Joe Cole may be prepared to leave Liverpool at the end of the season to join Newcastle in search of regular football ahead of Euro 2012.
The former Chelsea and West Ham man has had an extremely disappointing and frustrating first six months at Anfield which have included a sending off on his league debut at home to Arsenal, a persistent knee injury, a missed penalty from his only attempt and a loss of form.
Furthermore, the change from a 4-4-1-1- formation under Roy Hodgson to a 5-3-2 or a 4-4-2 under Kenny Dalglish is likely to further limit his chances of first team football.
Under Hodgson, Cole was employed as a second striker but with Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez expected to play upfront together when the former returns to fitness and Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt and the in-form Raul Meireles all seemingly liked by Dalglish, there appears to be no place for Liverpool's number 10.
The Liverpool hierarchy won't like the idea of such a high-earner not being a regular starter and may be willing to sell him for £5 million, roughly what they would have paid him in wages over the course of a season after he arrived on a free transfer from Chelsea during the summer.
Newcastle in the meanwhile would be happy to spend some of the money from the Andy Carroll deal on a player who offers something different to what they've already got in their squad; a goalscoring midfielder with flair.
The promise of an almost guaranteed place in the starting eleven may be too much for Cole to resist; he will be desperate to be playing regular football in a bid to ensure he's in Fabio Capello's squad for Euro 2012.
1 comment:
But will anyone pay for his astronomical wages?
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