Liverpool were rocked by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson swoop for Blackburn Rovers defender Phil Jones yesterday.
The Daily Mail says Liverpool thought they were first in line for the highly rated 19-year-old after agreeing to sign his England Under 21 team-mate Jordan Henderson from Sunderland in a deal worth £20m.
But, while Henderson travelled to Merseyside for his medical, Jones and his representatives met United to complete a five-year deal worth £40,000 a week.
Ferguson broke off his holiday in the south of France and acted on his long-standing interest in Jones when it looked like the player was bound for Anfield, the manager interrupting his summer holiday to sanction the deal.
He told Jones he sees him as the long-term replacement for Rio Ferdinand and also talked to his parents.
Dalglish and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger are both believed to have spoken to the teenager after agreeing to meet the £16m release clause in his contract.
