Xabi Alonso in limbo as Scott Carson nears exit

Jul 15 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

SCOTT CARSON will end his Liverpool career this week – but it appears increasingly unlikely Xabi Alonso will follow the goalkeeper out of the Anfield exit in the near future.

Liverpool have accepted offers from Premier League new boys West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City for goalkeeper Carson, who has been told he can leave by Rafael Benitez.

Carson was not at the team’s training camp in Switzerland yesterday, instead holding talks with representatives from the promoted duo ahead of an anticipated decision between the pair within the next 24 hours.

Both clubs have offered deals that, following add-ons and incentives, could generate as much as £4million for the Anfield side.

However, there is still a chance that Blackburn Rovers could make a late bid for England international Carson, with current Ewood Park goalkeeper Brad Friedel thought to be mulling over his future following the departure of manager Mark Hughes to Manchester City.

The imminent sale represents a healthy profit on a player who cost just £750,000 when he became Benitez’s first English signing in January 2005.

Carson, though, has struggled to break into the first team and has subsequently made just nine first-team appearances, the last of which came against Luton Town in the FA Cup more than 18 months ago.

The 22-year-old, who has had loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton Athletic, spent the whole of last season at Aston Villa, only for Martin O’Neill to pass up on the chance to sign Carson on a permanent basis.