Paper round-up: Speculation over Carroll’s future

West Ham gave an agent the authority to try to sell Andy Carroll to a Chinese Super League club before Monday’s transfer deadline there, according to The Times.

Mark Curtis is reported to have been given exclusive permission to set up a deal to sell Carroll, 28, to one of three Chinese clubs.

The Times say the lengths the Hammers apparently went to offload Carroll raises doubts about his future at the club beyond the end of the season.

West Ham are the latest London club to be linked with teenage Nigerian forward Henry Onyekuru.

Reports have claimed that Arsenal and Chelsea have been showing an interest in the 19-year-old, who has also been linked with Celtic.

Now the Daily Mirror say West Ham are weighing up a potential deal to sign him from Belgian club Eupen.

Meanwhile, the closure of the transfer window in China has immediately prompted speculation that Diego Costa could move there when it reopens in the summer.

The Sun declare that Chelsea face a battle to keep hold of the striker, who has scored 16 goals this season.

Costa is reported to have been offered £38m a year to play in the Chinese Super League and his long-term future is said to be uncertain.

The Sun say “Costa’s head has been turned” by the potential money on offer in the Far East.

There also continues to be speculation over the future of Michy Batshuayi – the Mirror say Chelsea are set to sell the Belgian forward this summer.

And the Daily Star say Alexis Sanchez will leave Arsenal at the end of the season to return to Spain, with Sevilla supposedly in pole position to sign him.