LONDON - Andy Carroll will undergo a medical at West Ham United today (June 18) as Liverpool prepare to make a £20-million (S$39.5-million) loss on their club-record signing.
Carroll, a £35-million buy from Newcastle United in January 2011, was due to fly back from a holiday in the United States on Monday night to complete the formalities of his £15-million transfer to Upton Park, following a season-long loan with Sam Allardyce’s team last season.
The 24-year-old, who scored seven goals in 24 Premier League appearances for West Ham during his loan, is understood to have agreed a six-year contract worth £100,000 a week in order to complete a permanent move to the London club.
With doubts over Carroll’s desire to leave Liverpool in order to return to West Ham, combined with the issue of a persistent heel injury, the transfer appeared to be in the balance last month prior to further talks between the two clubs, which resulted in Liverpool agreeing to suffer a huge financial loss on the England forward, who remains the most expensive ¬British footballer of all time following his move from St James’ Park over 2 years ago.
With Carroll on the brink of completing his transfer, which was agreed between the two clubs last month, Liverpool are now ready to make it clear to Luis Suarez that he will not be allowed to leave Anfield unless he forces the issue by demanding a move in writing.
As reported by Telegraph Sport on May 30, Liverpool have no intention of acceding to Suarez’s demand to leave the club for Real Madrid unless he forces the issue by submitting a transfer request, thereby forfeiting his right to a substantial loyalty bonus in excess of £1 million.
The Uruguayan forward, who is on international duty at the Confederations Cup in Brazil, has repeatedly stated his determination in recent weeks to leave Anfield for Real Madrid after citing negative media coverage of his biting attack on Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic as the central factor in his desire to move.
With Suarez likely to be in Brazil for at least another 10 days, the former Ajax forward’s situation is unlikely to progress unless his representatives contact Liverpool to officially express his desire to leave the club.
While maintaining their stance of not listening to offers for Suarez, senior figures at Liverpool are keen to avoid a distracting summer-long saga surrounding their star player, but Real have yet to submit an official offer for the £40 million-rated forward, the Daily Telegraph reported.
With Real also pursuing Suarez’s international team-mate Edinson Cavani, confirmed interest from the Spanish club could be delayed until the Napoli forward chooses between a move to the Bernabeu or Manchester City.
In an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Pais on Sunday, Suarez admitted that Liverpool’s failure to compete in the Premier League was another reason for his attempt to leave the club.
“It is a big club on a global level, but we didn’t qualify for the Champions League nor did we fight for the Premier League, which is where the club has to be,” Suarez said.
“And the club knows that I have suffered and struggled with what I have had in the press. Because of this, you start to think about the possibility of a change because I have suffered so much to be where I am and that criticism stops you doing what you’d like to.”
With Carroll close to completing his move away from Liverpool and Suarez ultimately expected to follow him through the exit door, the club are hoping to rubber-stamp the £7.7-million signing of Celta Viga forward Iago Aspas today.
A £10-million move for Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet is understood to be close to completion, while Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is also closing in on Shakhtar Donetsk’s Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan. AGENCIES
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