Carroll in line for comeback in Cork

Andy Carroll could be set to make his return for West Ham in Cork next month after sealing a permanent move to the Hammers yesterday.

Carroll is hoping the deal will help him cement a place in the England squad ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The 24-year-old finalised what is understood to have been a £15.5 million (€18.1m) deal, plus a further £2m in add-ons, from Liverpool after passing a medical last night.

Carroll, whose six-year deal could be extended by a further two, scored seven times in 24 league appearances while on loan at Upton Park last season.

Much of his stay in east London was hampered by injuries, with a heel problem ruling the front man out of contention for the end-of-season international friendlies against Ireland at Wembley and Brazil at the Maracana.

He could return to action against Cork City, who play the Hammers at Turner’s Cross in a friendly clash on Sunday, July 7.

“I just want to keep fit now, keep scoring goals and performing week in and week out for West Ham, if I do that here, play well and keep fit, then hopefully I will get in the England team,” Carroll said.

Last night’s confirmation brings to an end a largely disappointing spell of the centre-forward’s career at Anfield, where he never really made an impact following a high-profile £35m transfer deadline day move from Newcastle in January 2011.

Carroll scored 11 times in 58 appearances for the Reds, but when manager Kenny Dalglish was replaced by Brendan Rodgers last summer it became apparent his chances of regular first-team football would be minimal.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are moving along with their plans to sign Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Shakhtar Donetsk, with the Ukrainian club’s chief executive Sergei Palkin admitting they are willing to listen to offers.

The 24-year-old has emerged as the Reds’ major transfer target and reports have suggested he could be available for £22m.

“There have been too many different conversations about Henrik Mkhitaryan,” Palkin told Russian newspaper Izvestia.

“Henrikh is an important player in our team. Shakhtar want to keep him but we are willing to listen and consider all proposals for his transfer.”

Elsewhere, Barcelona’s Gerard Pique has urged the club to convince Manchester United target Thiago Alcantara to stay at the Catalan club after the midfielder netted a hat-trick in Spain’s 4-2 win over Italy in the European U21 Championship final on Tuesday.

Thiago’s future at the Camp Nou has been cast into doubt after making just 15 starts in La Liga last season, with Manchester United and Bayern Munich both monitoring his situation.

Either club could seal his signature shortly by paying his €18m buyout clause before July 31, after which his transfer fee will rise.

Barca centre-back Pique urged his club to hold on to the 22-year-old.

“We have to convince him the best place for him is Barcelona,” said Pique. “Players in his position, like Xavi, were patient and they ended up defining an era.”

Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio has landed teenage Swedish winger David Moberg Karlsson.

The 19-year-old has joined the Black Cats from IFK Goteborg for an undisclosed fee and has signed a four-year contract.