FOR LIVERPOOL £35M CLUB-RECORD SIGNING HELD TALKS WITH LEAGUE ONE CLUB

Ex-Liverpool, Newcastle United and West Ham United striker Andy Carroll had the option to join Bristol Rovers before re-signing for Reading. Former Liverpool club-record signing Andy Carroll held discussions with League One side Bristol Rovers earlier this month. Gas boss Joey Barton admitted that he tried to prise Carroll to the Memorial Stadium before the striker opted to return to Reading. Carroll spent the first half of last season at Reading before joining West Brom in January – but was released in June.

He was then a free agent throughout the summer transfer window. In January 2011, Liverpool paid a then-record transfer fee of £35 million to sign the centre-forward from Newcastle. However, 11 years later, he had the option to drop down to the third tier with Rovers. But he chose to move back to Championship side Reading.

Per BristolWorld, Barton he was speaking to Andy and he was saying he might have a Premier League move. It was like 7 September, and so he asked him what he’s doing,  what he’s going to do and whether he’s just going to sit in the house. According to him, Carroll said he’s had a bit of interest from abroad and he’s not sure if he’s going to do that. He then reiterated his desire to stay in the Premier League instead.

He also added that he saw Diego Costa who joined Wolves so he is still hoping that he has a very huge chance of remaining in England’s top flight. However, he added that should he not eventually be able to join a Premier League club, he’s got some Championship clubs interested in acquiring his services. It was during the conversation that he revealed that he had talks with Reading about a chance of playing for them.

Carroll scored 11 goals in 58 goals for Liverpool – with one of his efforts coming the FA Cup final loss to Chelsea in 2012. He spent just one-and-a-half years at Anfield, moving to West Ham on loan before making his switch permanent in the summer of 2013.