Alan Pardew thought there was "no way" Liverpool would agree to splash out PS35million to buy Andy Carroll.

The former Newcastle boss, from 2010 to 2014, sold the striker to the Reds on Deadline Day in January 2011 in what was then a record fee for a British footballer.

Despite the lofty expectations placed upon the ex-England international, Carroll was a flop at Anfield. He netted just 11 goals in 58 appearances before he was shipped off to West Ham for PS15million just two years after arriving in Merseyside.

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PS22 a month

Sky Pardew, 62, opened up about the then-record breaking deal and admitted the sale of Carroll was the "worst" of his managerial career. He told the January Transfer Window Show, sponsored by talkSPORT BET: "I lost Jermain Defoe at West Ham and Andy Carroll and Demba Ba [at Newcastle].

"Andy Carroll was the worst one because, I think the last day was on a Monday, and I was flying up from London as I'd been home to see my family. I was just getting on the flight and Derek Llambias rang me and said the bid is getting really close to PS30m and when you get off the other end we might be doing this deal."

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"Being a football manager and the sensible person I am, when I was on the plane I had a little gin and tonic and decided that was not enough because I didn't want to sell him," Pardew added.

"When I got off the other end I got on the phone to Derek and said 'I think if you get PS35m then there's a discussion', thinking there's no way Kenny Dalglish is going to spend PS35m on Andy Carroll." Dalglish called his bluff as Carroll became a Liverpool player on January 31 which left the Magpies in dire need of a striker.

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"I went to training, popped around and it was all enjoyable. Then there was the bid for PS35m, we were all stunned. It was the British transfer record at the time and it was a massive problem for us, it left us really short."

Devoid of options, Newcastle signed Shefki Kuqi for the rest of the season. The Finnish striker made just six appearances and failed to score as the club finished 12th in the Premier League.