Since Kenny Dalglish bought the striker too Liverpool last January, there has only been question marks hovering over the 23-year-olds head.
Liverpool invested a British record fee of £35M in the player, as he made a move from Newcastle to replace the departing Fernando Torres.
The problem for Carroll is he has not been able to adapt his style to play the pass and move that the Reds play, and as a result the goals seem to have deserted him.
His future as a Liverpool player has been in doubt since Brendan Rodgers was appointed as manager. Carroll had Dalglish’s backing but unfortunately for the striker, Rodgers does not see Carroll as anything more than a squad player, which for Carroll’s personal ambitions is not good enough.
Rodgers is a man who knows what he wants and is not afraid to make changes. The Irishman has even restored the “This is Anfield” sign in the tunnel as well as the retro red nets of the 80’s on the Anfield football goals.
On the pitch Rodgers had implemented his 433 formation while also overseeing a host of transfers as he freshens up the squad.
Despite coming into form towards the end of last season and earning a call up to Euro 2012, the reality is Carroll has only scored six league goals in 44 appearances for the Reds, not the return they were looking for.
A loan move to West Ham is the best option for all three parties involved. Carroll will be given the opportunity to show what he is all about under Sam Allardyce. Carroll has played under him before and will know his game plan will suite him down to the ground.
For Carroll a loan move may be the best bet if he wants to show Rodgers what he is capable of, a run of games and the 23-year-old could be banging in the goals again, and at the end of the season who knows, Rodgers may feel he has something to offer to Liverpool.
If not then the reported loan fee of £1.5, his £800,000 a week wages and then a potential £17M transfer would be seen as a reasonable deal for Liverpool, with the club having to count it’s loss’ and move on.
The move is perfect for West Ham, if it pays off and the striker helps to keep them in the Premier League then they can look into making the move permanent but if they are relegated they can just let Carroll return to Liverpool.
Carroll has just been selected by Roy Hodgson for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine and seems to have his backing unlike under Fabio Capello. This really is a big year for Carroll to stamp his mark in both the Premier league and with the England team.