10 Players You Didn't Know Sunderland Almost Signed

3. Ruud van Nistelrooy

Sunderland supporters look away now - one of the most potent and fearsome finishers to have ever plied his trade in the Premier League was essentially turned away by the powers that be at the Stadium of Light as the quoted fee of £5 million was 'far too high a price'. With 95 Premier League goals in 150 appearances for Manchester United, it's fair to say that Sir Alex Ferguson got value for money on the £20 million he splashed out to acquire the PSV Eindhoven frontman in 2001. Forging a reputation as one of the deadliest goalmouth predators in modern-day football, it seems incredible to think that there was a possibility of him arriving in the English top-flight a lot earlier and for a fraction of the cost. Having broke through at Eredivisie side Heerenveen as a 19 year old, Sunderland were offered the chance to sign the Dutch kid for a fee as low as £5 million in 1997. However, with the Black Cats having just tasted the cold bitter pill of relegation, they needed proven goal-scorers and this youngster from the Eredivisie simply didn't fit the bill.

''He's a quality player and someone we were looking to buy three seasons ago when he was still something of an unknown. It was just after we started back in the First Division. At the time he was playing for Heerenveen and I think he as only 19. But they quoted us £5 million which at the time was just far too high a price for a player we could not totally be sure would be a success.'' - Peter Reid, February 2000.