Newcastle manager Steve Bruce has revealed he tried but failed to sign Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk while the Dutch defender was at Celtic.
Van Dijk and Liverpool host Bruce’s Newcastle side on Saturday, looking to maintain their perfect start to the Premier League season.
The Netherlands captain has excelled since his then-record breaking move from Southampton in January 2018, helping the Reds to a Champions League title last season while claiming this year's UEFA’s Player of the Year award.
But Bruce has revealed it could have been Hull City, not Southampton, who reaped the benefits of that big money transfer, had circumstances been different.