Joe Cole has heaped praise on Andy Carroll.
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West Ham midfielder Joe Cole says the club would love to keep loan star Andy Carroll on a permanent basis next season, according to the Metro.
The former Newcastle striker has spent the 2012/13 campaign on loan at Upton Park from Liverpool, where he has failed to live up to the enormous £35million that the club spent on him two years ago.
Cole, also formerly of Liverpool, believes Carroll has shown his quality this season – even saying that his form has made the £35million Liverpool paid for him look reasonable.
Although he does not know where his team-mate’s future lies, he believes he speaks for everyone at West Ham when he says he hopes Carroll is back with the club next year.
“West Ham definitely want to keep Andy Carroll,” he said.
“I don’t know the ins and outs of the deal but the way he’s been playing in the last couple of weeks you can understand why Liverpool paid £35m for him a couple of years ago.
“I think all the boys want him to stay at West Ham. I don’t know what Liverpool are thinking and I’m sure there will be other clubs in for him. West Ham would like to keep him, he’s our top scorer. He’s got to do what’s right for him, though.”
Carroll has also been linked with a return to former club Newcastle as he looks unlikely to have a future at Anfield, where he does not really fit into the style of play adapted by Reds boss Brendan Rodgers.
The Hammers are already planning for life without him though, as they have looked into signing Peter Crouch from Stoke City as a possible replacement.