Liverpool striker Andy Carroll is under increasing pressure to prove his worth.

The Daily Star Sunday says the Reds plan to meet the £10 million buyout clause of Newcastle United striker Demba Ba.

If Liverpool land the Senegal striker, now with his country at the African Nations Cup, it would place a question mark against the Anfield future of Carroll.

There have been rumours of a Carroll-Ba swap but that would be a difficult deal to negotiate, with Liverpool having paid the Toon a record £35m for Carroll and Ba being a free transfer from West Ham.

In any case, Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish remains publicly supportive of Carroll.