ANDY Carroll has joined Cherries’ promotion rivals West Brom, with the former England international previously linked with the Dorset club.

Scott Parker has made it clear that he is keen to add attacking force to his promotion chasing side, with the south coast club reportedly taking an interest in the former Liverpool and Newcastle striker.

However it is believed that the 33-year-old was never too high up the list of targets for Cherries, with Cardiff City’s Kieffer Moore the ideal striker they would like to bring in.

Carroll was a free-agent after his short-term deal with Reading expired, removing some of the complexities of normal January transfer moves.

It is believed that the struggling Berkshire club made attempts to extend Carroll’s deal, but the 6ft 4in striker joins the Baggies on a short-term deal until the end of the season.

West Brom had previously brought in Daryl Dike earlier this month – only for the American to be ruled out for eight weeks after just two appearances for the Baggies.

Injury to Dike prompted West Brom to look at short-term fixes for the striker role, with the West Midlands outfit reportedly approaching Southampton to bring in former Cherries loanee Shane Long on a similar loan deal.

Targetman Carroll won promotion from the Championship with boyhood club Newcastle, grabbing 17 goals in 39 games as the Toon won the title in 2010.

Cherries were reportedly keeping tabs on the towering striker, but there is no suggestion that the club made any formal attempt to bring the former West Ham man down to the south coast.

Clubs have until 11pm, Monday, January 31 to do their business, with Cherries hoping to add to their early window acquisitions of James Hill and Ethan Laird.