Andy Carroll: West Ham and England striker bought two £15k ‘killer’ dogs before gun gang attack over fears he was being targeted by criminal gang

Initial reports said striker could have been blinded but it was later revealed his eyelid had been torn

ENGLAND ace Andy Carroll bought two “killer” dogs several months before his gun chase terror over fears a criminal gang was targeting his family.

The West Ham striker spent at least £30,000 on the Italian mastiffs called Cane Corsos which are being trained to protect him.

Armed bikers threatened the terrified star at lights as he drove home last week. They demanded his watch and chased him for 20 minutes at speed.

Last night evidence emerged that England international Carroll, 27, was deliberately targeted by the gang after one of them was seen lurking at the club’s training ground hours earlier.

Police are now probing whether the chase was more than a random attempted robbery as was first thought. A West Ham source said: “That morning a security guard saw a chap on a motorbike in the club’s car park.

“He was acting suspiciously, it was like he was looking for a specific person or car. But he left before he was approached.

“The guard didn’t think anything of it until Andy came back to the training ground after the ordeal.

“Club officials are looking into why he may have been targeted.”

The £90,000-a-week player has a year-old son Arlo with Towie star fiancée Billi Mucklow, 28, and two children from a previous relationship.

He has been so concerned for his family’s safety that he placed an order for the huge dogs.

They weigh up to 7½ stone and can be trained to attack, bite and stop on command.

But they are also said to be very affectionate and good with children.

Carroll is due to take delivery of the pair “very soon” after buying them from Chaperone K9 in Leicestershire. The firm’s director Richard Douglas told The Sun on Sunday: “The dogs are in training.

“I can’t discuss the costings because that is between me and him but they are expensive. Our dogs start at £15,000.

“They are not aggressive animals in the slightest, until called upon.”

Mr Douglas said: “They can be family pets, are really well behaved, trained, obedient and well socialised. But the dogs have not stayed with him yet for one night. He’s only ordered them.

“Footballers are obviously targeted individuals. They want something that when they go away will keep their family safe.

“Our service comes with the bonus of not having to train them.

“It’s not just about the dog being for protection, these are dog people who like having them around.

“Yes they do give them a bit of added security, but they are well-trained pets too.

“They are safe around the family and easy to handle.”

The breed can also be deadly. In 2014 jogger Craig Sytsma, 46, died after he was attacked by two Cane Corsos in Michigan, US.

Similar protection dogs have been bought from the company by former England players Andrew Johnson, 35, and Danny Murphy, 39. as well as ex-Spurs manager Martin Jol, 60.

Speaking about his dog, Johnson said: “We have been over the moon with our family protector since he has arrived. He is tremendous with the children and their friends who come over and he has fitted into family life as though he had always been with us.

“We feel completely safe with him and he always keeps a watchful eye on our home.”