Carroll open minded on return to Newcastle

Hammer Andy Carroll is open-minded to return to Newcastle on a free transfer at the end of his contract with West Ham the Newcastle Chronicle claims. The striker was absent again from the  West Ham matchday squad having made just three starts all year for the Hammers.

Manuel Pellegrini seemed irritated when questioned about Carroll’s absence from the squad initially telling reporters post-match “He was not considered for this game”

Pushed on the subject by a reporter Pellegrini firmly replied: “He was not considered for this game. He has a small problem in his ankle but he was not on the list.”

Carroll’s £85,000 per week contract comes to an end this summer, the club has a two-year option but terms of the option mean Carroll must receive a pay rise for the option to be activated. Club insiders say a contract extension is extremely unlikely and the player is likely to leave West Ham unless a reduced contract could be negotiated, possibly on a pay as you play basis.

Carroll already has his Essex mansion up for sale and will most likely listen to offers in the summer, options include a move to the US to play in the MLS but he could well listen to offer from Premier League clubs to avoid moving his young family from the U.K.

Carroll born in Newcastle moved from his boyhood club in 2011 to Liverpool for a deal which ended up costing £37m, he later moved to West Ham in 2013 for £17m including the one season loan fee.