Colo Colo were offered the “surprise” opportunity to sign former West Ham striker Andy Carroll before Chile’s transfer window closed last night, according to ADN Radio.

The 32-year-old is a free agent after leaving Newcastle for the second time back in June and it appears that a switch to South America was a genuine possibility.

Colo Colo play in Chile’s top flight, the Primera Division, and they were looking for a forward after Facundo Ferreyra decided to move to Celtic Vigo instead.

How close Carroll came to actually making the shock move, it is unclear. The former Liverpool player remains available on a free transfer, with English Championship side Reading thought to be one possible destination.

Carroll played for West Ham for seven years between 2012 and 2019 but he only managed 142 appearances during that period, mainly due to a number of injury problems that prevented him from really fulfilling his potential.