REVEALED - 10 hidden gems Graham Carr recommended at NUFC before they made it big
It was announced by Newcastle United last night that Graham Carr had left the club by mutual consent, ending his 7-year spell as Chief scout on Tyneside.
Carr prompted some inspired signings such Yohan Cabaye, Cheick Tiote, Hatem Ben Arfa and Demba Ba, but there were several flops too, with Emmanuel Riviere, Mapou Yanga Mbiwa and Remy Cabella being three of many uninspiring arrivals from France.
Whilst Carr may have got man wrong, we've looked through some of the players he wanted to bring to the club over the past 5 years and believe me, Mike Ashley will live to regret these!
Here's 10 hidden gems Graham Carr put forward to Newcastle before they made it big - what a team we could've had!
1. Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang
Between the summer of 2012 and 2013, The Chronicle confirmed Newcastle's interest in St. Ettiene forward Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang. Carr was a big fan of the Gabon International and urged Unted chiefs to sign the £10m rated striker.
Newcastle instead pursued a deal for Marseille's Loic Remy, and for Aubameyang, the rest is history. After signing for Borussia Dortmund for €13m in the summer of 2013 he's went on to score 120 goals in 189 games in Germany and is now one of the top strikers in Europe. He is now being linked with a £60m summer move to the likes of Manchester City, PSG and Arsenal.
CLICK HERE to see the next hidden gem Graham Carr recommended to NUFC
2. Raphael Varane
The Chronicle confirmed today that Raphael Varane was a name put forward to Newcastle by Graham Carr way back in 2011, with the French centre-back impressing Carr as an 18-year-old at Ligue 1 side Lens.
6 years on, Varane now plays for Real Madrid and is arguably France's most promising defensive talent.
CLICK HERE to see the next hidden gem Graham Carr recommended to NUFC
3. Dele Alli
The Chronicle revealed in January this year that Newcastle United came unbearably close to signing Dele Alli in 2015. MK Dons, his cub at the time, was local to Carr and he was said to have been a big fan, watching the midfielder from as young as 17.
After a bid of £4m rising to £5m in January 2015, ex-press officer Anthony Marshall admitted that Alli's press conference was being prepared, only to see Spurs come in for him at the last minute. Alli is now one of the Premier League's top youngsters and one of England's most exciting talents.
CLICK HERE to see the next hidden gem Graham Carr recommended to NUFC
4. Alexandre Lacazette
In the summer of 2015, The Chronicle stated that Graham Carr had put forward Lyon sharp shooter Alexandre Lacazette as the man to solve their goalscoring problems, however Mike Ashley was believed to be reluctant to go over his £10m ceiling.
Lacazette then scored 27 league goals in France, seeing his value double. Newcastle made a £19m bid for Lacazette in January 2016, but refused to meet Lyon's asking price of £23m. A year and a half later and Lacazette's value has more than doubled, seeing him linked with a £45m move to Arsenal after bagging over 50 goals in the past two seasons.
CLICK HERE to see the next hidden gem Graham Carr recommended to NUFC
5. Dimitri Payet
During the summer of 2014, it was reported by the Chronicle that 'long-term' NUFC target Dimitri Payet had been made available by Marseille for a fee in the region of £10m.
Carr was understood to have been an admirer of Payet's for years, following him previously during his time at St. Ettiene and Lille, and urged Newcastle to make a move for the Frenchman. As it turns out, Newcastle opted instead for the £12m signing of Remy Cabella, with Ashley and co reluctant to buy the 'ageing' Payet - who at the time was the ripe old age of 27..
CLICK HERE to see the next hidden gem Graham Carr recommended to NUFC
6. Blaise Matuidi
June 2011 and the agent of St. Etienne midfielder Blaise Matuidi confirmed his client would be interested in a move to Newcastle. In the end, French giants PSG beat us to his signature, but Matuidi represents another hidden gem which Carr almost uncovered for Newcastle United
Instead United signed Henri Saivet from St. Ettiene several years later - quite a difference to Matuidi whose gone on to earn almost 60 caps for France.
CLICK HERE to see the next hidden gem Graham Carr recommended to NUFC
7. Virgil Van Dijk
In March 2012, The Chronicle reported that Newcastle were in talks with Groningen to sign 20-year-old centre-back Virgil Van Dijk. Carr regularly scouted in Holland as well as France and Belgium and was said to be impressed by the Dutch U-21 International, but a deal failed to materialise.
5 years later, Van Dijk is one of the most sought after centre-backs in world football, with Chelsea, Liverpool, Barcelona and Manchester City all battling for his £50m signature from Southampton this summer.
CLICK HERE to see the next hidden gem Graham Carr recommended to NUFC
8. Luke Shaw
It has been admitted today by The Chronicle that, in 2013, Graham Carr was an admirer of 17-year-old Luke Shaw during his early days at Southampton and put his name forward to NUFC chiefs.
Newcastle were put off by his valuation however and instead signed Massaido Haidara in January 2013. 18 months later Shaw went on to make a £27m move to Manchester United.
CLICK HERE to see the next hidden gem Graham Carr recommended to NUFC
9. Kurt Zouma
During scouting trips to watch Aubameyang at St. Etienne in 2013, Graham Carr was said to have been impressed by 18-year-old centre-back Kurt Zouma.
Newcastle made moves to sign Zouma in January 2014, but were beaten to his signature by Jose Mourinho's Chelsea on deadline day.
CLICK HERE to see the final hidden gem Graham Carr recommended to NUFC
10. Victor Wanyama
After impressing in the Belgian League, 19-year-old midfielder Victor Wanyama was believed to be a target of Newcastle's in the summer of 2011.
Celtic won the race to sign the promising Kenyan for a fee in the region of £1m, and since Wanyama has never looked back. His performances in Scotland earned a £12.5m move to Southampton and he is now one of the top defensive midfielders in England, being an integral part of Tottenham's midfield.
