Counter report claims top level West Ham source has responded to speculation over new Andy Carroll contract

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Reports have claimed West Ham United were ready to perform a major u-turn and offer Andy Carroll a new deal.

Injury-prone Carroll looked set to leave the Hammers as his contract expires this summer.

The striker has been linked with a move to MLS after featuring just 14 times last season and completing 90 minutes only once for Manuel Pellegrini’s side.

That was nothing new either. The big Geordie has been ravaged by injury throughout his Hammers career.

Fans feel time was right to say goodbye

After six years and just 34 goals supporters felt the time was right to wave goodbye to striker.

But speculation arose this week that West Ham were now considering offering Carroll a new contract on a pay-as-you-play basis.

The Sun claims to have spoken to a ‘Hammers insider’ who said discussions were taking place.

“There’s an argument for it. Any deal would be structured completely differently to the current one,” The Sun reports it was told by the insider.

“A minimal basic salary plus heavily incentivised payments in return for starts and goals and things like that. That would put the onus on him to be fit and ready.

‘Sympathetic’ Hammers perform massive u-turn?

“There is sympathy for the player. The club has grown tired of all the setbacks but if he can stay fit and it costs West Ham next to nothing, there’s not much to lose.

“There have been early discussions about it at the club. But if I were Andy or advising him, I’d probably be thinking it would be wise to stay at West Ham.”

The news sparked a largely furious reaction from Hammers fans on social media and fans forums.

Claims rubbished by ‘top level source’

But a new report from fellow Hammers site Claret & Hugh – which claims to have its own inside source at West Ham – scoffed at The Sun’s story.

C&H say the Carroll speculation was ‘immediately denied by a top level source inside the club by e-mail and confirmed by another’

“An unbelievable story in the truest sense of the word,” C&H reported.

Many supporters will be hoping that is the case.

Because Carroll has cost West Ham more than £50 million since signing, over £1.5million per goal.