I joined Newcastle United for 'more money' - I should have waited for Leeds & Arsenal

In the summer of 1999, Dyer was one of most highly-rated youngsters in England after bursting onto the scene with Ipswich Town. But after the Tractor Boys failed to secure to promotion to the Premier League, a number of clubs made their move.

Arsenal, Leeds and West Ham United submitted bids for the then 20-year-old but it was Newcastle, managed by Ruud Gullit, who won the race after tabling the highest offer.

Without time to think, Dyer travelled up to the North East to finalise his move. But looking back now, the attacking midfielder wished he waited to see if Arsenal or Leeds upped their offer.

“Newcastle wasn't my first choice, it was just more money [bid],” he told Open Goal. “It was £6.5million.

“If I'd known what I know now and all the managers I'd spoken to, I know Arsenal wanted to buy me as a right-back, Harry Redknapp was playing three at the back [at West Ham United] and saw me as a right wing-back then Ruud Gullit [at Newcastle] and David O'Leary [at Leeds] saw me as a midfielder.

“I know Leeds and Arsenal bid £5million. Then I get pulled in the manager [George Burley's] office and he goes 'we've accepted a bid from Newcastle head to Stanstead Airport and fly up for your medical'. You don't get time to think about it.

“As soon as my agent tells me the deal I'm like okay. This is no disrespect to Newcastle, I had the most amazing time there, we played Champions League football, the fans are unbelievable, but at the time, if I had thought about it, I would have held tight and seen if Leeds and Arsenal would have upped their bids because Arsenal would have been the dream.”

Gullit was sacked just five Premier League games into Dyer’s career on Tyneside and was replaced by Sir Bobby Robson.

Dyer went on to have a relatively successful career at Newcastle despite various injury struggles. He made 250 appearances for the club, scoring 38 goals and was named in the 2002-03 PFA Premier League Team of the Year.