How Liverpool missed out on £1 million Aaron Ramsey – because of Jay Spearing

The Wales international left Arsenal after 11 years at the Emirates to join Juventus on a free transfer this summer. However, his career could have gone down a very different path if it wasn’t for the Anfield hierarchy. According to sports writer Paul Tomkins, the Reds invited a 17-year-old Ramsey to Melwood ahead of a potential deal in 2008, only for then-manager Rafa Benitez to be told that a bargain deal couldn’t go ahead because Spearing was already in his squad. Tomkins tweeted: “Rafa told me that he had Aaron Ramsey at Melwood a few months before he joined Arsenal, ahead of a move of about £1m. His account was that he was told we had Jay Spearing, so couldn’t complete the move.” Ramsey went on score 64 goals and win FA Cups with the Gunners, while Spearing failed to break into the Liverpool first team regularly and is currently at Blackpool in League One after spells with Bolton and Blackburn. Now read… Bargains! 11 of football’s best free transfers EVER Quiz! Can you name the top three all-time goalscorers for every current Premier League club? Topics Liverpool, Arsenal, Premier League, Transfer news Wenger not panicking, targets new recruits after Liverpool loss Klopp content to work with what he has Oxlade-Chamberlain admits Liverpool switch a surprise to many Carragher: I’m scratching my head over Oxlade-Chamberlain Everton weigh up record-breaking bid for Ligue 1 ace Lukaku misses open training session Serie A club turn to Tottenham defender in search for new blood Competing with Harry Kane puts key Tottenham target off a move to London Laurent Koscielny remains grounded after Arsenal exit blocked Wolves’ ambitious owners understand they can’t match the Big Six – and that’s why they might actually break it PSG set eye-watering Neymar price as Barcelona consider next move The fall of Neymar: where PSG’s ill-tempered talisman has been going wrong Wednesday’s big transfer rumours: Manchester United given permission to speak to midfielder Tottenham wary of late hijack from rivals as they close in on new midfielder