Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has told Andy Carroll he will only be a "cover player" should he stay.

Carroll remains a target for West Ham United and Newcastle United.

Rodgers said: "You don't need to be a rocket scientist to see Andy's been a cover player but he's been excellent in his attitude and acceptance of where he is at.

"But, as a club, I'm not sure we are in a position to have £35million players as third-choice strikers, or a winger on £5-6m a year.

"There's still a wee bit of thinking time, and it's hard to walk away from here. The ones who want to play will probably look elsewhere, irrespective of finance, because that's their passion."