10 Players You Didn't Know Nearly Signed For Middlesbrough

7. Dwight Yorke

At one time, he was one of the most lethal strikers in the Premier League. Scorer of 141 goals in the English top-flight, and part of Manchester United€™s historic treble-winning campaign, Dwight Yorke was certainly hot property for the best part of a decade. However, all good things must come to an end, and the ruthless Sir Alex Ferguson understood that the formerly potent partnership of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke needed to be broken up and disposed of. PSV Eindhoven hot-shot Ruud van Nistelrooy had already been acquired for a hefty fee, and Yorke€™s former partner in crime had been shipped off to Blackburn Rovers in the same window. Middlesbrough were ready to seize the opportunity, bidding £6.2 million for the 98/99 Golden Boot winner. Boro centre-back Ugo Ethiogu fanned the flames by claimed that his former Aston Villa team-mate was keen on joining him at the Riverside Stadium.

''I have tried my hardest to sell the club to Dwight, and he is interested in coming if anything becomes official. If this club moved positively enough, there۪s a chance that he would come to this club. I have been very surprised at the lack of transfer activity at this club. The gaffer is definitely interested, he۪s worked with Dwight and he۪s aware of his qualities.۪۪ - Ugo Ehiogu, January 2002.

With Yorke seemingly on the cusp of signing for the Riverside outfit, after Boro agreed a £6.2 million fee for his services, the transfer ultimately collapsed after a failure to agree personal terms.

''The two clubs agreed a fee and United gave us permission to talk to Dwight. We were able to offer him what we believe was a very attractive package. Unfortunately it would appear the offer did not meet Dwight۪s aspirations.۪۪ - Middlesbrough spokesman, January 2002.