Gary Neville has claimed Steven Gerrard expressed fears over the safety of his family if he joined arch-rivals Manchester United from Liverpool.
Neville speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, said he has been instructed by Sir Alex Ferguson to attempt convince Gerrard to sign for the Red Devils.
The approach came around 2004 with Neville speaking to Gerrard about a potential transfer while on international duty.
Gerrard at the time had been considering a £30million-plus move to join Chelsea, a switch which would have doubled his wages.