Former Everton director of football Steve Walsh has revealed the Toffees rejected to sign Harry Maguire and Andy Robertson during his tenure - for a combined fee of £20million.
Maguire became the most expensive defender in history when Manchester United paid £80million to sign him from Leicester over the summer.
Robertson has gone on to establish himself as one of the world's premier full-backs since joining Liverpool from Hull and helped the Reds to a sixth European crown last term.
And Walsh claims - while the duo were both at Hull - he offered Everton the chance to sign the pair - but the Toffees hierarchy decided against the move.
Walsh told The Athletic: "While I was at Everton, I offered them Andrew Robertson and Harry Maguire deals, when they were at Hull, and it was worth £20 million for the pair. Everton wouldn't take them."
The ex-Leicester scout - who was on the staff at the King Power Stadium during the Foxes' miraculous Premier League title triumph in 2015-16 - also says Everton rejected the chance to sign Jonny Evans and Erling Haaland, who is now one of the most sought-after young talents in Europe.
“I had a deal done for Jonny Evans too before he came to Leicester, but again they wouldn’t take him," he added.
"Erling Haaland, the striker with Salzburg, I had him and his dad at the club with a deal done for €4million. The club wouldn’t back me.”
Everton sit 15th in the Premier League after a disappointing start to the season with manager Marco Silva under pressure to keep his job at Goodison Park.
