Graeme Souness: 'I missed out on Peter Schmeichel, Eric Cantona'

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 08 October 2017

Graeme Souness reveals that Liverpool missed out on signing Eric Cantona and Peter Schmeichel - who became Manchester United legends - while Reds manager.

Graeme Souness has revealed that Liverpool missed out on signing Eric Cantona and Peter Schmeichel when he was in charge at Anfield.

Cantona and Schmeichel ended up signing for rivals Manchester United and helped the Red Devils to unprecedented glory under Sir Alex Ferguson.

"I missed out on two players who went on to become Manchester United legends," Souness told the Sunday Times.

"Ron Yeats, the chief scout then, told me there was a young Danish goalkeeper - Peter Schmeichel - who was a Liverpool fan and willing to pay his own travel and hotel in exchange for some time with us.

"I was trying to ease out Bruce Grobbelaar and that was proving a hassle, plus I had just signed David James, so I thought I could do without a rookie goalkeeper.

"Eric Cantona was another I missed out on. We played Auxerre at home and Michel Platini came to see me afterwards. He said he had a player for me, a problem boy but a proper player.

"It was Cantona, but I said the last thing I needed was another problem player. I had 30-pluses I was trying to get out, so I didn't need more hassle. I said I was looking for something else and so it was no thanks."

Souness was at Liverpool between 1991 and 1994 and won the FA Cup with the Reds in 1992.