West Ham Transfer News: Andy Carroll Loan Deal Agreed With Option for Permanent Move
West Ham United have agreed a deal for Liverpool striker Andy Carroll on a $3.15 million (GBP 2 million) loan, according to the BBC.
The initial agreement is believed to be for a season long loan, but could also see a clause included which would allow West Ham to sign the striker permanently at the end of the upcoming season for about $27 million (GBP 17 million). It is thought that West Ham are keen to make the deal permanent should the England striker remain fit, and provided that West Ham manage to keep their place in the British Premier League after this season.
Despite the current loan agreement it is believed that 23-year-old Carroll is not interested in a permanent move away from Anfield, although West Ham will be hoping a successful loan season and year-long experience at Upton Park could change his mind.
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Liverpool originally paid a club-record fee for Carroll, signing him for $55 million (GBP 35 million) in January 2011. However, the striker has disappointed since him move, scoring only 11 goals in 56 appearances for the Reds.
It now seems despite Carroll's hopes to remain at Anfield, new manager Brendan Rodgers does not have him in his short nor long term plans for the Merseyside club.
Carroll has previously played under West Ham manager Sam Allardyce for a brief period when they were both at Newcastle.
The agreement will be sure to please Hammers fans, who are nervous about the club's prospects in their first season back in the Premier League. West Ham were relegated two seasons ago but won promotion at the first attempt via the Championship Play Offs. However, newly promoted clubs have a bad record in the Premier League, and many find themselves relegated straight back down to the Championship. West Ham, however, are a team with more Premier League pedigree than many other newly promoted clubs, and they will see their chances at staying up as being fairly even. Their success may however depend on how many quality and experienced players they can attract in the close season.
