Former West Ham United midfielder Mark Noble has claimed he was once the subject of transfer talks at Liverpool.
Noble spent 22 years on West Ham’s books before hanging up his boots at the end of last season. He scored 62 goals in 550 appearances for the East Londoners.
The 35-year-old spent virtually his entire senior career with the Hammers, with the exception of brief loan spells at Hull City and Ipswich Town. However, he has now revealed he had the chance to move away from the club he has always supported during his playing career.
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Speaking to the Happy Hour Podcast, Noble explained his agent would often ring to reveal other clubs were interested in signing him, and one of those clubs was apparently Liverpool. The former midfielder has revealed Hammers goalkeeper coach, Xavi Valero, who worked at Liverpool under Rafa Benitez, told him he was spoken about by Reds coaches as someone the Anfield club could make a move for.
“There were times when my agent rang me and said ‘Look there’s a lot of interest here’ and when my contract was running down…” he said.
“Everyone knew my situation and feelings for the club. Could I have at times gone elsewhere and earned more money, of course I could because you earn money from moves and all that.
“Yeah (there was interest from Liverpool), actually our goalkeeper coach, who was at Liverpool at the time, Xavi, told me that and he said ‘we spoke about you a lot in meetings’.
“Obviously that never materialised but when I look back now and I see the send off I got and the loyalty I’d shown to the club and the history I’ve created… an extra few grand a week doesn’t compare to that.”
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