West Ham will only consider a permanent exit for striker Andy Carroll as Chelsea line up a loan move for the 29-year-old, according to the Evening Standard.
The newspaper report that the Blues are only looking to sign Carroll until the end of the season, but Hammers will not agree to a temporary deal as they need funds to sign a replacement.
The Standard claim that Chelsea are looking to sign a back-up for Alvaro Morata, with the Spaniard struggling to make an impact recently.
It is said that the Hammers are instead lining up exits for Carroll’s strike partners Javier Hernandez and Diafra Sakho.
Carroll cost West Ham £15million from Liverpool in 2013, which was a club-record at the time.
Good move for West Ham?
This is a sensible move from West Ham.
There would be little point in them loaning Carroll out for the rest of the season, with the only benefit a lowering of the wage bill.
Unless a permanent bid comes in, the advantages of keeping the striker far outweigh those of letting him leave.
This is Futbol rating: 8/10
Likely to happen?
No.
There is little chance of Chelsea looking to sign Carroll permanently, with West Ham probably looking for a fee between £15-20million.
The Blues merely want the 29-year-old as short-term cover, nothing more.
This is Futbol rating: 2/10