Report: Carroll's Chelsea move in doubt due to ankle injury

Andy Carroll's potential move to Chelsea could be off the table. The West Ham striker reportedly underwent a scan Thursday that's understood to have revealed an ankle injury that would sideline him for four-to-six weeks, according to Jason Burt of the Telegraph.

West Ham also reportedly fears the injury could be more serious, potentially ruling the 29-year-old out for four months should it require surgery. The club is assessing its options, according to Burt, before decisions are made on a treatment plan.

Carroll - who scored his first two goals of the season in a 2-1 win over West Brom at the top of the month - was left out of the West Ham team that defeated Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday. Burt reports Carroll has been unable to train with West Ham in recent weeks.

Though the Blues have not made a formal offer for the 6-foot-4 striker, earlier reports indicated the Hammers would listen to offers in the £20-million range, and that they're also interested in taking Michy Batshuayi on loan for the rest of the season. Chelsea initially pursued a loan move for Carroll, but West Ham is interested in a permanent transfer instead.

Chelsea is seeking to bolster Antonio Conte's attacking ranks in an effort to increase competition for Alvaro Morata, and while Carroll would offer the Italian tactician a different archetypal attacker up top, Burt reports this injury development makes a move "highly unlikely" from the Blues' point of view.

Burt adds that Carroll is understood to be devastated by news of the injury.