By Dominic King
PUBLISHED: 21:35 GMT, 22 May 2013 | UPDATED: 21:36 GMT, 22 May 2013
Andy Carroll's prospects of moving to West Ham won’t be jeopardised by the injury that will keep him out for up to four months.
West Ham agreed a ?15million deal with Liverpool on Tuesday for the England international but he faces a prolonged spell on the sidelines after hurting himself in the final game of the season against Reading.
Liverpool are awaiting confirmation of the severity of Carroll’s heel problem – he has not reported back to Melwood yet to see club doctors – but, technically, he remains a West Ham player until June due to the terms of his season-long loan. On the move: West Ham have agreed a ?15million deal with Liverpool for Carroll
While Carroll enjoyed his stint at Upton Park, he has privately not ruled out the prospect of returning to Liverpool and trying to revive his career. One possible route for him, however has been blocked after Newcastle made clear they do not want to buy him.
A swap deal involving Carroll and Hatem Ben Arfa had been mooted but Liverpool have gone cool on their interest in the French winger, whose form dipped towards the end of the season and are reassessing their targets.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has held discussions with Carroll about what the future holds.
No deal: The rumoured swap deal involving Caroll and Ben Arfa will not happen
‘I spoke to him and we had a good chat,’ said Rodgers. ‘The boy is a talent. It’ s just something we need to assess between now and the end of window. In terms of the money, that’s something out of my control. But he’s a talent so we will assess the whole situation.
‘The objective at the beginning of the season was for him to go out and play. He’s gone away to think of what we spoke about and we will talk again through the weeks. It was just a general conversation in terms of the experience of getting out and playing.
‘He enjoyed that, apart from the injury. At the start of the season the whole thing was about going and getting games because he wasn’t going to be a starter here. We will talk again with him and the club to see how it all evolves.’
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