OPINION
Newcastle are reportedly interested in luring Andy Carroll back to his boyhood club before the end of the transfer window on a season-long loan.
The Daily Mirror claims Toon manager Rafa Benitez is eyeing a swoop for the Premier League hitman, who’s on a massive £130,000-a-week at West Ham.
It is said that Carroll is not the only player Newcastle are looking to sign on loan from a London-based Premier League club, with Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere also high on the Toon’s shortlist.
Carroll is likely to have fallen down the pecking order at the London Stadium as he continues his nightmare battle with constant injuries, after the Hammers signed Javier Hernandez from Bayer Leverkusen.
Hernandez scored two goals on Saturday as West Ham lost 3-2 to Southampton, cementing his status as lead striker.
Here, This Is Futbol considers whether re-signing Carroll will prove beneficial this season, and whether a deal is likely to be completed.
Good move for Newcastle?
Benitez needs to add depth to his Newcastle squad in any way he can before the end of the transfer window, if the Toon are to have any chance of staying in the Premier League come May 2018.
Adam Armstrong and Daryl Murphy have both opted to remain in the Championship with new teams, depleting Benitez’s choices up front while Aleksander Mitrovic could still leave the club before September with his future in doubt.
That leaves just Dwight Gayle up front, who was plagued by numerous muscle injuries last season as the Toon gained promotion as champions.
Re-signing Carroll, who would give Newcastle something different up front due to his aerial prowess, is not only needed in terms of cover but is a must to boost the fans’ belief and enthusiasm on Tyneside.
The only potential downside – and it’s a significant one – is Carroll’s inability to stay fit.
This Is Futbol rating: 7/10.
Likely to happen?
Owner Mike Ashley has already splurged £30million on summer transfers and he is likely to be more willing to sanction a loan deal, without having to open his wallet to pay for a transfer fee.
However, Carroll’s enormous wages in east London would put any side off, let alone one that are tight for cash.
Benitez must look to come to some sort of arrangement with West Ham that could see both sides go half and half for the England international during the 2017-18 season.
A lot of persuading is needed, but there is no doubt that Carroll and Newcastle would love such a deal to occur, with West Ham boss Slaven Bilic likely to sanction a move too.
This Is Futbol rating: 6/10.