Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits they were keen to sign Phil Jones when he was a junior player.
United paid £16.5million to snap up England Under-21s star Jones from Blackburn Rovers in the summer.
Ferguson said: "He was first identified when he played for Blackburn's youth team against us a couple of years ago, when they beat us 3-0.
"He was absolutely magnificent. I phoned Sam Allardyce the next week to speak to him about the boy and he said Phil was the best young player he's ever had.
"We kept our eyes on the situation and obviously in the season just gone we managed to get him."
