14:46 28 July 2012
Football club West Ham risk breaking the bank after it has been revealed that they've submitted a record £17 million bid to lure Liverpool striker Andy Carroll.
If accepted, it would easily smash their transfer record.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers isn't expected to let Carroll go too easily despite a few dodgy performances of late, stating that “We've got a number of very, very talented players in the group, of which Andy is one”
This offer would see England forward Carroll move on loan to begin with followed by a chance to buy the 23-year-old goal scorer next summer.
Reports suggest that West Ham are looking for a team restructure and would be willing to construct it around star player Carroll if he came on board.
West Ham shelled out £7.5m for Liverpool's Craig Bellamy in 2007 which is still the most the club has ever paid. If this deal went ahead it would more than double that.
Jack Sullivan, son of David Sullivan, the West Ham co-owner, tweeted: "Dad is working on the biggest signing in the history of the club - twice as big as anything the club have done before!"
Andy Carroll career has had numerous highlights. For Newcastle between 2006 and 2011 he scored 33 goals during 91 games while his seven appearances in the England line-up since 2010 has garnered 2 crucial goals.
Liverpool have previously stated that they would be open to offers. Manager Rodgers stated: "I had a brief chat with all the lads and over the next couple of weeks I'll be able to speak to them with more confidence and on a one-to-one basis.
"There is no doubt [Andy] is a terrific talent. There has been a lot of unfair criticism aimed towards Andy. He is a player who can play in a number of styles and it was a wee bit unfair on him to say he couldn't fit into the way I would want to play.
"We've got a number of very, very talented players in the group, of which Andy is one."