LONDON: Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admits he will consider sending Andy Carroll out on loan next season if he doesn’t feel the England striker can fit into his Anfield revolution.
Carroll has endured a disappointing 18-month spell with the Reds since his club record 35 million transfer from Newcastle in January 2011 and recent reports suggest Italian giants AC Milan are interested in signing him on loan.
The 23-year-old made a good impression for England at Euro 2012, scoring in their group match against Sweden, but former Swansea boss Rodgers isn’t convinced the burly targetman has the right attributes for the smooth passing style he wants to introduce at Anfield.
“It’s something I would have to look at, I have to be honest,” Rodgers told the Daily Telegraph.
“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’.
“There are many things to going on loan. Is it going to be beneficial for the club, that’s the most important thing?
“Sometimes a player going out on loan – in general, not just Andy – can benefit the club in the long term.
“It gets them game experience, and they come back a better player, a more confident one. Certainly more so than if they’ve been sitting on the bench for the majority of the season.
“Andy’s always going to be linked with clubs, whether he was here or not.
“I have spoken to him on his holidays, he knows exactly where he stands, but I have had no inquiries about him.”
Meanwhile, young midfielder Jonjo Shelvey signed a new contract with the club on Tuesday.
Shelvey has made only 37 appearances in all competitions since joining from Charlton in May 2010, but Rodgers has handed the 20-year-old an extended deal.
Shelvey, who was on loan at Blackpool last season before returning to the Reds and making 16 appearances, admits he is already enjoying life under Rodgers.
“I am really happy. Last season I was itching to try and push for a new contract. Now it’s happened and I am ready to kick on again now,” he said.
“It’s lovely to know I am in the plans for the future. At the moment, it’s just about getting things right each day and proving myself to the gaffer here.
“His way of playing will suit me down to the ground and hopefully I can be in his plans.
“I think he’s great. With all the passing drills he’s doing, he’s encouraging us to play all the time.
“Instead of doing a lot of long-distance running and things like that in pre-season, everything has been with a ball, which is more enjoyable.” — AFP