Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea all wanted to sign Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Former United academy boss Brian McClair says United, along with the Premier League’s other big guns were all pursuing the Liverpool defender in recent years.

The 19-year-old has made 22 first-team appearances for Liverpool this term and McClair says United were tracking the player five years ago.

United were hopeful they could lure Alexander-Arnold away from Anfield because his uncle is former club secretary John Alexander, but McClair says those ideas were quickly knocked back.

As quoted in the Manchester Evening News, McClair said: “We saw him when he was playing outside right in an under 14 game at Carrington for Liverpool.

“I thought, he’s a good player, who’s he?

“Even though his uncle was the secretary, you knew you weren’t going to get him. So we were never going to get him.

“His sister is a Liverpool fan, the family were all Liverpool fans, he wasn’t going to leave Liverpool. It was a simple message.

“You can’t say to John Alexander ‘Get into your sister’ because she only knows the answer.

“It’s great for him that he’s got a nephew who is playing for Liverpool.

“Chelsea tried to get him, City tried to get him, but it was ‘We’re Liverpool, he’s going to play for Liverpool,’” he said. “That’s it.

“That’s encouraging to hear because far too often parents, guardians or their advisors are going looking for the money. But he wants to play for Liverpool and he’s doing really well.

“You can’t argue with that.”

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