West Ham United co-owner, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-c10409 Sullivan unravelled that his club were willing to go beyond their means to claim the signature of Andy Carroll from Liverpool this summer.
The Premier League newcomers were willing to pay the Merseyside club a lump sum amount of 2 million pounds, in order to land the striker on a season long deal at Upton Park.
If the move had gone ahead, the Hammers would have paid an additional sum of 17 million pounds for him during the next summer window, to claim permanent rights over the player.
According to reports, Liverpool had accepted the overture from the London based team. However, Carroll himself turned down the proposal, citing his desire to play for a team featuring in a European competition.
With the proposed move now seemingly put to the bed, the West Ham supremo revealed that despite the club’s limited financial resources; they went out of the way to seek the services of the English International.
He explained that his manager, Sam Allardyce deemed him as a perfect fit to the Hammers playing style, and admitted that everyone at the club was disappointed over the failure of the move to transpire.
While talking to reporters, he said: “It was a terribly expensive deal with the loan fee and with his wages, which were enormous - too much for a club like ours.”
“But, as the manager really wanted him, we were prepared to pay it. Then there was a huge transfer fee which would have blown our budget for several years. So, as we buy players, the door shuts.”
The 35 million pounds striker has been heavily linked to making a return to the Sports Direct Arena – a move, which is reportedly appealing to Carroll himself.
However, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 have already spurned the Magpies loan offer for the player, as they are believed to be planning on off loading him on a permanent deal.
Sullivan believed that despite all the surmises of Carroll making a fairytale return to Newcastle doing the rounds in media circles, the Reds will retain his services for the coming season.
“Newcastle didn't even want to pay all of his wages. This is what we are led to believe. So Liverpool were not prepared to let him go to Newcastle,” he added.
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