UK Edition
Chelsea approach West Ham about signing Andy Carroll on permanent deal
West Ham United are braced for a bid for Andy Carroll after Chelsea opened talks over a move for the striker, who missed the FA Cup third-round replay with Shrewsbury Town that Reece Burke won with an extra-time goal.
Chelsea are desperate to boost head coach Antonio Conte’s striking options and have made Carroll one of their surprise targets. But Chelsea are also understood to have made approaches for other forwards as they seek to land competition for Alvaro Morata after going three games without scoring.
Sevilla want to sign Michy Batshuayi on loan, but Chelsea will not sanction his release until they get a replacement – either on loan or permanently.
West Ham have made it clear they are not prepared to sanction a loan deal for Carroll, who has 18 months remaining on his £90,000-a-week contract, and Chelsea appear to have taken that on board by signalling their willingness to discuss a permanent move.
Carroll was not in West Ham’s match-day squad for Tuesday night’s FA Cup third-round replay against Shrewsbury and it is believed the 29 year-old is interested in moving to Stamford Bridge. Without Carroll, West Ham could not find a way past Shrewsbury during 90 minutes, but 21-year-old defender Burke netted his first goal for the club in the 112th minute to clinch a fourth-round tie against either Bournemouth or Wigan.
Sources have suggested that West Ham will listen to offers of £20 million for Carroll, but manager David Moyes insisted he had not spoken to the club’s owners over the player’s future.
“Chelsea have not made contact with me,” said Moyes. “If they have made contact with someone else, I don’t know about it. At the moment Andy has an ankle injury. He had an injection 10 days ago and we’re hoping he will be training soon.”