LIVERPOOL MANAGER BRENDAN RODGERS has admitted that he would not have allowed Andy Carroll to join West Ham on loan, had he known the club would fail to bring in a replacement.
When asked if he would have let the £35m signing go without a new striker coming in, he refused to dress up his response, simply saying: “No.”
Speaking after a toothless Reds side lost 2-0 to Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, Rodgers failed to rule out a move for free agent Michael Owen.
“Any player that I believe can improve the squad I will look at. We have got a very, very small squad with some very young players in it. So I can’t say no,” he said.
He also revealed that he has the option to recall Carroll in January, though that will come as little consolation to fans who have failed to see the partnership of Luis Suarez and new signing Fabio Borini gel.
When asked if he had been confident about replacing the 23-year-old striker after he moved to Upton Park on Thursday night, Rodgers responded: “Very.”
Whether Rodgers will now move for Owen is open for debate.
On the one hand, the 32-year-old knows where the goal is – unlike the dithering Suarez and Borini – and scored 154 goals for the club before leaving for Real Madrid in 2004.
On the other hand, Owen’ss travails with Manchester United will hardly endear him to the more hardcore section of the Reds support.
