Alan Shearer admits £20m Newcastle United bid for ex-Manchester United & Everton star

Alan Shearer has admitted Wayne Rooney to Newcastle United was never “realistically” going to happen.

Almost 20 years ago, a teenage sensation was sweeping English football by storm. The Three Lions had a new hero and, if it were not for a metatarsal fracture, they may have brought football home at Euro 2004.

Rooney had wowed Premier League audiences for two seasons at Everton but it was the Euros in Portugal that propelled him to international superstardom. Following the tournament, Newcastle were one of several clubs vying for his signature.

Reports at the time claimed the Magpies were closing in on a deal worth around £20million - a pittance by modern-day comparison. Rooney revealed in recent years that he was set to join Newcastle but wanted assurances that he could leave for Manchester United a year later providing they match the transfer fee.

As it turned out, news of the teenage sensation heading to St James’ Park provoked Sir Alex Ferguson to act swiftly and sign him for the Red Devils that summer. The now 38-year-old went on to become Man United’s all-time leading goalscorer, winning every honour possible in England.

Speaking to the Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer - who once called Rooney his “dream” teammate - opened up about whether the Magpies stood a chance. He said: “Yeah they did (try to sign Rooney). I don’t know how serious it was.

“The old chairman at the time, Freddie Shepherd, his son was involved in the agency so whether it was to speed a new contract up, I don’t know. But Newcastle did put a bid in for him when he was at Man United. Definitely, a bid went in for him. It would have been great but I don’t think realistically it was ever going to happen.”