Newcastle to offer Liverpool £18m for Andy Carroll

Newcastle United are expected to bid again for Andy Carroll, even if the release clause in Demba Ba's contract is not activated by Tuesday's deadline.

Alan Pardew's side have not yet followed up their initial offer of a season's loan with a view to a permanent move in a year's time. The north-east club's hierarchy are continuing to closely monitor Carroll’s situation, which remains delicately poised despite Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers' public assurances that he wants to keep the striker.

Sources have said that Newcastle are willing to bid up to £18 million to buy Carroll back, just 18 months after selling him to the Reds for £35 million.

Rodgers has insisted there is no chance of Carroll leaving Liverpool on loan, but the manager admits the Merseysiders will consider offers for the 23-year-old.

Newcastle insiders believe a deal is possible even if Ba is still at the club at the start of August. The striker has an £7 million release clause in his contract that expires on Tuesday night, but it is understood that the most serious interest has been from Turkish clubs Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.

Ba wants to remain in the Premier League but anticipated interest from Tottenham and Chelsea has failed to materialise and the player looks set to remain on Tyneside this season, barring a dramatic 11th-hour transfer.

Newcastle manager Pardew is believed to be pushing strongly to supplement Ba and first choice striker Papiss Cisse with Carroll next season.