West Ham Deny Andy Carroll Loan Deal Has Been Completed

West Ham United have rejected claims that Andy Carroll is on his way to Upton Park.

According to Sky Sports, the Hammers are yet to reach a formal agreement with Liverpool over a loan deal.

This uncertainty is bound to frustrate the Newcastle-born striker. Carroll has repeatedly confirmed he wants to fight for his Anfield future, but a prolonged tenure at the Merseyside club is still in the balance.

It seemed new Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers initially wanted to recoup some of the £35 million spent on the striker, but he appears to have changed his mind (via Sky Sports):

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There has been a lot written about Andy, but you saw today he's happy to be here and he's worked very well since he's been here.

The reality is he's still a Liverpool player, he can fit into how I want to play, and he's happy here. I'm certainly not wishing to push him out of the door.

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Rodgers has already stated he is not interested in offloading Carroll on a part-time basis (via The Independent). If he were to leave on loan, reports suggest a £2 million fee would be paid by the newly promoted club (via BBC Sport).

This would represent awful business for the Reds.

More worryingly, if a loan deal takes place, Rodgers' indecisiveness shows he doesn't know what he wants to do with Carroll. If his services aren't required, a sale needs to happen.

Liverpool are likely to receive around £17 million for the striker, an amount that would free up vital funds for the purchase of Joe Allen and Clint Dempsey (via The Daily Mail).

Rodgers will want to stamp his vision into Liverpool before the start of the Premier League campaign, but the longer the Carroll saga continues to run, the less settled his squad will be.

Any move away would certainly be harsh on the England international.

He performed well at the end of last season, scoring vital goals for both club and country. With Luis Suarez and Fabio Borini in the Liverpool ranks, Carroll's height provides a useful alternative to the skillful threat of his colleagues.

West Ham are undoubtedly on red alert. If Rodgers decides a loan deal is the way to go, Sam Allardyce will have pulled off one of the summer's biggest signings.