Everton veteran Alan Stubbs has revealed how two former managers tried to get him to Goodison Park early in his career.

"It was weird but I was speaking to Howard [Kendall] not so long ago and he told me tried to get me when I was at Celtic," Stubbs told Everton's website. "He tried to do a swap deal with Slaven Bilic for me."

Stubbs was unaware of Kendall's interest, continuing his successful football career away from Goodison Park.

"It was strange because about four weeks later I was at Howard Kendall's birthday party, and I was sat next to Joe Royle, and he said to me 'I tried to buy you'," explained Stubbs.

"It was when I was at Bolton, but Colin Todd who was manager at the time said 'Do me a favour and don't say anything to him because if you do I've lost him.'

"When you look back I really wish it had been then, rather than when Walter Smith brought me."