Source: PA
Shearer `staggered' by Carroll sale
Alan Shearer finds it "staggering" that Newcastle allowed striker Andy Carroll to leave for Liverpool without bringing in anyone as a replacement on transfer deadline day.
Carroll, 22, joined Liverpool for £35million, a British transfer record that was quickly broken when the Merseysiders sold Fernando Torres to Chelsea for a fee believed to be around £50million.
And Shearer, Newcastle's record goalscorer, hopes that the Magpies' failure to reinvest any of the £35million in a replacement for the England striker does not come back to haunt them.
"I'm staggered just like the rest of Newcastle fans," he told BBC Five Live: "I am surprised at how quickly it came along and it's an astonishing amount for a young guy with huge potential.
"It's all right selling your best player, but not getting anyone in to replace him is staggering. People are saying that Liverpool have sold Torres, but they have got two guys in for over £50million to replace him. I just hope Newcastle invest some of the £35million in new players at the end of the season.
"I am disappointed as he is Newcastle's best player and their best hope of being successful this season and getting a Europe League place. They would have just been happy to avoid relegation at the start of the season but, mainly because of him, they had a chance of a Europa spot."
