The ongoing speculation over Andy Carroll’s future continues, as the will-he, won’t-he talk of a transfer rolls on. Much has been made of Brendan Rodgers’ intentions to play others ahead of the England international for Liverpool this season, but the Northern Irish manager still will not let the forward leave on the cheap; especially to former club Newcastle.
The burly attacker’s disappointing return at Anfield since his £35 million move to Merseyside back in January 2011 has been well-documented, with a return of six goals last season not satisfactory to win over the Kop. With Rodgers bringing in Fabio Borini to spearhead his forward line alongside Luis Suarez, Carroll is seemingly an expensive extra that Liverpool do not need, or want.
“You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to see that Andy has been a cover player for us,” Rodgers told reporters.
“He has been excellent in terms of his attitude and his acceptance of where he is at but, for us as a football club, and I am talking generically here, I’m not sure we are in a position to have £35m players as third-choice strikers or wingers who might be on £5m-£6m a year. I don’t think the football club is in that position.
“This is the challenge that I have to work something but it is not going to be done overnight.”
The problem in the first place was the extortionate fee that Liverpool paid for Carroll as a panic replacement for Fernando Torres. The forward has struggled due to the enormous weight of expectation placed on his shoulders; the pressure must be overwhelming. Newcastle have effectively caused Carroll’s downfall due to their lofty demands, and are now getting a taste of their own medicine whilst trying to bring the player back to Tyneside.
Alan Pardew’s men have had both a loan offer and a ‘derisory bid’ (thought to be £12 million) for Carroll spurned by the Reds. Newcastle have bullied Liverpool once in the transfer market by pushing up the price, and Rodgers is obviously determined to avoid a repeat, despite admitting that he is willing to sell the star.
The financial tug-of-war will most probably continue as deadline day approaches, but Carroll can expect to remain at Anfield for the time being. With Liverpool trying to limit the financial loss they make on the player they are consequently pricing him out of a sale. West Ham have also been accredited with an interest, but the player seems reluctant to move to the newly-promoted side.
When it comes to Newcastle, Liverpool are clearly keen to turn the tables and make the Sports Direct Arena outfit pay over the odds. The only difference? Newcastle will not pay it.
An offer in the region of around £20 million will be needed for Rodgers to accept a substantial loss on Carroll and let him leave, which is a figure that will not be matched. Newcastle spent £10 million on the prolific Papiss Cisse; are they really going to double it for a player out of form? Other suitors will be scared off also, and for the foreseeable future Carroll will have to knuckle down at Liverpool and prove his considerable doubters, including Brendan Rodgers, wrong.
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