Liverpool FC to sign Demba Ba as part of Andy Carroll swap deal?

Liverpool are reportedly prepared to offer Andy Carroll to former club Newcastle as part of a swap deal involving Demba Ba.

Ba has been linked with a move to Anfield throughout January after it emerged that he has a release clause in his contract at St James' Park.

Liverpool insist former Magpies favourite Carroll - who moved to Anfield twelve months ago for a club record £35million - is not for sale, but reports at the weekend revealed that they had tried to offload him to Manchester City as part of a swap deal for wantaway striker Carlos Tevez and although he insists he is happy at the club, it now appears that the Reds are at the very least consideringoffloading him.

The Merseysiders have been linked with a number of forwards during the January transfer window as manager Kenny Dalglish looks to add to his options in attack.

Although the Reds beat Manchester United 2-1 on Saturday in the FA Cup 4th round, Dalglish has seen his side struggle in front of goal this season, and Carroll has largely failed to impress.

Tevez is still thought to be a loan target for the Reds (see below), but according to the Daily Mirror, the club are also looking at signing Ba.

Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham have also been linked with the former West Ham forward in recent weeks, although Liverpool are widely thought to be frontrunners to sign the 26-year-old.

A summer move looks much more likely than a January one, with the winter transfer window slamming shut on Tuesday night.

It was reported at the weekend that Ba is ready to take advantage of his release clause - believed to be set at around £7m - and quit Newcastle at the end of the season.

The club want him to stay at St James' Park next year, but they will be powerless to stop him leaving should he wish to do so. West Ham found themselves in a similar ­situation last season when they were ­relegated from the Premier League.

Under the terms of Ba’s contract, they were forced to let him leave on a free transfer.

Carroll was linked with a return to former club Newcastle earlier this month with manager Alan Pardew admitting he would take him back if the opportunity was there. But despite the ongoing speculation about his future, the England international insists he is happy on Merseyside despite failing to impress since his big money move twelve months ago.

"I'm just here. I've signed a contract here and this is the team I'm playing for," he said.

"I love it here. All the lads are great with me in training and away from the training ground everyone has been great with me as well."

When asked by reporters if he had any regrets about leaving Tyneside to join Liverpool, he replied: "Not at all. The club has been great with me and I'm enjoying it here.

"Winning in midweek [against Manchester City in the Carling Cup] and getting to the final and then Man U coming here, beating them and getting through, it's a great feeling."

Crunch Sports