It was on the eve of Euro 2000 and Villa stalwart Gareth Southgates head had been turned, as surmised by his transfer request. Chelsea had been hoping to land the English international, having subjected two bids - £4 million and £5 million - for the 29 year old. Relations between the clubs hadnt been at their finest, with Chelsea chairman Ken Bates having blasted Villa as a two-bob team, when Chelsea beat them during the FA Cup final in May. Villa chairman Doug Ellis remained indignant at Chelseas offer for their centre-half, describing the figures offered as an absolute insult, and instructing the west London side to either double the offer or move on. Bates and Chelsea boss Gianluca Vialli were accused of dirty tricks in trying to unsettle Southgate, with even the centre-half expressing his surprise at the relatively low bids for his signature.
''I dont expect Villa to be talking to anybody on that sort of basis. Perhaps Chelseas valuation is based purely on my penalty-taking ability. - Gareth Southgate, June 2000.
As it happens, both Southgate remained at Villa Park for another season, before signing a deal at Middlesbrough the following summer. He may have gone on to win another League Cup and reach a UEFA Cup final during his five-year stint at the Riverside, before eventually becoming the manager, but considering he cited a wish to achieve, perhaps he will feel that he might just have missed the boat at Stamford Bridge.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
