Brendan Rodgers rules out Andy Carroll loan

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has ruled out a loan move for Andy Carroll, but has admitted that the club would consider an offer if it came in for the striker.

Carroll has recently been linked with a return to former club Newcastle United while Fulham and Aston Villa are also thought to be interested in the England international.

However, Rodgers has suggested that he is looking for a way to work the forward into his plans at Anfield.

"There has been a lot written and spoken about him but first and foremost Andy is a Liverpool player," he told Liverpool's official television channel. "To consider a loan period for someone the club spent £35m on isn't something we're looking to do at this moment in time.

"Andy will be the same as every other player – if there's ever an offer that comes in we'd look at it as a club and see if it's going to be worthwhile for the club and the team as a whole.

"The club invested £35m in him. People talk about whether he can fit into my style or not, but if you're a club and you spend £35m on a player you'd like to think he can fit into whatever style the team plays."

Carroll is expected to join up with the Liverpool squad next week for their pre-season tour of America after being given a longer break due to his participation at Euro 2012.