Andy Carroll: Pros and Cons to Liverpool Loaning Him Out

Liverpool frontman Andy Carroll has been the subject of some furious transfer debate, as AC Milan (via The Independent), West Ham (via ESPN Soccernet) and hometown club Newcastle (via The Daily Mail) have all expressed interest in Liverpool's No. 9.

While it seems as though Liverpool are only interested in a permanent transfer, a loan deal to one of these clubs could help Carroll escape the negative limelight he experienced in his 18-month stay at Anfield. 

It's been a while since any one player has been such a polarizing figure to the Anfield faithful, so here are some pros and cons to Andy Carroll leaving on loan. 

PRO: Returning Home Could Be a Good Thing

If Andy Carroll does in fact leave on loan to Newcastle, the destination that Carroll said he would like to go if he were to leave, it could prove to be the revitalization of his career.

St. James' Park loves a hometown boy, and Carroll would be welcomed back with open arms. 

Cesc Fabregas comes to mind when talking about returning home. After getting frustrated at Arsenal, the midfielder returned to Barcelona and revamped his already stellar career.

The same could be true for Carroll. Playing for your hometown club is probably a really good feeling. 

CON: He May Not Want to Come Back

Some people may not see this as a con, but Andy Carroll showed flashes—at the end of last season and in Euro 2012—of why Liverpool paid £35 million for the big striker. 

It would be unwise for Brendan Rodgers to let Andy Carroll permanently slip away.

If Liverpool and any one of the clubs interested in Carroll's signature agree to a loan deal with the option to buy him permanently at the end of the deal, and then Carroll turns out 15-20 goals in the season, the holding team would be hard pressed to find a reason not to activate the permanent transfer clause in the loan agreement.

Unless Brendan Rodgers can sign a big-name striker (sorry, Fabio), only then could the permanent transfer of Andy Carroll be legitimized. 

PRO: It Leaves Space for Fabio Borini (and Daniel Sturridge?) to Develop

Fabio Borini became Brendan Rodgers' first signing for Liverpool last week for a fee of around £10 million. The 21-year-old played under Rodgers at both Chelsea and Swansea. 

While he may not need time to acclimate himself to the new Liverpool coach and his system, Borini will need time to acclimate himself to playing along the likes of Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard. 

A loan deal that carries Andy Carroll away from Anfield would give Fabio Borini (and any other striker that Rodgers may or may not bring in) much more playing time in the Premier League to prove themselves to the Kop. 

CON: Andy Carroll Won't Get a Chance to Play in the New System

Brendan Rodgers will most likely implement a 4-3-3 at Liverpool, with two wingers supporting the lone striker. 

Kenny Dalglish's tactics last season were nothing short of topsy-turvy, with no set formation from week to week, confusing the bejeezus out of the Liverpool players. 

One of the players who suffered the most from this was probably Andy Carroll, who found himself playing as the lone striker one game, next to Luis Suarez the next and behind Suarez the game after that. 

If he leaves on loan, Carroll will be missing out on a chance to get used to a set formation every week under Rodgers' style of play. When and if Carroll returns, he would be a whole season behind everyone else.  

PRO: The Andy Carroll Saga Would End (for at Least a Season)

This pro is a little bit selfish on my part, but I think other Liverpool fans can relate.

I'm sick of hearing about Andy Carroll. 

My personal opinion is that he showed enough at the end of last season and in the Euros to warrant a second chance in red. I know others think that he should leave the club immediately. 

If he leaves on loan, the arguments around Andy Carroll would be quieted at least for a season.

Liverpool have (and will have) exciting new signings to watch throughout the season, who will take our minds off Carroll.

And when he returns, hopefully he will be the striker we all expected him to be.  

CON: He Could End Up Being the Next Alberto Aquilani or Joe Cole

We all know how Aquaman and Joe Cole's respective Liverpool careers have gone thus far. 

Although both players have been included in Liverpool's preseason American tour squad, this is no indication of where they will be at the season's beginning. 

Andy Carroll already has more experience playing in a Liverpool shirt than these two, having actually stayed either in the starting 11 or on the bench. Should he leave on loan, there is always the chance that once the loan starts, it just won't stop. 

Highly unlikely since it seems Liverpool either wants him to stay or to leave permanently, but, again, you never know. 

What do you think about Andy Carroll? Let me know in the comments section!

Cheers, and YNWA