Rodgers Responds To Ben Arfa – Carroll Swap Deal Reports

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has responded to reports claiming he was in talks with Newcastle over a potential swap deal involving Hatem Ben Arfa and Andy Carroll.

Newspaper reports on Friday morning suggested the Reds had made contact with the Geordies about the possibility of bringing French winger Ben Arfa to Anfield this summer, with out-of-favour striker Carroll said to be heading back to St James’ Park as part of the deal.

However, speaking to talkSPORT on Friday lunchtime Rodgers has played down the speculation insisting he won’t be doing any business until the end of the season:

“I only just heard about that in the way in [to training].

“The thing I’ve learnt about Liverpool is that, just because of the sheer size of the club, there are players linked with us all the time.

“As a manager, you are just trying to focus on the group you have got and then we will review anything at the end of the season, in terms of players coming in. There’s no doubt we want to strengthen but there’s certainly no names out there.”

Rodgers also had his say on the future of Carroll. After spending the entire season on loan at West Ham, there have been suggestions that Carroll’s playing days at Anfield are numbered but the Northern Irishman insists he will sit down with the 24-year-old at the end of the season and decide what’s best for club and player. He continued:

“The whole reason for big Andy going out was to play games,” said Rodgers.

“I was open and honest with him in the summer that because of how we would play and the structure of the team he maybe wouldn’t play so many games. It was an amicable conversation and he just wanted to go out and play.

“Like he showed last week [against West Brom], if you get the right balls into the right areas he can score with quality. But we will sit down at the end of the season.

“It’s not just about the playing side. This year has been about managing the finances here and that needs to come into consideration as well.” Rodgers told talkSPORT

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