Report: Irons eye Carroll lookalike

West Ham are tonight being reported as trying to sign Andy Carrol Mark 11 – Hartlepool teenager Connor Simpson.

The 17-year-old striker scored on his first senior start last month and is being likened to the Irons striker given  his 6ft 5 inches and the fact that he is left-footed.

The story is published in The Sun who claim the Irons are ready to make a move for the player who would cost around £60,000.

But they say that fee would rise substantially if he made it into their first team.

Simpson was born in Guisborough, North Yorkshire, and does not turn 18 until January.

The story sounds highly speculative and offering a handy Carroll-type headline because of the perceived similarities between the pair.