Wanted man: Andy Carrol could be a target for cash-rich Ligue One side Monaco
By Jason Burt
Monaco have made a surprise inquiry for England striker Andy Carroll, who is set to leave Liverpool this summer.
Carroll’s season-long loan spell at West Ham United ends after the final Premier League match at home against Reading today and the forward would appear unwanted by Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.
West Ham want to secure Carroll on a permanent deal but they are reluctant to pay Liverpool the £16 million they are demanding for the 24-year-old, who is also earning wages of £90,000 a week.
Newcastle United, who sold Carroll to Liverpool for £35 million in January 2011, are also in the running but, like West Ham, they want to pay far less than the current asking price for a player who does not have a future at Anfield.
Monaco are an interesting prospect having gained promotion back to Ligue 1 this season under former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri, whose own future is under scrutiny.
The club are backed by Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev who wants them to qualify for the Champions League next season and is prepared to spend.
Monaco have been linked with moves for a number of high-profile players – including Carlos Tévez – and although it would appear that there is only a remote chance of Carroll joining them, they have expressed an interest depending on who else they sign.
Carroll has impressed at West Ham despite an injury-affected season and manager Sam Allardyce is keen to retain the England striker.
“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,” Allardyce said.
“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.”
If they fail in that attempt, the club would look for a similar style of striker.
West Ham have already registered their interest, along with a number of other Premier League clubs, in Romelu Lukaku should Chelsea decide to send the Belgian international back out on loan next season after the forward spent this season at West Bromwich Albion.
West Ham have also held talks to sign the prolific Vitesse Arnhem striker Wilfried Bony, although Stoke City appear the favourites to sign the Ivorian should he move to England.
