Former Newcastle United boss John Carver has recalled trying to replace a Liverpool-bound Andy Carroll with Diego Forlan.

Carroll left Newcastle on January 31, 2011.

At one stage on a frantic day at Benton there had been an more exciting name dangled in front of the management team.

Former Manchester United striker and Uruguay international Diego Forlan was pushing for a move from Atlético Madrid.

Carver told ChronicleLive: "We almost signed Diego Forlan. His fee was stupid at the time at £14million.

"He wasn't an out and out forward but may have excited some fans. The money and wages were outrageous - astronomical. It was quashed after that."