– “Signed with Newcastle United by mistake, forfeiting my Arsenal or Leeds United dreams!”

Dyer was one of the most sought-after young players in English football after bursting onto the scene in the First Division with Ipswich as well as England at youth level. But after Ipswich failed to secure promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs, several clubs made moves to sign him.

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I was ready to force a move out of Newcastle United to join Man Utd – but Sir Alex Ferguson hung up on me

I was ready to force a move out of Newcastle United to join Man Utd – but Sir Alex Ferguson hung up on me

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Newcastle United midfielder agrees ‘multi-year contract’ to replace Liverpool star

Newcastle’s £6.5million bid saw them swoop in ahead of the likes of Arsenal, Leeds United and West Ham United to land Dyer’s signature. But the then 20-year-old felt he didn’t have too much say in the move at the time.

“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.