Story highlights
Andy Carroll leaves Liverpool for West Ham on loan
Liverpool signed Carroll for club record $55.24m in January 2011
Dimitar Berbatov has medical at Fulham ahead of move from Manchester Utd
Midfielder Esteban Granero transfers from Real Madrid to QPR
England striker Andy Carroll left Liverpool Thursday on a season-long loan deal to English Premier League rivals West Ham United with an option to buy at the end of that period.
Carroll was a club record £35 million ($55.24 million) signing by Liverpool from Newcastle in January 2011, but has not found favor under new manager Brendan Rogers.
Kenny Dalglish signed him as a replacement for Fernando Torres after the Spaniard departed to Chelsea but he has scored only 11 goals in 58 appearances for Liverpool.
Carroll did show improved form at the end of last season and forced his way into the England squad at Euro 2012.
West Ham and his former club Newcastle both made approaches for the 23-year-old, but it is the newly promoted London club and their manager Sam Allardyce who has won the day.
“It’s great to be here at West Ham and all signed up. I just can’t wait to get started now,” Carroll was quoted on the club’s official website.
“I want to be playing games and obviously hoping to score some goals. I know the manager well and some of the lads, so it is nice for me to come to a place where I know people.
Carroll was on the playing staff at his home town club of Newcastle when Allardyce was in charge and will be hoping to revive his career with him.
“I’m hoping to add a lot of goals and create a few chances. I know Sam from Newcastle and he was a massive reason for me coming.”
Allardyce was delighted by his new acquisition, who has been named in the latest England squad for World Cup qualifying matches next week.
“I think for all parties this is a great signing. Andy is an all-round footballer, but because he is tall and one of his strengths is his aerial power, everybody dismisses the ability he possesses on the floor,” Allardyce said.
Another striker on the move ahead of the final day of dealing in the transfer window was Manchester United’s Bulgarian international Dimitar Berbatov, who was having a medical at Fulham with a view to a permanent transfer.
Real Madrid also confirmed the transfer of midfielder Esteban Granero to Queens Park Rangers, another EPL side who have been busy in the market, on a four-year deal.