Manuel Pellegrini gives clearest indication yet over Andy Carroll’s West Ham future

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Manuel Pellegrini appeared to give the clearest indication yet over Andy Carroll’s West Ham United future at the weekend.

Carroll’s contract is up in the summer after six injury-riddled years with West Ham.

Carroll has become something of a forgotten man at West Ham and indeed in the Premier League.

The injury-prone striker has played just 13 games for the Hammers this season, scoring one goal.

That means the big Geordie has played only 141 matches in six seasons for West Ham and netted just 34 goals in that time.

Carroll surprise

There was a surprise start for Carroll at Manchester City last week. He nearly scored in that game but was criticised by some fans for his all round performance.

Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini has insisted Carroll is playing for his future (The Sun).

The former England forward has put his nine-bedroom Essex mansion up for sale (talkSPORT).

And Pellegrini’s actions spoke louder than words when he left Carroll out of the squad entirely when West Ham played his boyhood side Newcastle United on Saturday.

Pellegrini’s actions speak louder than words

And in a further damning indictment, outcast Lucas Perez took his place.

The club made no reference to Carroll’s absence in any pre or post match updates.

And Carroll was pictured training with the team at the London Stadium the day before the game, see images here.

Whether Carroll was dropped or Pellegrini felt his body could not withstand the possibility of playing twice in 72 hours it is unclear.

The staggering cost of Carroll

But either way it casts serious doubt over the striker’s future.

With a wage of £90,000 per week (Spotrac), Carroll has cost the Hammers £48 million so far based on his salary, initial loan fee from Liverpool and his eventual £18 million permanent fee – a then club record.

And that figure will undoubtedly pushed over £50 million when goal bonuses and other such clauses are taken into account.

The eye-watering amount means Carroll has cost the Hammers £1.5 million per goal since joining the East Londoners.