Jermain Defoe always thought he'd sign for Manchester United and revealed he was linked heavily with the Red Devils before leaving West Ham for Spurs in 2004.

After being relegated in 2003, a strew of the Hammers' top young talent, including Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, and a 21-year-old Defoe, were destined to depart the club. While it was Spurs who eventually secured his services for £7m that January transfer window, Sir Alex Ferguson's side were also an interested party.

The Englishman went on to play just shy of 500 Premier League matches, scoring 163 top-flight goals in the process - but exclusively told the Manchester Evening News that he still talks to United icons Roy Keane and Gary Neville about his Old Trafford move that never was - and an undying appreciation for the legend Ferguson.

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"I remember being linked with Man United," Defoe admitted courtesy of bet365's new Sub On Play On product. "But, it's not one of those ones where you're sort of like going knocking on the manager's door and saying, 'I want to leave.'

"Because, like I said, you're just grateful. I came through at the age of 17. I played in the first team when I was 17. I think when you're young and you're sort of like living the dream, really, you're grateful.

"And I loved coming through at West Ham because I just felt like that environment was just perfect for me, where I was amongst young players that were just hungry and good people.

"I was still a kid. But of course, you look back and think. To be honest, I've always felt at some point, I'd always felt that at some point I'd end up at Man United, because I just felt… When I looked at Harry Redknapp and how much I loved Harry, I think the next one was Sir Alex.

"I always used to look at Man United and look at those players, and it was all about winning. And I always thought, 'I'd love to play for him.' Because of how I was as a player and as a person, I always wanted to win. I didn't cut any corners, and I just worked as hard as I could. I loved football. So I just felt that for me, it was almost like I was suited in that environment."

Defoe, who dabbled with coaching after his retirement in 2022, has made various punditry appearances since and speaks to his fellow ex-pros about how his mentality was so suited to the Red Devils.

"Obviously, when I speak to… even now when I do the TV, and I speak to Roy Keane and Gary Neville. I played with Gary with England and being around Beckham and all the Man United lot, I just thought, 'You know what, that sort of mentality, I was always like that,'" Defoe added. "But I mean, it didn't happen.

"I obviously ended up signing for Tottenham. Again, I was buzzing because I knew at the time the players that had played for that club. It was a special time for me."