Andy Carroll: West Ham talk to Liverpool over permanent deal

West Ham are in talks with Liverpool about securing a permanent deal for on-loan striker Andy Carroll.

Manager Sam Allardyce said signing the 24-year-old, who cost £35m when he joined Liverpool in January 2011, was the club's primary focus this summer.

"It is our target to make it a permanent situation," he said.

"Hopefully we can get somewhere in the near future to do that. It's our main priority. There are negotiations between the club and Liverpool."

The England international has had an injury-hit season, scoring only seven goals, but when fit has produced impressive displays for the east London side and set up two goals in the 4-2 victory over Reading on Sunday.

"We have to pursue it to the very end one way or another and we will find out as quickly as we can if it is a yes or a no," continued Allardyce.

"If we can start with Andy Carroll, that would be a great achievement for us as he can only get better and better.

"Then we build around that in terms of how we want to improve next year, with better quality.

"Andy is a player who is wanting to enjoy his football. He lives for his football and wants to play every game. He wants to use his strengths and score as many as he can - but he also works very hard for the team."

Former Newcastle striker Carroll set up the opening two goals for West Ham on Sunday, scored by captain Kevin Nolan and Ricardo Vaz Te.

Reading levelled the scores in three second-half minutes through Garath McCleary and Adam Le Fondre before Nolan scored twice more in the final 12 minutes to seal victory for the Hammers.