Manchester City refused an offer from Liverpool that would have seen unsettled Argentinian forward Carlos Tevez move to Anfield in a straight swap for misfiring Reds striker Andy Carroll, reports said Sunday.
According to two newspaper reports Liverpool were prepared to suffer a loss of around £10 million on Carroll if City agreed the swap deal. Carroll cost Liverpool a club record £35 million when he moved to Anfield from Newcastle last season, in the process becoming the eighth most expensive footballer in history.
But while prolific with the Magpies, Carroll has scored only six goals in 36 appearances and failed to secure a regular starting spot in Kenny Dalglish's side.
The career of Tevez has been in limbo since a touchline bust-up with manager Roberto Mancini during the Champions League defeat Bayern Munich in September, when he refused to come on as a substitute.
The Argentinian, who was hit with a £1.2 million fine by City in December for going to Argentina without permission, has been trying to seal a transfer in recent weeks but touted moves to AC Milan, Inter Milan and Paris St Germain have all came to nothing. According to The Observer, Liverpool contacted City on Thursday to "ask how much they wanted for Tevez and whether they would be willing to contemplate a straight exchange with Carroll".