Carroll joins West Ham

There have been intense rumours surrounding Andy Carroll ever since Brendan Rodgers was appointed last summer. Now, right before the transfer window is due to close, the former Newcastle striker has completed a loan move to Premiership rivals West Ham.

Carroll’s future has been up in the air for the last couple of months, after Rodgers admitted that the player could be allowed out on loan as he might not be a first team regular. Following on from those comments, both West Ham and Newcastle have made bids for the player, although it was thought that the former were out of the running after Carroll allegedly stated that he would only consider leaving the Reds for his former club Newcastle.

However, after being told that he was not going to feature much under Rodgers, it’s understood that the England international has experienced a change of heart. The Hammers have wrapped up a loan deal for the 23-year-old that will see him play at Upton Park for the whole of the 2012/13 campaign but strangely, Sam Allardyce’s outfit don’t have the obligation to convert the deal into a permanent transfer next summer. However, an undisclosed fee has been put in place, should Allardyce decide that he does want the striker on a long-term basis.

Following the transfer, Rodgers admitted that the club simply weren’t in a position to keep such an expensive player as a substitute. He said, “It is very simple – the club have made a monumental investment in big Andy. At the moment he is not playing. He made it very clear he wanted to play games and this is his last chance to do that. But I don’t think we are in a position to have £35m players as third-choice strikers, or wingers who are on £5m-£6m a year.”

Now Carroll has moved out of the club, many supporters are hoping that Rodgers has more funds available to strengthen his squad before the end of the transfer window today.