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Andy Carroll could be set for a sensational cut-price return to the club where he made his name.

Newcastle sold the England striker to Liverpool in January 2011 for a British player record £35million.

But injuries and loss of form saw his career at Anfield fail to ignite, and a £15.5m move to West Ham has been plagued by a catalogue of similar problems.

Newcastle will now be offered the chance to sign Carroll in January for as little as £6m, with West Ham prepared to cut their losses.

The Geordie striker is close to making a come back after a serious ankle injury that ruined his pre season.

But West Ham are considering all options over Carroll’s future, with Newcastle willing to consider a deal.

Magpies chief Alan Pardew has had Carroll on his target list for 18 months, but could succeed at the third attempt to bring him home.

Pardew is demanding experienced new recruits, and a striker is top of his list of targets in the New Year.

Carroll has no burning desire to quit London, but regularly returns to Tyneside.

Andy Carroll's career in pictures:

Newcastle need reinforcements up front to help Papiss Cisse and new boy Emanuel Rivière.

Newcastle are attracted by the idea of buying players cheaply and rebuilding their reputation again, and Carroll fits the bill.

Carroll is almost ready to return from his latest injury blow but his future at high-flying West Ham seems to be limited.

He is due back at the end of October, around a month ahead of schedule. But Newcastle face competition, with a number of clubs aware that the 25-year-old target man could be available in the January transfer window.

The 25-year-old frontman is understood to be seen as an impact player now rather than an automatic starter at Upton Park. It follows the explosive impact of £4.7million Diafra Sakho who has scored five goals in his last five games.

World Cup star Enner Valencia has also impressed since his £12million arrival while Mauro Zarate is another option. All three are believed to offer more variety to the Hammers’ play than Carroll.

West Ham have stood by £100,000-a-week Carroll over the past two seasons because of the faith that manager Sam Allardyce had in the striker.

But Carroll scored just two League goals in 15 games after missing half of last season. He was then ruled out for four months after tearing ankle ligaments in July.