Gunners were keen on a cut-price deal for the England attacker.
Arsenal made a shock last-ditch inquiry to sign Liverpool front man Andy Carroll from under the noses of West Ham United on Wednesday, according to reports in the Daily Star.
The giant England international did eventually end up signing for West Ham United instead in a six-year deal worth an initial £16 million, although that figure could rise to as much as £19m depending on add ons.
However, it is understood that before the attacker’s transfer to Upton Park was finalised, Gunners head coach Arsene Wenger made an inquiry with the Merseyside giants regarding the exact cost to buy the player this summer.
But when the Frenchman was told that the Gunners would need to match both the Hammers’ £16m transfer fee as well as Carroll’s £100,000-per-week wage packet, then they immediately withdrew their interest in a forward who has netted just 11 goals in his 58 appearances for Liverpool since they splashed out a British-record transfer fee of £50m on him in Jan 2011.
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