Valencia signing threat to Carroll
WEST Ham’s record signing Andy Carroll could find his place under threat after the club completed a £12m deal for Ecuador striker Enner Valencia.
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce fought off stiff competition to sign Valencia from Pachuca following an impressive World Cup, where he scored all three of his side’s goals.
Valencia, 25, has played as a striker for just seven months, after spending the majority of his career as a winger, but the deal indicates that Allardyce is ready to lessen his reliance on Carroll and develop a more attractive style of play.
Valencia becomes West Ham’s fifth summer signing and his arrival, along with Mauro Zarate, will put pressure on Carroll, who cost £15m from Liverpool.