Moises Caicedo holds the record as the most expensive player in English football history.
The Ecuadorian joined Chelsea last summer in a deal worth £115m, and Caicedo has been brilliant recently for Chelsea.
However, a long time before Caicedo broke that £110m barrier, Tony Cottee was the British record transfer when he joined Everton from West Ham for £2.2m.
Cottee, once upon a time, was the deadliest goalscorer in England. All in all, the striker scored 309 career goals.
Cottee would ultimately make his big move to Everton, but, speaking on the Sacked in the Morning Podcast, the former England international has revealed that he could’ve joined Arsenal at that time.
TONY COTTEE OF WEST HAM UNITED CELEBRATES AFTER SCORING WEST HAM's FIRST GOAL AGAINST NOTTINGHAM FOREST DURING A PREMIERSHIP MATCH AT UPTON PARK. M...
30 DEC 1994: TONY COTTEE OF WEST HAM UNITED CELEBRATES AFTER SCORING WEST HAM's FIRST GOAL AGAINST NOTTINGHAM FOREST DURING A PREMIERSHIP MATCH AT…
Tony Cottee could’ve joined Arsenal
Cottee spoke about his move to Everton, and he says that he actually could’ve joined Arsenal at that time.
The striker says that he decided to join Everton for the money, but he admits he would’ve won more for Arsenal.
Interestingly, Cottee also says that Arsenal never would’ve signed Ian Wright if he’d made that move to Highbury.
“Everything was all about me being the most expensive player. And I had to make the choice between Everton and Arsenal. And again, it was really difficult,” Cottee said.
“As a London boy, in a way, I really sort of wanted to stay in London. But when I looked at the two offers, I just felt Everton wanted me so much more than what Arsenal did. They paid more money wages-wise, which obviously came into it.
“So, I think I made the right choice. Although when I see the Arsenal fans, they always say to me, oh, you’d have won this and you won that Arsenal. Because I went to Everton for six years and didn’t win a thing.
“And then I always turn around to the Gooners and I say, listen, if I had signed for Arsenal, you wouldn’t have had Ian Wright. So that soon shuts them up because they’ll go, ‘oh yeah, that’s a good point. We love Wrighty.’”
Tony Cottee at Everton compared to Ian Wright at Arsenal
Arsenal may have been gutted to miss out on Cottee at the time, but things worked out alright in the end for the Gunners.
Indeed, Arsenal ultimately signed Ian Wright from Crystal Palace, and it’s fair to say that worked out ok.
Tony Cottee at Everton Ian Wright at Arsenal
Games 202 283
Goals 77 182
Trophies won 0 5
Not only did Wright become Arsenal’s record goalscorer during his time at the club – a record that has since been beaten by Thierry Henry, Wright is also a great club ambassador.
Wright is always championing Arsenal players, while Wright even mentored Eddie Nketiah during his time at the club.
Wright is a bona fide Arsenal legend, and he’s so entrenched in the fabric of the club it’s hard to imagine a world where he isn’t a part of the Arsenal family.
At the time, Cottee may have been the hottest property in English football, but, with more than 30 years’ worth of hindsight, it’s fair to say that Arsenal got this one spot on as they ended up with Ian Wright instead.
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