Liverpool Transfer News: Andy Carroll's Injury Seriously Hinders Any Summer Deal

Liverpool's hopes of parting ways with star striker Andy Carroll over the summer transfer window have taken a huge hit with the news that the striker could miss up to four months of action due to a foot injury.

According to the BBC, Carroll's loan club West Ham United were thought to be interested in taking the striker on a permanent deal next season and had offered Liverpool a £15 million fee for the striker—which the Reds had reportedly accepted.

The move was not yet official, however, with Carroll reportedly refusing to accept his future away from Anfield and not agreeing to the move.

That may have been a good thing for West Ham, with the London club now reportedly not so keen on pursuing a deal for the striker, according to The Daily Mirror:

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[Andy Carroll] was forced to pull out of the England squad for the upcoming games against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil with injury. Late last night he discovered he will be out of action for between three and four months with a heel problem he is understood to have picked up in West Ham's final game of the season against Reading.

West Ham are now considering all their options with the worst case scenario that Carroll—who cost the Reds £35 million in January last year—missing the first four to to five weeks of the new season. 

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The report goes on to state that while West Ham are still keen on picking up the 24-year-old on a permanent basis, the injury is serious cause for concern. And if it does rule Carroll out for several weeks of the 2013-14 Premier League season, it will no doubt affect his transfer value and Liverpool's asking price—which completely changes the nature of this deal.

I had previously noted that despite the fact Liverpool were selling Carroll well short of their original purchase price, this was actually still a good transfer.

It allowed them to get a fringe player on big wages off their books and get £15 million for a player that may never reach that amount again—something that is definitely a good thing for Liverpool. Especially when he doesn't really fit into their new style and formation anymore.

Carroll was clearly loved by West Ham fans and managerial staff, and thus a permanent move to Upton Park could also help rejuvenate the 24-year-old's career.

It may have even got him a permanent place in England's World Cup team.

However, thanks to the injury, this entire transfer changes, with the Hammers now having to assess whether it's still worth pursuing the star striker.

This injury marks the third time this season that Carroll has spent at least four weeks out due to injury. And since, according to Transfermarkt, his career before that date also featured notable spells of two and four months on the sidelines, respectively, West Ham must also evaluate how much the striker's health should be taken into consideration with their asking price.

By all accounts, £15 million is still a very good deal for a player with Carroll's proven quality and represents a great purchase for the future of the club. 

But with injuries continuing to dominate his career, the East London club must be wary of the risks that having Carroll on any team brings.

Liverpool still have every right to ask for £15 million, and West Ham should still take that amount. The reported deal should be okay for both parties—despite the injury.

Having said that, it did just get seriously complicated, and it wouldn't be surprising to hear a whole lot more on this transfer before the summer is out.

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