Wolves are expected to offer Andy Carroll a one-year contract if their move for Diego Costa collapses in the next 48 hours.
Bruno Lage's side are hoping to complete a deal for Costa, 33, in the coming days after new £15million signing Sasa Kalajdzic suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during the first half of his Wolves debut against Southampton on Saturday afternoon.
Yet Costa's move to Wolves hangs in the balance after his initial application for a work permit was rejected because he did not score enough points. The Spain international will fly to the UK on Tuesday evening to appeal the verdict.
Following Brexit, overseas signings have to secure a number of governing body endorsement (GBE) points to obtain a work permit to play in the Premier League or EFL. They need to earn at least 15 points within this framework to be granted permission to play.
Players are assessed by their international caps, as well as the amount of domestic and continental minutes they've played. They are also judged on the final league position and continental record of that club, plus the quality of the league they play in.
That's where the problem lies for Costa. He hasn't played since leaving Atletico Mineiro in January. Although Mineiro are one of the most successful clubs in Brazil, their league is ranked in the third band - two bands lower than the Premier League.
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As such, Costa is just short of the points needed for a work permit. He's received between 10 and 14 points, which means he can appeal. The Spain international will no doubt highlight the two Premier League titles he won at Chelsea in 2015 and 2017.
Wolves are confident Costa will receive the necessary paperwork. The former Atletico Madrid striker was one of the best in Europe during his pomp, appearing in the 2014 Champions League final and scoring 115 club goals between August 2012 and May 2017.
But if Costa's appeal is rejected, Wolves will be forced to look elsewhere. As reported by The Telegraph, the second name on their transfer shortlist is Andy Carroll, the former Liverpool and England international who is classed as a 'homegrown' player.
Carroll, 33, is vastly experienced with 248 Premier League appearances under his belt for the Reds, Newcastle and West Ham, scoring 54 goals and providing 22 assists. He won nine senior caps for his country between 2010 and 2012, scoring twice.
Yet Carroll is unlikely to be a popular signing at Molineux. He was released by bitter rivals West Brom in June after a 15-game spell, scoring just three goals in the Championship. Whether he's still good enough to play in the Premier League is highly debatable.
There's also Carroll's injury record, as he's struggled for fitness throughout his career. He hasn't played a minimum of 30 games in a single term since the 2015/16 campaign. In terms of goals, he's reached double figures just once in a Premier League season.
