Carroll 'close' to £12m Hammers move

West Ham are closing in on a permanent deal to sign on loan Liverpool striker Andy Carroll, the Express are reporting this morning.

The big striker's future has been the subject of almost daily speculation for the past couple of months, but now it looks like a deal could be done in the near future, with Reds boss Brendan Rodgers said to be keen to offload the England forward and the Merseyside club believed to be open to negotiation on the transfer fee for Carroll, who set Liverpool back £35m when they signed him from Newcastle in January 2011.

West Ham are understood to be the only club currently in negotiations with Carroll, with former club Newcastle thought to be priced out of the market by their ex striker's £90,000 a week wages. According to the Express, the powerful no. 8 is 'desperate' to stay at the Boleyn Ground, having forged a close relationship with manager Sam Allardyce.


Hammers co-chairman David Sullivan stated last week that talks would begin soon with the 24 year old over a permanent switch to Upton Park and negotiations have opened and are believed to be progressing smoothly. Liverpool are understood to be willing to take a significant loss on Carroll, with a £12m bid from West Ham believed to be the offer on the table, although club sources indicated earlier this month that the Hammers are would be prepared to up their bid to £14m.

By Alex Shilling, News Editor

@alexshilling