Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has denied that the Merseyside club are looking to loan out Andy Carroll and dismissed suggestions that the 23-year-old cannot operate in his preferred system.

 

Carroll has been the subject of a bid from former club Newcastle United, while Aston Villa and West Ham are also known to rate the England international.

 

Rodgers had earlier admitted that loaning out the powerful forward would be something he would look at – but the Northern Irishman has now backtracked on those words.

 

"There has been a lot written and spoken about him but first and foremost Andy is a Liverpool player", Rodgers told his club’s official website.

 

"To consider a loan period for someone the club spent £35M on isn’t something we’re looking to do at this moment in time", added the former Reading boss.

 

"Andy will be the same as every other player – if there’s ever an offer that comes in we’d look at it as a club and see if it’s going to be worthwhile for the club and the team as a whole."

 

And Rodgers emphasised there are no concerns about Carroll fitting into his possession-based system.

 

"The club invested £35M in him. People talk about whether he can fit into my style or not, but if you’re a club and you spend £35M on a player you’d like to think he can fit into whatever style the team plays.

 

"He’s a good player. He’ll join the rest of the group next week and we’ll take it from there."

 

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