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Sam Allardyce says he almost signed ‘unbelievable’ midfielder for West Ham but Karren Brady rejected him 

Charles Jones

Wed 3 April 2024 11:15, UK

Every manager has the story of the player they almost signed.

Arsene Wenger nearly signed Cristiano Ronaldo, Alex Ferguson nearly signed Alan Shearer, while Alex McCleish, strangely, almost signed Lionel Messi.

Speaking on the , Sam Allardyce has been discussing one deal he almost did at West Ham, revealing that he nearly signed a Champions League winner for the Hammers.

Sam Allardyce almost signed Champions League winner at West Ham

Speaking on his podcast alongside Tony Pulis, Allardyce shared how he almost signed a Champions League-winning midfielder for West Ham.

Pulis was building his all-time XI made up of players he’d managed, and there was room in the middle of the park for Darren Fletcher.

Pulis, of course, worked with Fletcher at West Bromwich Albion, but in another world, he could’ve ended up at West Ham under Sam Allardyce.

“Karren Brady rejected him at West Ham. We spoke about that do you remember? You wanted him at Stoke and I wanted him at West Ham based on Fergie, he said Sam you have to take him, he’s unbelievable,” Allardyce said.

Darren Fletcher would’ve been perfect for Allardyce

This would’ve been a match made in heaven.

If there’s anything Sam Allardyce loves it’s a hard-working, no-nonsense midfield player, and Fletcher was just that.

The Scot wasn’t necessarily the most talented or flashiest player in Premier League history, but he played with his heart on his sleeve and worked his socks off in every single game he played.

Unfortunately for Allardyce, he couldn’t get a deal for Fletcher over the line, and West Ham’s loss was West Brom’s game as Pulis got to work with the former Manchester United man at The Hawthorns.

Fletcher would’ve been the perfect signing for West Ham around this time, but, sadly, it wasn’t to be.