paths with Fergie over the years, of course, but we've never really spoken about it. There's so many players that he could have signed, and did - or didn't - sign... I'm no different to hundreds of players who either went to Man United, or didn't."

Liverpool.com says: "We're just glad Fergie persisted with Jesper Olsen over signing John Barnes. Manchester United's loss was certainly Liverpool's gain."