Andy Carroll is planning to propose to girlfriend of five months Lou Teasdale despite still being married to estranged wife Billi Mucklow. 

The ex-Liverpool striker, 36, and his former TOWIE star ex Billi, 36, confirmed their split last September after secretly separating earlier in the year after being together for 11 years.

Weeks later Andy and celebrity hairstylist Lou, 42, revealed their relationship and now he is reportedly set on tying the knot with her. 

The couple, who went Instagram official earlier this year, have started a fresh life in France following his transfer to fourth-tier club Bordeaux.

Andy is said to be desperate to cut ties with Billi, who he shares three children with, but she is pushing-back in the divorce.  

A friend of the loved-up couple has now told The Sun: 'Andy is very close to proposing to Lou. They are madly in love.

'She is spending as much time as she can with him in France and Andy has never been happier. Lou is exactly what he needs because she is a calming influence on him and it's noticeable the change she's had on him to everyone around them.

'He's been telling friends his divorce can't come quick enough'. 

MailOnline have contacted Andy, Lou and Billi's representatives for comment.

Andy and Billi have three children together Arlo, Wolf, and Marvel Mae and she also raises his two children Emilie Rose, 15, and Lucas, 14 from previous relationship.

In 2022, Andy's wedding to Billi was almost called off when he was pictured drunkenly passed out in bed with two women in Dubai on his stag do.

Billi forgave him after one of the women insisted nothing sexual happened.

Less than two years after their nuptials, the couple's marriage was over - with Andy confirming they had started divorce proceedings after 'a hard few months for our family'.

Andy said in a statement: 'Billi and I have privately separated earlier this year and we are under way with our divorce proceedings.

Despite claims Billi was 'blindsided' by the relationship, friends of hers say that she 'knew Andy had someone' but she just wasn't sure who it was. She found out shortly before the romance was made public.

Weeks later Andy made his relationship with Lou public in October for a Halloween party dressed as Taylor Swift and her boyfriend Travis Kelce.

In January, Andy went Instagram with girlfriend Lou as he shared a cosy snap of the couple.

Celebrity make-up artist Lou looked incredible in a black tank top which she tucked into a pair of stylish blue denim flared jeans.

The mother-of-one wore her long brunette tresses loose and layered a number of pieces of gold jewellery. 

Andy coordinated with Lou in a black oversized T-shirt which he paired with wide legged trousers.

He penned: 'Happy people happy places'. 

It comes after Lou shared a gallery of snaps of the couple spending time together over the Christmas period including a picture of the couple at Winter Wonderland. 

While Andy seemed smitten with his new love, he failed to share snaps with Lou at Christmas and instead posted a plethora of gorgeous snaps with his children, showing that he also spent the holidays with them.

Meanwhile, his estranged wife Billi posed for an adorable snap with the couple's children, with the family all rocking cute Christmas pyjamas.

It comes after Andy seemingly took a swipe at his estranged wife as he broke his silence over his new romance with Lou.

Speaking to The Times Andy gushed: 'I've seen a different world since I've been with Lou, This Christmas, like she does every Christmas, she will go with her daughter to look after the isolated elderly.  

'She's a volunteer for Choose Love and a campaigner for LGBTQ+. She says to me, "Why would you hate anyone?'" That's someone I need in my life.'  

It comes after Andy was reportedly caught entering his former Essex home without informing his estranged wife.

The sportsman is said to have waited until she had left before going inside to collect some belongings. 

However, the home's security cameras alerted her to his presence through her phone.

A source told The Sun: 'He was busted the moment he entered the property as Billi was alerted to his movements on their home CCTV, connected to her phone. 

'She hadn’t realised he was back from France and was understandably shocked and upset. She watched the whole thing unfold on her phone. She felt it was sneaky.' 

The pair, who married after an eight-year engagement, are in the process of selling their £8.5 million mansion, once owned by Sir Rod Stewart.