Allardyce: Carroll was a key

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce hopes there is more to come from Andy Carroll after the striker's man of the match performance against Swansea City.



The on-loan Liverpool forward started his first game since November after injury and scored the winner to earn his temporary club just a third Premier League win in two months.

And Allardyce thought Carroll, who could join West Ham on a permanent basis in the summer, was the best player against Swansea despite not being fully fit.

"I think Andy has made the difference today, no disrespect to [Marouane] Chamakh and Carlton Cole," Allardyce told Sky Sports.

"He is a big strong lad with a lot of ability. As we saw today, it was not just about his heading ability, even though that was the winning goal.

"It was about his hold-up play, his movement and the trouble he caused Swansea. I think everybody else could build off Andy and we created numerous chances."

West Ham were denied by excellent Swansea goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel on several occasions but Allardyce was at least pleased to see his struggling team making opportunities.



"It has been a great day from that point of view and, as long as we keep creating the chances - particularly at home, we will sooner or later start putting more in the back of the net," he said.

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Wayne Rooney fears Carroll threat

Wayne Rooney has urged Manchester United to pay special attention to Andy Carroll on Wednesday night.



Carroll is bound to get a frosty reception from the Old Trafford faithful when West Ham travel north. As a Liverpool player with an enormous price tag, it is hard to imagine the United fans will not single him out.



However, after working alongside the 23-year-old at close quarters during Euro 2012, Rooney knows the reality of Carroll's performances is nowhere near the perception many have of him.



The burly forward will travel north with confidence high following his first goal of the season at Tottenham on Sunday. And Rooney has warned his United team-mates to be on their guard.



"Andy Carroll is a handful," said the striker. "I am sure if you ask any defender, they find it difficult to play against someone like that who is good in the air and on the floor.



"He is physical and makes it hard for opponents. That type of player doesn't always get all the goals but they can cause trouble up front and create problems. I am sure that is what Sam Allardyce wants him to do."

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Carroll targets more West Ham goals

Andy Carroll hopes he can follow up his long awaited first West Ham goal by finding the net against Manchester United and Chelsea.



Carroll headed home Joey O'Brien's cross in Sunday's 3-1 defeat at Tottenham to end his 1,062-minute Barclays Premier League goal drought.



The £35million man had been brought in on loan to provide the firepower for the Hammers, but manager Sam Allardyce has instead had to rely on Kevin Nolan for his goals this season.



Carroll was relieved to finally get off the mark for his new club and now hopes he can repeat the feat against top-flight heavyweights Manchester United and Chelsea on Wednesday and Saturday respectively.



"It was about time (I scored), to be honest," Carroll said. "I'm just grateful to have got off the mark and hopefully there will be more to come this week.



"I think I've put myself about and been involved in our goals in previous matches. "I think I've been doing well so it was about time one went in.



"It was a great ball in by Joey O'Brien and I just had to get up and head it across the keeper. That's what I did and thankfully it went in."



Despite Carroll's failure to find the net, West Ham have exceeded all expectations so far this season and currently sit eighth in the table.



But they were easily outclassed by a rampant Spurs side, who coasted to victory thanks to a Gareth Bale strike and a brace from former Hammer Jermain Defoe.



Defoe was allowed to open the scoring in a marvellous solo effort that saw him go unchallenged from near the half-way line. West Ham's defence then backed off Clint Dempsey, which allowed him to tee up Bale for Spurs' second.



Defoe wrapped up the win by tapping home into an empty net following a swift counter-attack that started after West Ham were dispossessed on the halfway line.



Carroll was unhappy with how his team wilted but insisted they should not dwell too much on the defeat.



"It was disappointing as we made mistakes for all three of their goals, really," Carroll told the club's website. "We should have done better, but they have taken their chances and obviously beat us.



"We have got a tough week with Manchester United and then Chelsea and Liverpool coming up. It'll be tough so we just have to put this behind us now and focus on Wednesday.



"This game is all gone now so we're going to have to concentrate 100% on Wednesday, which is going to be another tough game."



Defender James Tomkins echoed Carroll's sentiments, adding: "We didn't play at our best but we need to put it behind us quite quickly because we have another big game at Manchester United in a couple of days' time and the games are coming thick and fast.



"We don't need to dwell on the result because we have the points on the board and it's vital we go to Old Trafford with our confidence intact.



"We have to make sure we go to Manchester United 100% mentally."

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Carroll to sit out Liverpool trip

Andy Carroll has not travelled with Liverpool for Thursday's Europa League qualifier against FC Gomel in Belarus.



The England striker was withdrawn from the squad with a slight groin strain on Wednesday morning but his future remains increasingly unclear.

West Ham are still trying to persuade Carroll to join them after having a £2m loan offer accepted by Liverpool.

Newcastle retain a strong interest in their former player but have adopted a watching brief on the situation.



Uefa rules allow a player to represent one club in the Europa League qualifying round and another in the group stages.

That means that, if Carroll plays for Liverpool during qualifying, he could potentially play for Newcastle, who have secured a place in the group stages.

New Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is also without Luis Suarez and Craig Bellamy, both of whom are on Olympic duty, while new signing Fabio Borini, like Carroll, has recently returned from an extended holiday after Euro 2012.

Although West Ham's loan offer was accepted, Carroll has indicated he does not want to join the Hammers, on loan or on a permanent deal.

Newcastle remain confident that if Carroll leaves Anfield he is interested only in returning to Tyneside.



Into the unknown



- Gomel is the second largest city in Belarus.



- Because of problems with the availability of rooms, the Liverpool squad will be divided into two hotels.



- The government in Belarus says fans cannot take pictures of government buildings and uniformed officials.



- The runway at Gomel airport is so short that Liverpool had to charter a smaller plane, meaning a number of club staff have not been able to travel.



Liverpool, who signed Carroll for a club record £35m in January 2011, have already turned down Newcastle United's bid to re-sign the player.

Meanwhile, the deadline for Demba Ba to activate a £7m escape clause in his Newcastle contract passed without a bid yesterday.



Despite interest from Galatasaray and Rubin Kazan, Ba looks certain to begin the season on Tyneside.

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West Ham deny Carroll deal

West Ham have denied a deal has been done to sign Liverpool striker Andy Carroll on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent transfer.

Hammers boss Sam Allardyce is believed to be keen to add the England target-man to his squad for the club's Premier League and was reported to have offered £2million to take the player on loan.



That deal was also thought to include a £17m fee to make the switch permanent next summer as the Reds are reluctant to allow the man they paid £35m for last year to leave in a loan-only deal.



But with Brendan Rodgers having offered Carroll hope of a future at Anfield, West Ham have moved to distance themselves from claims that a deal is in place.



The 23-year-old striker has scored six goals in 42 Premier League games for Liverpool since joining from Newcastle in January 2011.

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Rodgers hints that Carroll has won him round

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists Andy Carroll is happy to stay at the club and can fit into the new style of play he is trying to impose at Anfield.



Carroll is widely expected to leave Liverpool this summer after he struggled to make an impact since joining from Newcastle United for a club-record £35 million in January 2011.



The England international's former club have already made a move to take Carroll back to St James Park but the deal was rejected by the Reds.



West Ham have also made a £2 million bid to take Carroll on loan until the end of the 2012-13 season with a view to a £16 million permanent switch, if the club avoid relegation.



But Rodgers is adamant the striker, who came off the substitutes' bench in Liverpool's pre-season goalless draw against Tottenham in America on Saturday, is still in his plans for next season.



Reds boss Rodgers said: "Not that I am aware of. Obviously I'll know more when we get back.



"There has been a lot written about Andy, but you saw today he's happy to be here and he's worked very well since he's been here.



"The reality is he's still a Liverpool player, he can fit into how I want to play, and he's happy here. I'm certainly not wishing to push him out of the door."

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Hammers offer £17m for Carroll

West Ham United have made a £17million bid to sign Liverpool striker Andy Carroll.



The Premier League new-boys have ambitiously offered to pay an initial £2m loan fee before making a permanent deal next summer.



Liverpool are thought to be willing to listen to offers for the permanent sale of Carroll, who they signed from Newcastle in a record £35m deal under Kenny Dalglish in January 2011.



Brendan Rodgers has succeeded Dalglish this summer and is ready to sell in order to raise money for new signings, including his £15m-rated former Swansea colleague Joe Allen.



Carroll has endured a difficult time at Anfield since becoming the most expensive British footballer in history and he now appears to be surplus to requirements.



Sam Allardyce's West Ham failed in an original approach to sign the England international solely on loan earlier this summer but have returned with a permanent option.



Liverpool want closer to £20m as they aim to recoup as much as possible on Carroll and his wages, which are reportedly close to £80,000-a-week, but the fee would represent a record deal for West Ham.



The most the Upton Park club, who won last season's Championship play-offs, have paid for a player in the past has been £9m for Savio Nsereko in January 2009.



And West Ham co-owner David Sullivan's son, Jack Sullivan, has added to the rumours by saying onTwitter: "Dad is working on the biggest signing in the history of the club - twice as big as anything the club have done before!"



West Ham are also reportedly hoping the friendship between former Newcastle team-mates Kevin Nolan, now West Ham captain, and Carroll can help influence any potential move.

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Carroll tells Liverpool he wants to stay

Andy Carroll has told Liverpool he wants to stay at Anfield rather than be sent out on loan or sold off in a cut-price deal.



Carroll is not interested in a return to Newcastle or a move south to London with either West Ham or Fulham. "Andy has told them that he does not want to move," an ESPN source said.



But Liverpool appear to have unofficially let it be known that they would accept £20 million for the England international.



However, the Reds might have to take an even bigger hit on the price before interested clubs such as Newcastle are willing to pay a transfer fee, plus the player's £80,000-a-week wages.



Liverpool bought Carroll for £35 million but the player does not appear to fit into new manager Brendan Rodgers' tactical strategy. There have been hints that Rodgers would not be adverse to loaning out the centre forward, but Liverpool would rather recoup part of the fee and use it to buy new players.



However, for now the club faces an obstacle in Carroll himself, who has let it be known that he wants to stay at Anfield and prove to Rodgers he can fit in.

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Carroll in Liverpool's touring party

Andy Carroll has been included in a 34-man squad for Liverpool's tour of North America.



The striker's future is the subject of fervent speculation, with Reds boss Brendan Rodgers admiting he would consider any offers that come in for the England international.



Italian giants AC Milan are said to be keeping tabs on the situation, while it has also been claimed West Ham and Carroll's former club Newcastle have been rebuffed with loan approaches.



There are claims that Liverpool are willing to sell the forward, but any move does not appear to be imminent as Rodgers has included Carroll in the squad that will fly out of John Lennon Airport on Monday.



Joe Cole also features in the 34 and he is desperate to make a positive impression on Rodgers and force his way back into Liverpool's plans.



Cole's Liverpool career looked over when he was farmed out on loan to Lille last term, but Rodgers has promised a clean slate and that is much to Cole's delight.



"The manager knows what I can do," Cole told the club's official website. "He's seen me in France and knows what I can do from Chelsea and England. Now is about getting fit, pushing myself every day and in the friendlies, and taking my chance.



"In the next two or three weeks, I just want to get myself fit, get two or three games out the way and then we'll see where we are. I'm happy I'm here, I'm playing football. I'm at a great club and I want to be part of it. I think we can do something good this year."



The Reds face Toronto FC on July 21, AS Roma at Fenway Park on July 25 and Tottenham in Baltimore on July 28.

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Newcastle make loan approach for Carroll

Newcastle have approached Liverpool regarding a season-long loan move for Andy Carroll, according to reports.



Carroll has become one of the most sought-after properties of the summer after Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers revealed he would consider allowing the England forward to leave the Anfield club.



It is understood Rodgers would prefer a straight sale of Carroll, while the player remains keen to prove himself on Merseyside. If Carroll does not fit into Rodgers' plans for next season, the striker will accept a loan switch, with a view to showing Liverpool what they are missing.



Reports on Sunday claim Newcastle have made the first formal move for the £35 million striker, whom they sold in January 2011. The approach is for a season-long loan with a view to a permanent move.



Carroll, who scored 31 league goals during his time at St James' Park, continues to hold the club in high regard, despite the high level of abuse he received when returning as a Liverpool player last season.



Newcastle manager Alan Pardew recently refrained from comment on the future of Carroll, preferring only to praise what he still regards as a "top player".



"He did a terrific job here," Pardew said on Wednesday. "I've always supported him even at Liverpool when other people haven't. I think he's had a raw deal from the media if I'm honest.



"He's going to be a great player, but where he treads the boards, we'll have to wait and see."



AC Milan, West Ham and Aston Villa have also been credited with an interest in Carroll's services.

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Villa boss keen on Carroll deal

Aston Villa have joined the race for Andy Carroll's signature as the striker continues to be tipped for a move away from Liverpool.



Carroll's future at Anfield has been placed in doubt by the arrival of fellow forward Fabio Borini in a £8m switch from Roma last week, which follows hot-on-the-heels of comments by new Reds boss Brendan Rodgers that he may be prepared to let him leave on loan.



Rodgers is also stepping up his interest in Fulham attacker Clint Dempsey and his signing would surely open the door for potential suitors to seal a deal for the England international.



West Ham, Fulham and the 23-year-old's old club Newcastle have also been linked with a move for the Reds target man, while Villa manager Paul Lambert is known to be on the look out for extra firepower to bolster his side's striking options.



The prospect of pairing Carroll up with England team-mate Darren Bent at Villa Park is one which would appeal to Lambert, if he was to officially become available.



He told Sky Sports News: "There's no doubt he's a top player, and it wouldn't be one I would dismiss if it was there.



"I've always said that the group need a hand.

"They need players to come in and give them a hand and we're trying to get them in."



The Scot has made three additions to his squad so far since taking over, with Brett Holman, Karim El Ahmadi and Matthew Lowton having all arrived at the club since the end of last season.

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