England's Andy Carroll

West Ham eye Liverpool striker while Kazim-Richards comes in on trial

West Ham are understood to be strongly interested in a potential loan deal for Liverpool striker Andy Carroll.

The Hammers were put on alert following new Liverpool manager Brendan Rogers’ comments about a loan deal for the England forward being ‘something I would have to look at’.

The former Newcastle man has struggled for form since his £35million switch from the North East, and Sam Allardyce is keen to recruit Carroll to fire his Hammers in the Premier League.

It is thought that West Ham will look to utilise the close friendship between captain Kevin Nolan and Carroll to help make the move more attractive to the England striker.

It is also understood that the Hammers would be prepared to foot the bill for Carroll’s estimated £80,000-a-week wages and are keen on a deal, but no talks are happening just yet, as revealed by the club’s co-owner David Gold.

“I am not aware of any talks between ourselves or Liverpool over Andy Carroll,” he said. “But that’s not to say we don’t have an interest should he become available.”

West Ham assistant boss Neil McDonald echoed the views of Gold, although admitted he was not sure how likely a deal was.

“He (Carroll) is a very good player,” he said. “I very much doubt he will be available as he is a Liverpool player, but we are looking to strengthen in all areas and the manager and the board are working very hard to bring in some fresh legs.”

Another area the Hammers are keen to strengthen is defence, with Spurs’ William Gallas the most recent name to be linked with a move to Upton Park.

“I think it’s important to bring in another centre-half in case we get an injury,” added McDonald. “If we get three possibly four centre-halves, it gives you the chance to have suspensions and injuries and stuff like that. We probably need to bring another defender in.”

Meanwhile, former Sheffield United striker Colin Kazim-Richards is currently on trial with the Hammers in a bid to prove his fitness.

The Leytonstone-born 25-year-old moved to Turkey five years ago and has spent spells at Fenerbahce, Galatasaray as well as French club Toulouse and Greek champions Olympiakos.