New Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers didn’t beat about the bush when it came to £35million man Andy Carroll, admitting that the big striker could be allowed to leave the club on loan.
Carroll has been something of a disaster for the Reds since his record breaking move from Newcastle in January 2011.
Not that it has been Carroll’s fault, he had only six-months of regular Premier League action under his belt when Liverpool – desperate after flogging Fernando Torres to Chelsea – opted to empty their bulging wallets in the direction of Tyneside and bring the striker to the north-west.
The Anfield regime has understandably defended their expensive asset ever since, not least previous boss Kenny Dalglish, who reportedly sanctioned the move in the first place.
Rodgers though is disconnected from what has gone in the recent past and so can afford to make tough decisions. His reputation for slick and patient passing doesn’t exactly fit to Carroll's strengths either, so it was hardly a shock when the former Swansea boss said what he did when quizzed on Carroll’s future.
"It's something I would have to look at, I have to be honest," said Rodgers, much to fascination of fans from within the bet365 community.
"Sometimes a player going out on loan - in general, not just Andy - can benefit the club in the long term.
"I'm not going to sit here and say I will never let anyone go on loan, then come in here in two weeks and a player's gone, and you're saying 'you said you wouldn't let them go’.”
West Ham, under long-ball merchant Sam Allardyce, have been linked with a swoop for Carroll and such a move would be an embarrassing admission of failure on behalf of the Reds' scouting system. That is, unless, Carroll rediscovers his shooting boots away from the Anfield spotlight and returns more like his old self.
Either way it would be a very expensive gamble by Rodgers, who would also have to be prepared to sell Carroll for a reduced fee should he continue to mis-fire on Merseyside.
Liverpool fans could perhaps take heart though from Rodgers' early comments, as he at least seems prepared to front up to the tough choices in front of him in his new job.
The bet365 Ray Winstone advert will soon be back on our screens as we usher in the new football season. It promises to be another exciting few months at every level.
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