Newcastle captain had to apologise for comment after striker’s record Liverpool transfer

Andy Carroll infamously parted ways with Newcastle to join Liverpool in 2011 in a then club-record £35million move, and their fans were far from happy with Kevin Nolan’s response

Kevin Nolan was forced to apologise to Newcastle United fans when Andy Carroll left Tyneside to join Liverpool. The 6’4″ striker made a name for himself with his boyhood club before securing a move to Merseyside in January 2011.

The transfer, which was for a club-record fee of around £35million at the time for Liverpool, was met with rejoice by fans of the Reds, while Newcastle fans were understandably upset to see their main man leave the north east. And Nolan inadvertently rubbed salt in the wounds of Geordies at the time by claiming that Carroll was joining a “great” club.

The Newcastle captain said: “Well, Liverpool is a great club. I’ve not taken anything away from how great this club is, I’ve just said Liverpool is a great club with the history it has got and everything.

READ MORE: Alexander Isak BANISHED by Newcastle and not allowed around team-mates and familiesREAD MORE: Harvey Elliott issues emotional statement as Liverpool transfer exit completed

“It’s a great move for Andy and no one can deny that but I want to be playing for Newcastle. If fans don’t like it I apologise. It was never meant to affect them. But Liverpool is a great club and everyone knows that.”

The outlook on Tyneside only worsened for Newcastle fans when their other striker, Shola Ameobi, picked up a cheekbone fracture which left him sidelined, while doubts emerging with regards to the suitability of alternatives Leon Best, Peter Lovenkrands and Nile Ranger at Premier League level.

Carroll’s departure ultimately didn’t cause that big of a dent in Newcastle’s prospects for the season, however, with the Magpies securing a respectable 12th-place finish in the Premier League before recruiting to replace the striker in the summer, bringing in the likes of Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba.

Meanwhile, Carroll’s tenure at Anfield was brief, scoring just 11 goals in 58 games for the Reds before he was sold on to West Ham United in the summer of 2013. Fast forward to 2025, and Carroll has enjoyed a second stint with Newcastle, played for the likes of West Bromwich Albion, Reading, Amiens and Bordeaux, and is currently representing Dagenham and Redbridge.

It comes as the Toon Army may see history repeating itself in losing a valuable striker this summer, with Alexander Isak looking to explore his options away from the club. The Sweden international, who has racked up 62 goals and 11 assists for the Magpies since joining from Real Sociedad in 2022, has expressed his interest in leaving St James’ Park this summer.

While Newcastle have slapped a huge, British transfer record price tag on their talisman, that hasn’t prevented big spenders Liverpool in attempting to lure him to Anfield ahead of the new Premier League season. The Reds officially submitted an opening offer of around £110m, only to see it swiftly rebuffed by Newcastle, who value Isak at nearer the £150m mark.

As a result of his future in the north east looking shaky at present, given he failed to join Newcastle on their recent pre-season tour of Asia, the club have been set on finding reinforcements in the striking department, only to come up trumps thus far.

Newcastle initially registered an interest in Hugo Ekitike, only for Liverpool to secure the Eintracht Frankfurt talisman in a move potentially totalling £79m, while it also looks as though the club have lost their recent tug of war with Manchester United over RB Leipzig sensation Benjamin Sesko who completed a medical in the north west on Friday.

With William Osula sitting as the club’s only other centre-forward outside of Isak, given Joelinton has transitioned into a midfield role, Newcastle will be desperate to recruit more firepower regardless of whether Isak is allowed to leave this summer. Although with strikers high in demand at present, and a lack of proven options available, it could be a case of searching far and wide for the Magpies.

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