The former Premier League icon almost made a move to Chelsea, only for the move to collapse in dramatic circumstances
Andy Carroll of West Ham United celebrates scoring during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on March 19, 2016 in London, United Kingdom
Andy Carroll was close to joining Chelsea(Image: 2016 West Ham United FC)
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Andy Carroll has revealed he was set to join Chelsea in 2018 - until a routine injury led to a terrifying cancer scare. Writing in his new tell-all book, Owning it, the 37-year-old claims he almost left West Ham for the Blues, only to be told that he may have the devastating illness after suffering an ankle injury that scuppered the transfer.
Carroll joined West Ham from Liverpool, initially on loan, in 2012. He made the move permanent a year later and represented the Irons for six seasons.
However, David Moyes's arrival at West Ham in 2017 convinced him he was surplus to requirements at the Hammers as he edged closer to Stamford Bridge. Bizarrely, the towering forward says he was informed that he may have cancer in his shin, only for the specialist who made the diagnosis to later deny ever making the claim.
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Writing in his book, Carroll said: "Moyes had made it clear that he didn't fancy me, I wasn't enjoying training, and Chelsea was still in London, so going there [Chelsea] made sense.
"Sadly, the move was scuppered by a fractured ankle (they signed Olivier Giroud from Arsenal instead) and, as if that wasn't bad enough, a specialist told me I might have cancer in my shin bone.
"I was obviously really upset, but having told my loved ones the bad news, the specialist denied having said it, even though the West Ham physio heard it as well. So, so strange."
Andy Carroll of West Ham United celebrates scoring during the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Chelsea at Boleyn Ground on October 24, 2015 in London, England.
Andy Carroll could have made a move to Chelsea in 2018(Image: 2015 West Ham United FC)
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Moyes left West Ham a season later and would return for a longer spell between 2019 and 2024. Carroll added that the Scot's replacement wasn't enough to keep him at the Irons as he returned to Newcastle.
He said: "I would have left West Ham in the summer of 2018 had Moyes stayed, but his contract wasn't renewed and former Man City boss Manuel Pellegrini replaced him. I always back myself when a new manager comes in, even if…"
Carroll's colourful career may not have led him to Stamford Bridge, but he did make a headline-grabbing move to Liverpool. The striker had burst onto the scene for boyhood club Newcastle and became the most expensive British player ever when the Reds swooped for him on transfer deadline day in January 2011.
His time at Anfield was hampered by a number of niggling injuries, during which he made 58 appearances and scored 11 times. He later revealed he wished the move had fallen apart.
Andy Carroll at Newcastle United
Andy Carroll made his name at Newcastle United(Image: Getty Images)
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Carroll wrote in his autobiography: "Newcastle had me over a barrel, and I later learned that me putting in a transfer request meant that Newcastle got to keep 10% of the £35m fee that otherwise would have gone to me.
"After landing in Liverpool, we went straight to Anfield, where I had my medical. I kept thinking, 'Please just fail this and you can go home.' But I passed with flying colours."
After his time at West Ham, Carroll made a two-season-long return to Newcastle. Two spells at Reading, a brief stint at West Brom and time in France with Amiens and Bordeaux followed.
The 37-year-old is currently with Dagenham and Redbridge, also serving as assistant coach and a minority shareholder at the National League South club, alongside YouTube star KSI.