Nov 18, 2015 18:15:00 The former Newcastle United striker is wanted by the Magpies' fiercest rivals as Sam Allardyce goes about reshaping his squad, with West Ham willing to entertain offers please log in to view this image EXCLUSIVE By Harry Sherlock please log in to view this image Sam Allardyce is determined to make Andy Carroll his first signing as Sunderland manager,Goal understands. West Ham striker Carroll, an idol at Newcastle United during his five years at St James' Park, has been continually linked with a return to the Magpies in recent months after seeing his career at Upton Park stall. The Black Cats, though, have now entered the race to sign the forward and sources have confirmed that the Hammers would be open to sanctioning a sale were they to receive an acceptable offer. The striker, who moved to the capital in a £15 million deal in 2013, is the club’s highest earner, collecting around £85,000-per-week, and his departure would see West Ham recoup £14m in wages over the duration of his current deal, which expires in 2019. Despite public statements to the contrary, the Hammers are understood to be willing to do business at less than they paid to acquire his signature, with a bid of £8m likely to be accepted. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Allardyce pushed hard to sign Carroll when he became available at Liverpool – the two share an agent – and is now keen to be reunited with the 26-year-old, with whom he is understood to have enjoyed a good relationship prior to his sacking at the end of the 2014-15 season. Both Jermain Defoe and Steven Fletcher have found themselves among the goals this term – scoring six and four respectively – but Allardyce believes an injection of fresh blood in the New Year may prove decisive in the club’s quest to remain in the Premier League. Following Allardyce’s departure, Carroll has fallen behind Diafra Sakho in the pecking order under Slaven Bilic and, despite scoring a dramatic winner against champions Chelsea, concerns persist over his suitability to the manager’s system. hope this is bullshit
Even a lazy Journo would know the heavy investment is needed defensively. An AM would be a plus but with Fletch and Ola as available target men I don't see any need for an ex mag crock. Sam will be well aware of the club links and his injury history. Crap Journalism if you ask me.
If he scored 10 goals that kept us in the division I'd don't think anyone would give a ****. If he's utilised well he can be a handful no doubt, but his injury record speaks volumes for me. We need to prioritise defence first so until that's sorted it's a no from me.
Fair enough. Haven't even looked at his stats or anything. I'm guessing it'll be because he can't play more than 20 games or so because he's injured for the rest. Was hypothetical anyway, and I'm sure the point still stands whether it's him or another player.
I'd be supprised if he'd come even if it was true. He hates us with a passion. My claim to fame is getting pushed away from him in a nightclub in Liverpool when he'd just signed for them. I was on a stag weekend and pretty smashed. I had the Sunderland badge as a screensaver on my phone at the time and I kept going over to him and putting it in his face .
He has also recently been slagging off Allardyce to the press so would be interesting to see whare this ****e came from originally - it says "goal" in the OP but I reckon it originated with the Daily Mirror!!
I watched that interview mate, on Sky and actually it's the other way round. Allardyce said Carroll didn't look interested half the time or something and it was brought up in the interview, he just said "He's entitled to his opinion, but if I behaved in training like I do on the pitch he'd have no players to pick from on Saturdays because I'd rough them all up like I do to opposition defenders"... or words to that effect. Now Bilic has him training just once a week with the team and the rest of the time in the gym working on strength, he's being managed exactly how he needs to be managed now. Allardyce has been on a path of destruction with that book, he looks like he's setting out to make enemies for no good reason.
