Carroll deal is ‘priority’

West Ham 4 Reading 2

The 24-year-old played the final match of his season-long loan in yesterday’s 4-2 win over relegated Reading at Upton Park, where captain Kevin Nolan netted a hat-trick.

Despite only scoring seven goals, the 6ft 3ins striker proved a popular signing, and this week earned a recall to the England squad for the friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil.