If you asked Newcastle United fans to name a high profile transfer 'flop' Carl Cort would be near the top of the list for many.
The striker was one of Sir Bobby Robson's big money signings at the club but his three years on Tyneside were blighted by injuries.
Arriving in the summer of 2000 for the sum of £7m, Cort scored on his home debut but missed a large part of the season due to injury. He returned to full fitness in March 2001, managing five goals in ten appearances before the campaign ended.
But it turns out that there was a list of three that Sir Bobby had the chance to pick from that summer before he finally chose Carl Cort.
Craig Bellamy, who would arrive in the close season of 2001, was one but the other was a forward who finally arrived in the Premier League six years later.
That man was Emile Mpenza, according to Paul Montgomery, who worked as a scout for Newcastle and Sir Bobby.
"He was quite a quick player, (he) played for Belgium and would have been okay for NUFC at the time.
"He would have fitted in with the type of players we had, he could spin and he was quick.
"With Bellamy, we needed a central striker and Craig was thought to be a support striker, so the gaffer chose Carl Cort.
"He rang me and said: 'I know you wanted us to get Mpenza but I'm going for Carl Cort because he's English'. I told him that doesn't make him a player, but I respected the decision.
"That's the way it worked - he decided to buy based on the conversations within that inner circle who picked the players on the list."
Cort would only go onto make another nine appearances before being sold to Wolves for £2m, while Mpenza would only manage five goals - one against Newcastle - in 25 appearances for City before being released.
