Newcastle United are furious with Liverpool after they offered three "nonentities" in part-exchange for winger James Milner.

United have found themselves in an identical situation to Aston Villa when Martin O'Neill went ballistic after Rafael Benitez tried the same trick with them in a bid to lure Gareth Barry to Anfield.

O'Neill never went public with the players he was offered by Liverpool, but the Evening Chronicle revealed that Benitez has dangled 19-year-old defenders Emiliano Insua and Jack Hobbs in front of United.

The third player was so insignificant that the St James's Park source could not even recall his name - and needless to say United will not be biting.

Insua is an Argentinian who was signed from Nobby Solano's old club Boca Juniors, while Hobbs has been on loan at Scunthorpe since the January transfer window.