Sam wants Carroll to stay

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce would love to build his team around Andy Carroll next season – and maintains signing the England forward on a permanent deal from Liverpool must be the club’s “main priority” over the summer.

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.