Ex-Liverpool star Ronnie Rosenthal reveals he was close to joining Luton Town

Former Liverpool striker Ronnie Rosenthal has admitted he was close to signing for Luton Town before his move to Anfield back in 1990.

The Israeli attacker, now 56, began his playing career with Maccabi Haifa where he won two league titles, before heading to Belgian side Club Brugge KV in 1988, adding another championship to his CV.

Rosenthal then joined Liverpool on loan in March 1990, scoring seven goals in eight Division One games, including a hat-trick against Charlton Athletic, which helped the Reds secure a third league title in five seasons.

His move to Anfield was made permanent for a fee of £1million, but writing in the Sun this week, Rosenthal, who won 60 caps for his country, scoring 11 times, admits his career could have been differently had the Hatters been able to afford him.

He said: "When I left Standard Liege at the start of 1990, my heart was set on playing in Italy at Udinese.

"At that time playing there was the equivalent of today’s Premier League.

"Instead, I had a trial at Luton, who wanted to sign me but they didn’t have the resources.

"The manager at Luton at the time, Jim Ryan, said he would talk to Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool.

"Everything happened so quickly and the next thing I was part of the amazing set up at Anfield.

"Playing for Liverpool manager Dalglish was unique. Compared with my previous bosses, Kenny said very little. And the truth is he didn’t need to.

"The players knew their roles and tactically we all slotted in and fed off each other. It was a system that worked brilliantly well."

After four years with Liverpool, Rosenthal left Anfield to join Tottenham Hotspur in January 1994, but only managed four goals in 88 games, as he went to Watford before retiring from playing at the age of 35.