Local hero courted by the Magpies.
Newcastle United are preparing a bid for West Ham United forward Andy Carroll, according to the Sunday People.
The Magpies sold Carroll to Liverpool for £35m in January 2011, making the Gateshead-born target man the most expensive English footballer of all time.
Carroll failed to fit in at Anfield and he eventually moved to West Ham for £15m last summer, after spending the previous season on loan at Upton Park.
The 25-year-old, who has been capped nine times by England, scored just two goals in 16 games for the Hammers last season.
Having signed two other strikers this summer – Enner Valencia and Mauro Zarate – West Ham could be willing to part with Carroll.
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is apparently ready to offer £15m for the long-haired header specialist.
Pardew has also been keeping an eye on Manchester United’s Wilfried Zaha, but he will drop his interest in the former Crystal Palace man if he is successful in his attempt to sign Carroll.
Carroll scored 31 goals in 80 league games during his first spell at Newcastle.
He may have to take a pay cut to return to St James’ Park, with the Tyneside club unlikely to match his current wages, which are reportedly close to £120,000.