Former Chelsea boss Glenn Hoddle has dropped a transfer bombshell about one of the Arsenal heroes of the 1990s as he revealed that Dennis Bergkamp almost joined his compatriot Ruud Gullit at Stamford Bridge.
In the summer of 1995, Hoddle was keen to bolster his attack, having already supplemented in deeper areas with Gullit arriving from Sampdoria, and Inter Milan hotshot Bergkamp was available.
Hoddle revealed to Alive and Kicking – The 90s Football Podcast (via TalkSPORT) that the Blues were close to securing a deal with the Italian club for the Dutch frontman.
Then-chairman Ken Bates attempted to get a deal over the line for Chelsea but they couldn’t get a deal done due to not quite being able to meet the Nerazzurri's asking price.
Hoddle said: “We nearly got [Dennis] Bergkamp over from [Inter] Milan, he was available but we didn’t have the money.
“I think between £6.5 million, £7m, so you’d have thought, as I said to [chief executive] Colin Hutchinson, give Batesy [owner Kevin Bates] a ring, see if whilst we’re out here, his agent, you know…”
Arsenal were able to pay the £7.5m instead and the rest is history as he went on to become adored by the North London club’s fans.
Gullit and Bergkamp: What might have been
Bergkamp played an integral role in the Arsene Wenger teams which claimed Premier League glory in 1998, 2002 and 2004.
The striker went on to score 87 times and provide 94 assists across 11 years at the club, making a total of 315 appearances before retiring in 2006.
Hoddle still muses about the potential of pairing Gullit and Bergkamp together at club level and what they could potentially have achieved.
A year after that summer which might have been, Hoddle left to become England manager succeeding Terry Venables and Gullit stepped up to the role of player-manager a year after arriving.
“Imagine if we’d bought them two then,” Hoddle added.
“That would have been exciting but they couldn’t raise the money at that time so we just missed out on maybe getting Dennis as well.
“But Ruud was fabulous and it elevated Chelsea and it was exciting times.”
tuobdmnpt
0
mediocre just Chelsea coach talking always remember that you have relegated than the number of league you have won
And Arsenal have relegated more than winning the champions league.🤣🤣
Loobnpstuz
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He would have been a UCL and Europa league winner😂😂
Loobnpstuz
0
mediocre just Chelsea coach talking always remember that you have relegated than the number of league you have won
you still have no european Trophy😀😀😀🤣🤣🤣
huwilptz
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point of correction Mr man always think before you talk yig start winning something for 50 years in 2005 and he retired 2006 and you win your first European Trophy in 2012. let always support support instead club
Chelsea are the first English team who brought proper foreign players to the premier league,Ruud Gullit,Gianfranco Zola, Gianluca Valli, Roberto D'mateo, Marcel Dasaili, George Weah and many more, that was in 1990s
SawHotz
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Glad he didn't!
tuobdmnpt
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point of correction Mr man always think before you talk yig start winning something for 50 years in 2005 and he retired 2006 and you win your first European Trophy in 2012. let always support support instead club
I can see that Ignorance, Jealousy and lack of knowledge are really affecting you.. Get your facts right before disgracing yourself. Chelsea won the cup winners cup in 1997/1998 season by beating Stuttgart and also beat Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup in 1998/1999 season. I don't blame you because you are one of those modern day fans that started watching football matches mostly from 2005 or after
sewdeiklpu
0
mediocre just Chelsea coach talking always remember that you have relegated than the number of league you have won
sewdeiklpu
1
Dennis Bergkamp would have won European trophies if he had moved to Chelsea in the 90s (European Cup winner cup and European Super Cup)😎 Chelsea is the only London club that gives Continental trophies winners medal in the capital. Arsenal are local champs
point of correction Mr man always think before you talk yig start winning something for 50 years in 2005 and he retired 2006 and you win your first European Trophy in 2012. let always support support instead club
tuobdmnpt
1
Dennis Bergkamp would have won European trophies if he had moved to Chelsea in the 90s (European Cup winner cup and European Super Cup)😎 Chelsea is the only London club that gives Continental trophies winners medal in the capital. Arsenal are local champs
Chelsea_Fox☆addict
3
NwaokenneyahLC
1
And so?
suabnopu
0
Zeybikmst
2
Bergkamp was one father brightest graduates ofcttr Ajax Academy, and okayed what football should be!