Former Manchester United boss Ron Atkinson has revealed he had a deal for Gary Lineker before he joined Everton.

Speaking with the Liverpool Echo to promote his new book, 'The Manager', ghost written by Tim Rich, Big Ron recalled the time he was close to taking Lineker to Old Trafford.

"I actually had Lineker lined up to come to Man U," he said, calling over his ghost writer. “We didn't put that in the book did we, Tim?

“I had a deal arranged with Lineker when he was at Leicester for £600k, but I had to move somebody out.

“I had to sell a striker. It wasn't like it is now. I had Brazil, Frank (Stapleton) who was still a good player but not as sharp as he'd been, and Sparky, but couldn't move them on.

“So Lineker goes back to Leicester on the agreement he's going to sign a one year deal until we can move someone one, but Howard (Kendall) gets wind of it, flogs Andy (Gray) and signs Lineker."