Should Liverpool keep £35m striker Andy Carroll?

With time still remaining in this summer’s transfer window, Premier League clubs are making the most of the summer months to sign players they’ll be hoping will secure their Premier League future next season, and furthermore, help them challenge for silverware. But several top clubs in the Barclays Premier League have got off to a slow start in the summer transfer window and are yet to sign any new players.

One club in particular that have yet to make the headlines in terms of new signings is Liverpool. The red half of Merseyside, now managed by former Swansea City boss Brendan Rodgers, are hitting the back pages with rumours that they’re considering offloading £35million misfit Andy Carroll. The ex-Newcastle striker had a difficult first season at Liverpool following his big money move back in January 2011 – the fee was in fact Liverpool’s largest ever expenditure in the transfer market – and struggled again last term, largely being used as a substitute rather than a first choice striker.

Carroll’s record at Liverpool looks particularly bleak. He’s made 42 Premier League appearances scoring just 6 goals since moving to Anfield. Now, with Liverpool close to securing the signature of Italy forward, and current Roma player Fabio Borini, Carroll’s future has again been questioned. But where, if anywhere, would Carroll go? Former club Newcastle would possibly welcome him back, although it’s questionable whether he’d make the first team ahead of Papiss Cisse or Demba Ba. With the exception of Tottenham perhaps, it’s unlikely that any of the Premier League’s top six finisher’s last season would use Carroll as anything other than a substitute so a move is largely unrealistic. The Tottenham theory, would obviously depend on new boss Andre Villas-Boas, and whether Spurs can agree a permanent deal with Manchester City for Emmanuel Adebayor.

Newly promoted West Ham have thrown their name into the mix today, with co-owner David Gold telling BBC sport that he wouldn’t rule out a move for the Liverpool striker if he became available and other clubs are likely to be monitoring the situation closely over the next week or so to see whether there’s any truth in Liverpool manager Rodgers’ hint that he may loan out Carroll this summer.

Andy Carroll made a much better advert for himself at the recent Euro 2012 Championships in Poland and Ukraine, although played second fiddle to Danny Welbeck following Wayne Rooney’s return from suspension. Carroll also impressed in the latter stages of the FA Cup last season, scoring in both the semi-final and final.

There’s certainly an argument for a move away from Anfield, which could be just what Carroll needs to boost his confidence. If Liverpool sign Roma youngster Borini, and extend Luis Suarez’s contract as expected, Carroll could secure a move and flourish. Such a move could even ensure the Liverpool striker returns to the form and fitness he showed while at Newcastle where he enjoyed 90 minutes of football week-in-week-out.

One key point for Liverpool to consider is the striker’s fitness. Playing largely as a substitute at Anfield last season led to questions being asked about Carroll’s fitness if he’s not getting regular first team opportunities. On that note, it seems that if a loan move can be arranged (even until January), it might not only help improve Carroll’s fitness, but could also improve Andy Carroll as a player too - in short, a loan could work fantastically in Liverpool’s favour long term.

What do you think? Should Liverpool keep Andy Carroll or loan him out to another Premier League club? We’re accepting comments below so feel free to join the debate.