Transfer Centre

Wolverhampton Wanderers 'regard Andy Carroll as Diego Costa alternative'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 06 September 2022

Wolves 'regard Andy Carroll as Diego Costa alternative'

Wolverhampton Wanderers will reportedly look to sign Andy Carroll if they fail to secure a work permit for Diego Costa.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly identified Andy Carroll as a potential alternative to top target Diego Costa.

On Sunday, the Premier League outfit announced that new arrival Sasa Kalajdzic had sustained an ACL injury on his debut against Southampton.

With the summer transfer window having now closed, Wolves are in a position where they can only consider free agents if they want to sign a replacement until January.

Since the weekend, it has been widely reported that the West Midlands side want to sign former Chelsea forward Costa on a contract until the end of the season.

The 33-year-old has been without a club since January after featuring in Atletico Mineiro's treble-winning squad from the 2021 campaign.

Atletico Mineiro's Diego Costa pictured in October 2021 © Reuters

According to The Athletic, that has contributed to Wolves having a work permit application rejected with Costa below the 15 points required.

However, Wolves have appealed the decision with the former Spain international only one or two points away from fulfilling the desired criteria.

Although the plan remains for Costa to travel to England on Tuesday, Wolves are now in a position where they must consider different options.

The Telegraph says that Carroll is another player who is on their radar with the ex-England international also without a club.

Reading's Andy Carroll celebrates scoring their first goal on January 15, 2022 © Reuters

Carroll earned regular first-team football in the Championship during 2021-22, making 17 starts and six substitute outings for Reading and West Bromwich Albion.

Three of his five goals came at the latter, but the Baggies made the decision to release the 33-year-old at the end of his contract.

The former Newcastle United, Liverpool and West Ham United player is now looking for the seventh club of his career, and meets the profile of player that Bruno Lage wants to add to his squad.

Wolves are one of the smallest teams in the Premier League with Lage wanting a physical presence in the final third and someone who can help out defensively from set pieces.

As it stands, Goncalo Guedes and Hwang Hee-chan will be used as backup to Raul Jimenez.