Yahoo Sport 
Gossip: West Ham 'want £20m for Carroll', Aubameyang 'agrees terms with Arsenal', Mkhitaryan 'demands £15m Man Utd pay-off'
As much as it hurts, sometimes mid-table football clubs have to accept that their best players will leave. In the modern game, they can’t compete with the financial muscle of the top six. So when the big boys come calling, teams reluctantly allow their brightest talents move on to better things and fulfil their potential. So it goes with West Ham, Chelsea and Andy Carroll.
The 29-year-old striker – a man described by Pele himself as “the divine ponytail” – has been one of the Hammers’ best players since his club record £15m move from Liverpool in 2013. His prolific scoring record (he recently scored TWICE in one match!) has made him an indispensable figure (aside from the very rare occasions where he has been injured) but the time has come when he needs a bigger stage for his talents.
Carroll is said to be keen on moving to Stamford Bridge and West Ham, according to the Telegraph and Sky Sports, are “willing to listen to offers of £20m”.
“Willing”. Are they sure they don’t mean “salivating at the thought of” offers of £20m?
READ MORE: Why Conte isn’t worried about upsetting Chelsea squad
READ MORE: Sanchez agrees Man Utd deal – but there’s a hitch
READ MORE: Jose ready to sign new Man Utd contract
READ MORE: Are Chelsea mad to chase Carroll?
Apparently not. The Telegraph continues that, having made it clear they are not willing to sanction a loan deal for Carroll, the Hammers are “braced” for a Blues bid to take the Geordie Adonis on a permanent deal.
It’s difficult to see how the Hammers would cope without Carroll, who as previously mentioned recently scored twice in one game (his only two goals of the season, actually) but on the plus side he may now fulfil his dream – nay, destiny – of winning the Champions League (and then the World Cup).
Arsenal close in on Aubameyang
One striker who will not be winning either the Champions League or the World Cup this year is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – and that’s because he’s signing for Arsenal (and is from Gabon, who – as you will remember – missed out to Morocco in Group C of African qualifying for Russia 2018).
The Borussia Dortmund goal machine has “agreed personal terms” with the Gunners, says the Mirror, although the two clubs are yet to agree a fee.
He may team up with his former Dortmund team Henrikh Mkhitaryan at the Emirates, although only if Manchester United bow to the Armenian’s demand for £15m in hard cash to leave Old Trafford in part-exchange for Alexis Sanchez (Star). Doesn’t sound as if the playmaker is especially keen on moving to Arsenal, does it?.
Elsewhere, Everton are set to complete the £20m signing of Gunners winger/striker/whatever Theo Walcott today (Liverpool Echo), Man Utd are “in talks with Barcelona” about signing their right-sided utility man Aleix Vidal (Mirror) and struggling Southampton striker Manolo Gabbiadini has been offered a route back to Italy by Bologna (Talksport). That’s less than a year after he scored six goals in his first four Saints games and looked like the world’s best player – funny old game etc.
