Any chance of Andy Carroll joining Chelsea appears to have been ended by the West Ham striker’s latest injury.
Reports suggest the injury-plagued Carroll faces up to six weeks out with an ankle problem, scuppering a potential move to Stamford Bridge.
The Telegraph say he could be out for significantly longer than that – perhaps as long as four months if surgery is required.
It comes amid reports that Chelsea are ready to pay £20m for Carroll, with Blues striker Michy Batshuayi possibly joining West Ham on loan as part of a deal.
West Ham boss David Moyes watched Batshuayi in action in Chelsea’s FA Cup third-round replay against Norwich on Wednesday night.
Earlier this week, Moyes insisted he was unaware of any approach from Chelsea for Carroll.
Moyes said: “They have not made contact with me, so if they have made contact with someone else then I don’t know about it.
“I know nothing about it. There have been a lot of rumours regarding a loan, but as far as I know it has never officially come from Chelsea.”