West Ham United’s record signing, Andy Carroll, is being tracked by former club Newcastle United, according to the Sunday People.

Carroll, 25, left the Magpies in January 2011 to join Liverpool for a British record fee of £35m.

The hulking forward failed to live up to expectations at Anfield and spent the 2012/13 season on loan at Upton Park before making the switch permanent last summer in a club-record £15m deal.

Injury has hampered Carroll’s two seasons at the Boleyn Ground, with the Gateshead-born hitman scoring just nine Premier League goals in two seasons with the Irons.

The 6ft3in forward has only made 34 starts in two seasons for the Hammers, though, with a succession of long-term injuries restricting his availability to Sam Allardyce.

West Ham have already signed strikers Enner Valencia and Mauro Zarate this summer, whilst Carlton Cole, Modibo Maiga and Ricardo Vaz Te all remain at the club.