Andy Carroll’s Liverpool career remains in the balance, after the Reds denied reports of a loan agreement with newly promoted West Ham United.
BBC Sport led reports in the past 24 hours that suggested the 23-year-old was on his way to Upton Park on a season long loan deal.
The loan fee was believed to be £2m, with a permanent price of £17m as part of the deal, depending on the Hammers staying in the Premier League.
However, both clubs and Carroll’s agent have denied that any deal has been done just yet.
Record breaking flop
Liverpool paid Newcastle United £35m for the striker on deadline day in January 2011, seen as a replacement for the departing Fernando Torres.
11 goals in 56 appearances represents a poor return but there were signs of better from at the backend of last season, which included a stoppage time winner at Blackburn Rovers and strikes in both the FA Cup semi-final and the final.
New Reds manager Brendan Rodgers is open with listening to offers for the England forward who started and scored, in the group win over Sweden at Euro 2012.
Rodgers has already strengthened his strikeforce this summer, with the arrival of Italian Fabio Borini from AS Roma, along with current attackers in Craig Bellamy and Luis Suarez.
It is believed that Carroll would prefer to stay and fight for his place on Merseyside, with a return to Newcastle the only other likely option.
Cup dilemma
Carroll will resume pre-season training at Melwood, before he is expected to fly with the depleted squad to Belarus for Liverpool’s opening qualifying match against FC Gomel in the UEFA Europa League.
However, if he figures on Thursday in the first leg, he could still play for another club in the group stages of the competition, which could happen as Newcastle have also qualified for the Europa League.
It is a major dilemma for Rodgers to sort out before the start of the new Premier League season in just over a fortnight’s time.
He has to debate whether to keep Carroll or attempt to cash him in, in a bid to finalise moves for Fulham’s Clint Dempsey and the Swansea City midfielder, Joe Allen.
One player who looks certain to leave Anfield is Alberto Aquilani, after Fiorentina had a bid accepted yesterday by the club, whilst Sky Sports understands that two offers from Premier League champions Manchester City have been rejected for Danish defender, Daniel Agger.
This tug of war over the services of Carroll, the holder of the British transfer record could be about to go on for a little while longer.
By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
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