West Ham Transfer News: Andy Carroll To Join Permanently Next Week?
London Evening Standard. The 24-year old England international joined the Hammers on loan last August following his unsuccessful £35 million move from Newcastle to Merseyside - a British transfer record. He only scored 6 times for the Reds and eventually wound up at Upton Park, where he has since enjoyed a steady reversal in fortunes. Despite missing much of the campaign through injury, he was still able to net 7 goals in his 23 appearances last season and that was enough to convince manager Sam Allardyce to make the move permanent. West Ham co-chairman David Gold said this week that the chances of Carroll staying in London had increased from, 50-50 to 75-25 per cent and there are reports the club are now prepared to offer him a four-year deal worth £78,000-per-week to rescue him from his Liverpool hell. Brendan Rodgers would likely willingly sanction Carroll's move away considering he signed Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge in January and also has Luis Suarez and Fabio Borini at his disposal. The Hammers do however have contingency plans should the deal for the England star collapse, with Wilfried Bony of Vitesse Arnhem top of their list. Chelsea's Demba Ba has also been linked with a move back to Upton Park on loan while Manchester United youngster Wilfried Zaha has also been tipped for a short stay to gain more crucial first-team experience following his move from newly-promoted Crystal Palace.