Richie McCormack

However, this podcast will look at the proposed moves that went beyond mere rumour.

Transfers that almost came to happen.

and could have changed the footballing landscape.

The fanciful that was almost made flesh.

Think Rangers' pursuit of the good Ronaldo, Prime Root Hullet perhaps going to Bayern Munich, and Michael Laudrup to Liverpool?

This is Sliding Doors.

Yes, it wasn't for a reneged promise from the Liverpool board.

The gifted Danish playmaker could have won the European Cup as a teenager, and not having to wait until he was approaching 28, and Barcelona's 1992 triumph over Sampdoria at Wembley.

But a decade prior to Loudrop lifting old big ears, Liverpool were potentially at a pivot point of their own.

In 1983, Bob Paisley informed those attending a football writer's dinner staged in his honour in his native Durham that he'd be stepping down after an unrivaled spell in the manager's hot seat.

Paisley had seamlessly taken on the mantle of main man at Anfield from Bill Shankly, comfortably outstripping his predecessor's trophy hole.

By the summer of 82, five league titles were to his name, three European Cups and a pair of League Cups and a UEFA Cup.

One of his long-time deputies, Joe Fagan, was quickly confirmed to take over from Paisley at the end of the 82-83 season.

In 82, Paisley had begun something of a rebuild of the Liverpool squad, with Terry McDermott, David Johnson, Kevin Sheedy and Steve Agrizovic all departing.

In their place came Bob Wardle, a goalkeeper from Shrewsbury, and Middlesbrough striker David Hodgson.

and around 600 miles east of Liverpool, 1982 would see the emergence of one of Danish football's greatest ever talents.

Michael Laudrup, one of two brothers who'd helped elevate their national team to new heights, had followed his footballing father, Finn, in joining Brambu from KB in 1981.

The elder Laudrup was in essence replacing his own father at Brøndby for their first season in the Danish top flight.

Both Brøndby and Michael Laudrup were immediate successes, scoring two on his Brøndby debut in a 7-1 defeat of fellow promoted side B1909.

18-year-old Laudrup would end the season as the third highest scorer with 15 goals, helping Brambu finish a creditable fourth.