Former Everton defender Joleon Lescott has revealed how Harry Redknapp tried to take Leighton Baines to Tottenham in exchange for Gareth Bale.
Lescott says he had a bird's eye view of the deal.
Recalling a 1-0 win against Spurs in 2008, Lescott said: "I remember that time, it was around when he [Bale] was getting stick for his first 20 appearances or something like that ending in a loss!
"Coming in after the game Bainesy, who I was really close with, we were talking and Harry Redknapp wanted to swap them.
"He pulled Baines to one side, had a conversation with him, so I asked 'What was going on there?'
"He said they were interested in doing a swap for Bale.
"One of the main reasons that didn't happen was because Bale's record was so bad and David Moyes didn't want to swap."