Hernandez was on trial at Real Salt Lake in Utah last week and was expected back in Australia on Monday but failed to turn up for training. He was now expected to return last night.

He was one of four trialists at the MLS club and the highest rated of them all, with the Americans impressed by his record at Melbourne Victory and also his international career with Costa Rica.

However they are said to be concerned by Hernandez current weight and his history of condition issues, with a high-intensity club style that demands peak fitness.

And high-earning Hernandez - who cost Victory an A-League record $800,000 to buy from his Costa Rican club LD Alajuelense - could be too rich for RSL's meagre budget anyway as they struggle to replace injured playmaker Javier Morales.

“We face multiple challenges in trying to bring someone in to fill Javier’s shoes,” RLS coach Jason Kreis told the official MLS website.

“First and foremost is style of play. Second is transition to the physical nature of our league. Third is to have to play on both sides of the ball for us.

"A lot of teams that play with a No. 10 expect absolutely no defending from them. 

“And fourth, and probably the most critical, is money. You’ve got to have money to be able to pay players and bring them over.”

He added: “I think it’s difficult for us no matter what because we don’t have any money and because we expect a lot out of our players.

“We may be fooling ourselves to think that we can bring anybody in that can contribute in any meaningful way until we have a preseason.”

The move looked even less likely when Victory today confirmed they would be looking for a hefty transfer fee for the sale to hgo ahead.

"Carlos is contracted for next season and is very much a required player," Victory spokesman Trent Jacobs told the Herald Sun.

"There are commercial realities at play, of course, but there would have to be a very significant offer made for Carlos not to be playing at Victory next season."