Liverpool Transfer News: Reds Should Hold out for Better Offer on Andy Carroll

Liverpool made a £35 million offer on striker Andy Carroll a year-and-a-half ago, but the common belief is that it will now be forced to sell at a portion of its investment. 

Brendan Rodgers, who had a successful run in Swansea City, was signed on as the Reds' manager on June 1, which will bring an inevitable change of style on the field. 

Rodgers' heavy-attack, 4-3-3 style of managing is not considered the best fit for Carroll, so it has been assumed that the striker will be moved at some point despite being just recently acquired by the team. 

According to BBC Sports' Ben Smith, West Ham United has put together a £17 million bid for Carroll's services and expects to provide him with a scheme that's more fitting and plays to his strengths. 

Of course, the price is only around half of what Liverpool initially paid and would obviously result in a substantial loss, which puts the Reds in an undesirable predicament.  

But while Carroll's departure is not only expected, but assumed, there are signs that Liverpool is willing to hold out and wait for a better offer. 

According to the BBC, Liverpool is unwilling to accept West Ham's offer and will only sell the striker if the bid meets or surpasses £20 million, which would allow Liverpool to recover at least a sizable portion of its investment. 

But is that £20 million limit real or are the Reds just desperately trying to brew up another offer? 

If Rodgers' confidence in Carroll as a player holds any merit, perhaps the Reds are willing to stand strong until a better offer arrives. 

Rodgers was complimentary of Carroll's abilities. 

"He is a player who can play in a number of styles and it was a wee bit unfair on him to say he couldn't fit into the way I would want to play."

Perhaps, if Rodgers is truly confident in Carroll's ability to adapt, the team will be willing to retain him if no one meets the £20 million quote. 

And maybe the team will eventually be willing to loan him in order to give him some valuable playing time with another club. 

The departure seems imminent, but don't be fooled into thinking Liverpool has no options in this scenario.