West Ham United striker Andy Carroll faces returning to Liverpool in the summer.

The Daily Star Sunday says he is set to become a Liverpool outcast again as West Ham have conceded defeat in their bid to buy the on-loan England hitman.

West Ham now know they cannot afford the £17million fee Liverpool are demanding for the player who cost them £35m from Newcastle.

And without them in the hunt, the picture is bleak for Carroll, despite his recent good form.

Newcastle have tried to re-sign him twice - only to find the Liverpool board reluctant to sell him back because of the loss they would make on the deal overall.