WEST Ham United have followed up their initial interest in Liverpool striker Andy Carroll by tabling a bid to land the 6ft 4″ Geordie. According to the Liverpool Echo, the Hammers have offered to take Carroll on an initial season-long loan, for which they would pay Liverpool £2million, whilst covering Carroll’s full wage packet.
It is understood that, should Carroll help West Ham avoid relegation in their first season back in the Premier League, then a clause would be activated which would trigger the automatic permanent transfer of Carroll from Anfield to Upton Park for a further fee of £16million.
The Reds are currently considering their options and are believed to be in no hurry whatsoever to conclude a deal over Carroll. For his part, Carroll is in North America with Brendan Rodgers and the rest of the squad and is likely to play some part in Saturday’s friendly against Spurs in Baltimore.
Liverpool are willing to listen to offers for Carroll, however, should they offload the striker, it is not believed that they will settle for a loan deal, favouring instead a permanent transfer and the influx of money which would accompany any such deal. Although the club are resigned to not recouping the £35million they parted with for the striker in January 2011, the Reds won’t be letting Carroll go cheap, slapping a £20million fee on his head.
West Ham’s previous transfer record of £7.5 million (buying Craig Bellamy from Liverpool) would be obliterated should the offer be accepted however, with Liverpool known not to favour a loan and Carroll believed to be against a move south – preferring instead to stay and fight for his place at Anfield – it seems unlikely that this deal will be concluded.
Carroll’s former club Newcastle were interested in bringing him back to Tyneside, something which reportedly the striker would have been open to. However, the terms of Mike Ashley’s loan offer bordered on insulting and since the rebuttal the Toon’s interest seems to have waned.
You can catch Neil on Twitter #Neil1980 or on his blog http://itsallinthegameblog.wordpress.com/
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