Free agent Andy Carroll is set to end his time as a free agent and rejoin Championship outfit Reading
The 33-year-old scored two goals in an eight-game stint with the Royals at the beginning of last season, before moving to Steve Bruce's West Bromwich Albion. In the Midlands, the striker scored three in 15 as the Baggies disappointingly missed out on the play-off spots.
Carroll was unable to earn himself a longer contract at the Hawthorns and was subsequently released. Since then he's been a free agent and even linked with the likes of Wolves. But, according to the Reading Chronicle, it's a return to Reading for the nine-capped England man.
It's been a turbulent summer for Carroll. The Newcastle graduate cut short his honeymoon in Mexico with Billi Mucklow in a bid to secure a move to Belgian side Club Brugge.
However, according to HLN (via The Mail ), a proposed trial period for the 33-year-old was cancelled. This was after the striker was put through a series of physical and mental tests. Despite undergoing those rigours, the Belgian Pro League decided to look elsewhere.
In another setback to Carroll's hopes of returning to top flight football, Wolves were able to pull off the signing of former Chelsea striker Diego Costa. Initially the striker was refused a work permit before Bruno Lage's side won an appeal. While the move for the striker was in limbo, Wolves were ready to offer Carroll a one-year deal had the Costa transfer collapsed.
In any event, Costa was able to secure his move to Molineux and leave Carroll without yet another lifeline. This all happened after he was snapped in bed with another woman during his stag do. In what could have thrown his wedding into chaos, the woman in question insisted nothing had gone on between them.
The wedding with Mucklow took place in June, with the pair having been engaged since 2014 when Carroll was playing for West Ham. The couple travelled to Tulum, Mexico, for their honeymoon before the England international set off for Belgium in a fruitless attempt to find a new club.
Now, it seems Carroll with join another Premier League veteran in Shane Long up front at Reading. After eight years at Southampton, Long secured a move to Berkshire this summer. He too is on a one-year deal.
Providing Carroll's move goes through, the pair will play together under Paul Ince. The former Manchester United and Liverpool midfielder kept Reading up last season by the skin of his teeth and has overseen a bright start to this term.
The Royals are currently third with five wins from eight, and two points adrift of league leaders Sheffield United. Carroll would certainly bolster Ince's attack that also includes Lucas Joao and Yakou Meite.
The England legend has also recruited his son, Tom Ince, following a successful loan spell from Stoke last season.
