The club’s all-time record goalscorer knew the time was right to leave his boyhood team Everton and wanted to play for Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford. However, the Reds were prepared to wait a year before signing the exciting teenager.
Another forward, Alan Smith, had already arrived from Leeds United and the initial plan was to bring the Toffees teenager into the fold in 2005, only for developments behind the scenes to force our hand.
Wayne tells hosts Helen Evans, Sam Homewood and David May that Chelsea were also interested in his services and it was well documented, at the time, that Newcastle United had managed to muscle in on the bidding and were leading the chase.