Hammers land Carroll on loan
Transfer news round-up: Liverpool striker Andy Carroll has joined West Ham on a season-long loan just 18 months after a €41 million move to Anfield from Newcastle United. The Hammers have long been chasing Carroll and earlier in the summer were understood to have failed in bids for the England international.
Manager Sam Allardyce has always remained hopeful of signing the powerful striker, despite seemingly conceding defeat earlier today.
Carroll was linked with a return to Newcastle but it is understood West Ham are prepared to pay all of his €100,000 per week wages.
The 23-year-old was previously thought to have turned down a move to Upton Park because he only wanted to play for a club who are in Europe.
Rodgers had last week also stated he would "need to be a nutcase" to send Carroll out on loan and was instead only thought to want to sell on a permanent basis.
Liverpool are looking to raise funds for further signings before Friday's transfer deadline. They have been linked with Arsenal's Theo Walcott, Fulham's Clint Dempsey and Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge.
Carroll told West Ham's official website, www.whufc.com: "It's great to be here at West Ham and all signed up - I just can't wait to get started now. I want to be playing games and obviously hoping to score some goals. I know the manager well and some of the lads, so it is nice for me to come to a place where I know people.
"I'm hoping to add a lot of goals and create a few chances. I know Sam from Newcastle and he was a massive reason for me coming. When I worked with him at Newcastle it was great so it was a no-brainer really."
Allardyce added: "I think for all parties this is a great signing. Andy is an all-round footballer, but because he is 6ft 3in and one of his strengths is his aerial power, everybody dismisses the ability he possesses on the floor. Hopefully he can score goals for us and we will be in a very good position at the end of the year in the Barclays Premier League."
Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatovunderwent having a medical at Fulham this afternoon. The former Bulgarian international was expected to move to Fiorentina but the Serie A team said he failed to turn up for a meeting in Italy yesterday.
Berbatov played under Martin Jol when the Dutchman was in charge of Tottenham Hotspur. The forward left White Hart Lane for Old Trafford in 2008. The 31-year-old struggled to hold down a place in the United first team last season and seemed set for a move to Fiorentina.
"The player embarked in the company of his agent and with tickets paid by Fiorentina on a direct flight to Florence," the Italian club said. "But the player never arrived."
