Report: Newcastle agree deal to sign free agent Andy Carroll

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The Guardian have claimed on their live blog (13:52, Thursday) that Newcastle United have agreed a one-year deal to sign free agent Andy Carroll – eight years since he left the club to join Liverpool.

Carroll, 30, is a free agent after he was released by West Ham United earlier this summer. A multitude of different injuries saw the England international slip down the pecking order with the east London club.

West Ham have since signed Sebastian Haller and Albian Ajeti as options up front from Eintracht Frankfurt and FC Basel, which would have left Carroll fifth choice – the club still boast Javier Hernandez and Michail Antonio.

Carroll left Newcastle on deadline day in January 2011 to join Liverpool for £35million, after coming through the ranks on Tyneside to score 33 goals in 90 games. In that time, he also laid on 21 assists.

It is believed Carroll will sign a one-year deal before Thursday’s 5pm deadline, though the deadline does not concern a move for Carroll – given that he is a free agent and can sign for The Toon at any point.

Last season, Carroll was earning an enormous £90,000 a week (Spotrac), and it remains to be seen if he will be earning a similar figure at St. James’ Park or whether he has accepted a pay cut.