Former Wolves and Reading wide man Stephen Hunt has claimed that Sunderland had an £8.5 million bid for him rejected during his playing days. 

The 38-year-old, who was a left midfielder by trade but capable of performing a range of roles, retired in 2016 after a career in English football that spanned nearly two decades.

The Irishman came through the academy system at Crystal Palace before joining Brentford in 2001.

Four years and more than 100 appearances later, Hunt made the switch to Reading, where he would play arguably the best football of his career.

The Republic of Ireland international scored 21 times and provided 32 assists in his 167 games for the Royals – helping them achieve promotion to the Premier League in his first season at the club.

He would eventually leave to join Hull City in August 2009 but it appears he could've ended up at the Stadium of Light instead.

The Black Cats interest in the Royals winger was well documented in the late 2000s, with Everton also linked, but Hunt has revealed in a Q&A on Twitter that the North East club had a fairly substantial bid for him turned down.

After one season at Hull, the Irishman moved on to Wolves, then to Ipswich Town a few years later, before ending his career at Coventry City.

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The Verdict

Hunt's claim has provided a really interesting insight into just how much Sunderland wanted him back in the late 2000s.

£8.5 million is a huge fee and one that in some ways one that you cannot believe the Royals didn't accept.

That said, Hunt did score seven goals and provide 21 assists for them the following season, which in some ways justifies holding onto him.