Alan Pardew: 'Andy Carroll deal out of my hands'

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has claimed that he is unclear over the progress of a possible return to the Sports Direct Arena for Liverpool striker Andy Carroll.

It is becoming increasingly likely that the England international will leave Anfield this summer, with the Magpies keen to bring back the 23-year-old on a loan deal. The Reds, however, are thought to prefer a permanent sale.

"It will be what it will be," Pardew told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle. "That whole process is a little bit more involved with the chairman [Mike Ashley] and the board at Liverpool."

Reports have claimed that Carroll does not want to leave the Merseyside outfit but will go on loan in order to prove his worth to manager Brendan Rodgers.