Liverpool Transfer News: Reds Must Make Decision on Andy Carroll Soon

The Andy Carroll ordeal hasn't lasted as long as, say, Dwight Howard's situation with the Orlando Magic, but at this point, I'm sure Liverpool fans, players and the striker himself are ready for the situation to finally be resolved.

Add Liverpool chairman Tom Werner to that list. From ESPN:

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"Brendan [Rodgers] is clearly the leader here," Werner told Sky Sports News. "The only thing I can say is we will do what is best for the club. At the moment Andy is on the squad, he is an important member of the England team and he has a lot of talent. We will see what happens."

It would appear Werner does not expect the situation to drag on deep into the transfer window.

He said: "Hopefully the question will be answered shortly, but at the moment Andy is on the team and we look forward to him contributing."

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Frankly, Liverpool and manager Rodgers need to make a decision sooner rather than later. Clearly, Carroll doesn't fit in Rodgers' space-oriented, pass-reliant 4-3-3 attack. Carroll is a big striker who is deadly in the air, but he isn't as effective with the ball at his feet or as a playmaker.

But Liverpool aren't exactly finding huge offers out on the market, either.

That's a problem. According to Oliver Platt of Goal.com, the team is said to be asking £20 million for the striker, already ceding a major loss from the £35 million it took to sign him in January of 2011. Newcastle already submitted a loan offer—one Rodgers labeled as "ridiculous," per Tom Bradley of Goal.com—but the likely suitors for Carroll have apparently not been willing to approach the £20 million asking price.

Still, the longer this plays out, the more it stands to hurt Liverpool. The team is already making an adjustment to a new system under Rodgers; the last thing they need is unsettled positional assignments because Carroll may or may not be with the team once the season stars.

Plus, that money for a transfer could be put towards players like forward Clint Dempsey, whom Liverpool is known to covet.

It's a pretty simple equation for Liverpool at this point. If Rodgers has any suspicions that Carroll could fit into his style and is at all hesitant to move him, he should keep him and tell teams he isn't interested in hearing offers.

If he isn't and wants him gone, he and Liverpool may need to accept that teams know the Reds have little leverage in transfer bids and won't be willing to offer a £20 fee to sign him.

The longer this drags on, the more it hurts Liverpool. Just ask the Orlando Magic.

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