Liverpool push Carroll towards West Ham in hope of landing Arsenal ace Walcott  

By Dominic King

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West Ham will launch a final attempt to land Andy Carroll before the window closes with a deal that will shape Liverpool's transfer fortunes.

Though the England striker has consistently made it clear he does not want to leave Anfield, his omission from the squad for Thursday night's Europa League qualifier against Hearts effectively means his Liverpool career is over.

Moving on: West Ham are hopeful of securing a deal for Carroll, who is deemed surplus to requirements at Liverpool

Moving on: West Ham are hopeful of securing a deal for Carroll, who is deemed surplus to requirements at Liverpool

 

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers would like to add Theo Walcott to his squad, even though it emerged the Arsenal forward will see out the final year of his contract at the Emirates after holding amicable talks with Arsene Wenger.

But should Liverpool offload Carroll, they would be in a position to test Arsenal's resolve on Walcott, who earlier this summer turned down a new five-year deal worth £75,000 per week.

Liverpool's tight financial constraints mean they cannot bid for Walcott outright but offloading Carroll to West Ham would change things dramatically.

West Ham would initially take Carroll, 23, on a season-long loan, paying his £80,000 per week wages in full, and then - provided they remain in the Barclays Premier League - would be obliged to sign him permanently for £17milllion.

Unsettled: Walcott has entered the final year of his contract with Arsenal

Unsettled: Walcott has entered the final year of his contract with Arsenal

Hammers boss Sam Allardyce has been desperate to land Carroll ever since it became clear his prospects under Rodgers would be limited and he is looking to move on Carlton Cole to free up space in his squad.

Newcastle continue to remain on the periphery and manager Alan Pardew refused to rule his club out of the reckoning, saying: 'Would I want him in my squad? Of course I would. Probably every Premier League manager in the country would want him in their squad. 'But can the deal be done? That's nothing to do with me.'

It will be a hectic final two days for Liverpool, as they are expected to offload Charlie Adam to Stoke – though it would be no surprise if Everton emerged as late rivals – while Jay Spearing has the option of a number Premier League clubs, including Aston Villa and Southampton, on loan.

Final days: Adam is poised to join Stoke before the transfer window closes

Final days: Adam is poised to join Stoke before the transfer window closes

Rodgers would also want to sign long-term target Clint Dempsey from Fulham but it is clear that the days when Liverpool could simply go out and sign a player with barely a quibble have gone.

When asked whether Liverpool could afford to buy without selling, Rodgers replied: 'No. Not at this stage, obviously I have seen a lot of the links and it is great that those players would want to come here but the reality is that we are not in a position to do those sorts of deals.

'I don't think we are in a position to have £35million players as third choice strikers or wingers who are on £5-6million a year. This is the challenge I have.  

'The club needs to repair financially. Unfortunately it is going to take more than one window. This is an incredible club but even if you want to move some players on, because of the wages and other factors, they are not just going to walk out the door.

'It is going to take us time to get to the squad we want. In the meantime we have to keep our head down and work hard and get results.'

Chief: Rodgers is keen to bring in new faces before the end of August

Chief: Rodgers is keen to bring in new faces before the end of August

He added: 'There is nothing on any player. I will speak about a player after Friday if he is in the door.

'In these next 48 hours speculation and gossip will be rife. I could be here all day answering speculation. I have no need.'

Rodgers was also unwilling to speak about players who could leave the club in the final days of the transfer window.

Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson, Andy Carroll, Joe Cole and Jay Spearing are among those reported to be targets for other clubs.

Rodgers said: 'We have had a number of enquiries about some of our players.

'Everyone knows where they stand at this moment. One or two of them may have decisions to make as to whether they want to be a squad player or play regularly somewhere else.'

Exit? Rodgers was unwilling to specify if anyone was leaving, with players like Joe Cole (right) rumoured to go

Exit? Rodgers was unwilling to specify if anyone was leaving, with players like Joe Cole (right) rumoured to go

Rodgers first priority though, is to make sure his side see off Hearts in their qualifying round play-off.

Liverpool lead 1-0 after the first leg of the tie at Tynecastle and are clear favourites to progress but Rodgers is taking nothing for granted.

He said: 'For the game my focus will purely be on the game and then after that we'll still have another day or so for any deals. We'll take whatever comes from that.

'It was a difficult game last week. The atmosphere and the Hearts players were fantastic. They did the team really proud.

'It was important for us to get a good result and winning the game has set it up really nicely for us.

'There is no doubt the advantage is with us. That is the reality, but we are certainly not going to be complacent.

'It is not one where we expect to go through. We are very much focused on the task.'

 
 

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

Rodgers is a clueless muppet. He's got 1 point from two games, and after LFC play the gooners you can make that 1 point from 3 games. He has obviously kissed the blarney stone, but where I come from, we call people like that blaggers... He's just loaned out his only proper number 9 and crawled past some sweaties.. One word for this fella: clown... He's be out of a job by Chrimbo..

Click to rate     Rating   3

Rodgers thinks he's Mourinho he's really NOT! His man management is appalling, watch your back mate, remember, Mr Rednapp is available!

Click to rate     Rating   1

Funny because I have just read on the BBC website that Carroll is going nowhere, typical paper talk all rubbish

Click to rate     Rating   1

"Hoof it up to the donkey with the pony tail" In Brenda we trust. YAWN. LoL

Click to rate     Rating   11

@ Tim, Ilford...Normally I would be right with you on that, because loyalty means a lot. But Cole has not done much for West Ham in the past few seasons and we need a big man up front for the style we are about to be playing...I think Jarvis and Carrol would strike up a good partnership.

Click to rate     Rating   4

It sounds to me as though "Big" Sam wants to get rid of a player that wants to stay at West Ham in order to sign one that doesn't want to go to West Ham. Does that make sense?

Click to rate     Rating   13

Two of the most overpriced and over rated operators in the English game, Both had a ok European championships but that was coming of the back of a pretty ropey season for both. To be fair Walcott is considerably better than Carroll. He should be of down to Upton ASAP if he's got half brain on him next James Beattie I promise you.

Click to rate     Rating   4

Pathetic excuse for an article again by the DM sports reporter. It was confirmed on Sky Sports news last night that Walcott has agreed a short term agreement with Arsenal and is going nowhere. Not till january anyway!

Click to rate     Rating   10

Kenny didn't negotiate the transfer fee for Carroll, it was Comolli who let Ashley hike the price once Torres was sold. Kenny wanted the lad and Comolli spent £35m for him, plus £20m for Downing and £16m for Henderson. All double what they were worth and played poorly under the burden.

Click to rate     Rating   15

I don't believe for one minute that BR is treating any player (not just Andy Carroll) badly. I'm sure behind the scenes he has been open and honest with all the players that don't fit into his long-term plans. But what he won't do is say it in public - rightly so! Liverpool have wasted obscene amounts of money in recent years on very average players and unfortunately KD didn't help matters last year with the players he brought in. He tried to make a statement by buying what he thought was the best British talent around, but it has completely backfired and it proved (PART) of his downfall. When BR was given the job after selling himself at the interview, I'm sure he was told that to bring in the players he wants, for his style of football, he would have to move players on who are not up to the job and eating away at the wage bill. He is doing and saying everything right (but is restricted with transfer windows) and I hope he gets the time to make his mark. YNWA

Click to rate     Rating   9

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