Manuel Pellegrini does not expect West Ham to sell Andy Carroll this January.
Carroll’s future remains uncertain as he turns 30 on Sunday and only has a contract until the end of the season.
The injury-hit striker has figured only sparingly this term and made his first start in a year against Brighton on Wednesday, only to be taken off at half-time.
Nevertheless, when asked if he expected to lose Carroll, Hammers boss Pellegrini said at a press conference: “I don’t think so, I think Andy will stay here with us, he is an important player for our team.
“He is just coming back from a long, long injury, and the way he is taking advantage of his minutes he will return to the player that we all know.”