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West Ham transfer news: Insider reveals details of shock Andy Carroll swap deal
WEST HAM are exploring the possibility of swapping Andy Carroll for Jonjo Shelvey this month, according to a club insider.
Samir Nasri signs for West Ham United
Carroll returned to first team action last night against Brighton but toiled for 45 minutes before being hooked.
The nine-time England international is one of the top earners at the club but has been blighted by injuries throughout his career.
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The 29-year-old has made just one start and six substitute appearances all season without finding the net.
His contract is up in the summer and West Ham are now looking at ways to cut their losses before losing him on a free.
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Reliable West Ham news source @ExWHUemployee tweeted that he’d been told the club were looking at a deal with Newcastle that would include Shelvey coming in return.
Newcastle are desperate for more fire power and a return to the north would appeal to Carroll.
@ExWHUemployee was asked if the club were going to be able to ship Carroll out this month.
And he said: “Well I heard yesterday we were trying to do a swap deal with Jonjo Shelvey from someone at the ground (told you I would tweet it) although that was the first I had heard of it so not sure how much substance there is.“
Shelvey was in action for Newcastle last night and was lucky to avoid a red card for a horror tackle on Paul Pogba.
Shelvey has started just eight times this season despite Newcastle’s struggles and West Ham are looking at options to bolster their midfield.
Samir Nasri joined the club this week but is still working his way back to fitness while Jack Wilshere’s move from Arsenal has been hit by injuries.
Elsewhere Gabriel Barbosa is said to be keen on joining West Ham from Inter Milan but may struggle to get a work permit.
Clubs require work permits for non-EU players to play in English football and one is needed for Gabigol.
The forward is supposedly valued at £20m and Inter are keen to sell up and get rid.
But a loan deal may be more suitable to the Hammers’ needs at this stage in the season.
Gabigol earns around £50,000 a week at Inter and still has two-and-a-half years on his contract.
“For the next six months we will have no space for him,” Inter’s sporting director Piero Ausilio recently said.
“We are happy with what he has done (at Santos) and we will find the best solution with him.