Chelsea loan move for Andy Carroll set to fail as West Ham will only consider a permanent transfer

Chelsea's bid to sign striker Andy Carroll on loan this month is set to fail with West Ham only prepared to consider a permanent deal.

The defending Premier League champions are hoping to add another forward to the squad this month to provide back-up to top scorer Alvaro Morata.

Coach Antonio Conte wants Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez, who is set to join Manchester United, but the club aren't prepared to meet his wage demands and are looking at cheaper options.

Carroll has emerged as a shock target despite having started just eight games for West Ham all season, scoring only two goals.

Chelsea are only looking to sign the 29-year-old on loan for the rest of the campaign, but West Ham won't agree to that as they need funds to buy a replacement.

West Ham are already thinking of offloading two of their other frontmen instead in Javier Hernandez and Diafra Sakho, who has been linked with Crystal Palace.

The fact Chelsea are even considering a move for Carroll, who has struggled to play regularly for several seasons due to a variety of injury problems, highlights coach Antonio Conte's lack of faith in Michy Batshuayi.

The Belgium international has been named in the first XI on just three occasions in the Premier League since joining from Marseille for £33.1m in 2016.

And he was left on the bench during Chelsea's 0-0 draw with Leicester on Saturday, which was their third goal-less draw in a row.

As Standard Sport revealed last month, Batshuayi wants to leave on loan this month in order to play more regularly, especially with his place in Belgium's World Cup squad at stake.

Sevilla are keen to reach an agreement, but Chelsea will only allow him to depart once they find a replacement.

The Blues have scouted Red Star Belgrade striker Richmond Boakye, who has scored 23 goals this term, while they continue to be linked to Christian Benteke at Crystal Palace.

Recalling Tammy Abraham (below) from his season-long loan at Swansea is not an option. Chelsea did negotiate a break clause last summer, but it could only be triggered if he played less than a certain amount of games and it is understood he passed that figure months ago.

Chelsea fans booed the team off at half-time and at full-time on Saturday, but Conte has urged them to stand by the team.

When asked for his reaction to the crowd voicing their disapproval, he said: "My answer is this: we are doing 120 per cent and we want to do our best. It's normal.

"I repeat, you can win and you can lose but the most important thing is to put all of your strength on the pitch.

"You have to consider that we are facing a lot of problems but despite this we are still there.

"When you face all competitions, to be in the semi-final of the League Cup, the FA Cup, Champions League, I think you must have a big squad to face every game."