CHELSEA legend John Terry shook hands over a shock Liverpool transfer according to Kop legend Phil Thompson.
Terry was very close to joining the Reds in 2003 after speaking to Gerard Houllier at the end of the season – before his illustrious Blues career had really got going.
John Terry came close to joining Liverpool according to Phil ThompsonCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
Former Liverpool assistant manager Thompson told Paddy Power: “In the final game of the 2002/3 season, it was a shoot-out between Liverpool and Chelsea for the last Champions League place.
“This was just before Roman Abramovich came in. We’d heard Chelsea were in dire straits, and they weren’t going to offer Frank Lampard or John Terry a contract.
“After the game, as Chelsea were doing a lap of honour, Gerard Houllier said to me that Terry was a bit of a player. I agreed, adding I didn’t think they’d offered him a contract.
“So Houllier went and shook John Terry’s hand and asked ‘how would you like to play for Liverpool?’ and John said: ‘I’d love to, Mr Houllier.’
“After, we sent one of our coaches in to the players’ lounge and asked John for his agent’s phone number.
“John said: ‘I’ll do more than that, here’s my personal telephone number, ask him to give us a call’.
“And a couple of weeks later, Abramovich took over, and his first dealings were signing Terry and Lampard to big contracts – so we were that far away from getting him.”
Terry enjoyed a hugely successful career at Stamford Bridge, winning five Premier League titles and a Champions League.
During that period, they had an intense rivalry with Liverpool, especially during the reigns of Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez.
The former England defender left Chelsea in 2017 after 717 games and 15 major trophies in almost 20 years in the first-team.
Terry is now assistant manager at Aston Villa.
Phil Thompson was talking on Paddy Power’s podcast, From The Horse’s Mouth, which you can listen to at podfollow.com/horsesmouth
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
