Dirk Kuyt has revealed that Tottenham Hotspur wanted to sign him a year before he left Feyenoord for Liverpool but he did not feel the move to the Lilywhites was right for him at that stage of his career.
Kuyt arrived at Anfield from Feyenoord in 2006 and went on to spend six years at Anfield, playing 285 times and netting 71 goals across all competitions for the Reds.
Although the Dutchman arrived at the club as a striker, he was turned into a right-winger by Rafa Benitez, becoming an indispensable part of the Liverpool set-up under the Spaniard.
While Kuyt was never among the most feared attackers in the Premier League, he was widely recognised as a workhorse and a tactically astute player, also going on to win over 100 caps for the Netherlands.
He eventually left Liverpool in 2012 to move to Fenerbahce before returning to his boyhood club Feyenoord three years later.
Since hanging up his boots a few years ago, Kuyt has gone into management and is currently in charge of Belgian top-flight side Beerschot.
Daniel Levy tried to sign Dirk Kuyt for Tottenham
The 43-year-old has now opened up on his decision to join Liverpool, revealing that he had a call from Daniel Levy during the previous year regarding a potential switch to White Hart Lane.
He said on Kieft Jansen Egmond Gijp podcast (as translated by talkSPORT): “One year before I left for Liverpool, I was able to go to Tottenham Hotspur on the last day of the transfer market.
“Spurs chairman Daniel Levy called, he wanted me. I thought that was a very strange moment to leave Feyenoord behind. Leaving Feyenoord without a striker, albeit with a bag of money. Then [agent] Rob Jansen and I decided together not to do that.
On his eventual move to Liverpool, Kuyt said: “Marco van Basten has told me this is a very good move not only for myself but for the Dutch team. He thinks I have become too big for football in Holland and I need a move to a bigger club. And he thinks Liverpool is a good club for me.
“It is a dream that a club like Liverpool with their history wanted me. The beginning of the week I was just stunned by things, now it is a privilege to play for them.
“I think my game is suited to England, I think I am a typical type of player for the Premier League. I know there is a lot of competition up front, but that is only good for the team. Not everybody can play 50-60 games a season.”
Spurs Web Opinion
It is certainly very typical of Tottenham and Levy to have called on the deadline day of the transfer window as that was often their modus operandi at the time, with the Spurs chairman often waiting until the last moment to get the best possible deal.
Perhaps if Tottenham had shown an interest in Kuyt earlier in the summer and he had some time to consider the decision, he might have decided to join the Lilywhites.