Jose Mourinho reportedly told Manchester United not to bid for Virgil van Dijk in January 2018.
The Netherlands international has developed into one of the best centre-backs in world football since joining Liverpool from Southampton in a £75m deal.
According to The Independent, United had the opportunity to battle the Reds for the Dutchman's signature, only for Mourinho to 'say no' to the club bidding for the 28-year-old as he did not want another central defender.
The 20-time English champions were linked with a number of centre-backs - including Toby Alderweireld, Jerome Boateng and Yerry Mina - last summer as Mourinho looked to improve in that area of the field.
However, the Portuguese was ultimately left frustrated with the club's business before losing his job in December following a poor start to the 2018-19 campaign.
Van Dijk had been the world's most expensive defender before United broke the record to bring England international Harry Maguire to Old Trafford from Leicester City in this summer's transfer window.
