However, despite being halfway through the medical process, Bowyer decided that it didn’t feel right for him at the time and ultimately rejected the move. Bowyer explained it all to Monday Night Football, as the Daily Star reports.
Reflecting on his decision, Bowyer admitted: “That is my biggest regret in football not going to Liverpool at that time. If I could’ve turned the clock back I would’ve gone.” He acknowledged that he knew his time at Leeds United was coming to an end due to various factors behind the scenes that didn’t sit well with him. However, he cited the distance from his family as a significant factor in his choice not to join Liverpool. Instead of signing with Liverpool, Bowyer opted for a short-term deal with his boyhood club West Ham before eventually joining Newcastle on a free transfer in 2003. Looking back, he acknowledged the irony of his decision, stating: “I thought doing another five years up north being a long way away from my family after doing six years at Leeds didn’t sit right, but after all that, I ended up going to Newcastle which is even further away, so it makes no sense!”
During his appearance on MNF alongside Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher, Bowyer discussed his time at Leeds United and the team’s missed opportunities for silverware. Despite lacking technical ability compared to other teams, Bowyer emphasized that Leeds often performed well against top clubs like Liverpool and Manchester United.
Former Leeds United star Lee Bowyer once had the chance to join Liverpool but turned it down, which is a decision he now considers his biggest regret in football. Back in 2002, then-Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier expressed interest in signing Bowyer. The midfielder even went as far as undergoing a medical examination for the potential transfer.
