Alan Shearer Despite Branfoot's claim to be "in the driving seat", "Saints" failed to include a "sell-on clause" in the contract. Shearer, less than a month off his 22nd birthday, was the most expensive player in British football. In his four years in the Southampton first team, Shearer made a total of 158 appearances in all competitions, scoring 43 goals. Despite making just one goalless appearance as England failed to progress past the Euro 1992 group stages, Shearer was soon subject to an English transfer record-breaking £3.6million bid from Blackburn Rovers. Although there was also interest from Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson,
1994–95 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season Rovers' next game was in the second week of September. The match was played at Ewood Park; the opposition, Everton, received the same treatment as previous visitors, leaving home on the back of a 3-0 defeat. Shearer got the first after 17 minutes, latching onto Tim Flowers' clearance before running at the Everton defence and shooting in the bottom left corner. Shearer was the provider for the second just before half time, crossing to the back post for an unmarked Jason Wilcox to blast home, and it was Shearer again who made sure of the points in the 60th minute,