West Ham transfers: Sam Allardyce wants to sign Andy Carroll

Sam Allardyce believes Andy Carroll can grow into a “very good player” if the striker joins West Ham United on a permanent deal.

The England international, who is on a season-long loan from Liverpool, has scored four goals in his last seven appearances, while also making three assists, to help fire the Hammers to Premier League safety.

Allardyce, who worked with Carroll during his Newcastle United reign, reckons the 24-year-old is a good fit for the east London side and hopes to agree a deal with Liverpool in the summer.

“He has shown everybody what he can do and he has massive potential to grow into a very good player if he ends up back here with us,” said Allardyce.

“He’s so willing to learn and become better that I think we could do well for each other, but there is a way to go before that might get sorted.

“It’s about negotiation and both parties have to be happy that the negotiation cannot go any farther and it’s a ‘yes’ or ‘no’. We hope it’s a ‘yes’ and we hope it is as quickly as possible.”

He added: “I think that my reflection of Andy is exactly what I said from the start – as soon as we get him match-fit, the sooner you will see the goals.

“That match-fitness never came until his run after his second injury and I’m still wondering what he might have done this year had we got him off that one minute before he did his hamstring in his first game [against Fulham].”