10 World-Class Players You Didn’t Know Man Utd Nearly Signed
7. Gary Lineker
While Atkinson was prolific in the transfer market, his net spend was a mere one million pounds. It might seem strange now, given the fact that Manchester United have splashed out 16 million for an underwhelming forward on loan in the shape of Radamel Falcao, but Atkinson was denied the funds to sign the greatest English striker of his generation. In 1985, rumours of Barcelona wanting to sign Mark Hughes were growing and would come to fruition the following summer. Alongside Hughes was Frank Stapleton, whose best days were behind him and Norman Whitside, the phenomenal Northern Irish star who was sadly beset by with injuries. All the while, Leicester Citys Gary Lineker was taking Division One by storm. Atkinson could not buy Lineker outright and would need to offer the Foxes a cash plus player deal. The player in question was Frank Stapleton. Married to a Lancashire lass, Stapleton did not want a move to the East Midlands and the move died.
