Carlton Cole (West Ham)

Liverpool to swoop for another Cole

West Ham look set to sell Carlton Cole this summer, with Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson at the front of the queue to pick up the striker in a £12million transfer.

New Hammers manager Avram Grant is keen to overhaul the squad he has inherited from Gianfranco Zola.

However, with very little money to be made available by cash-strapped owners David Gold and David Sullivan, Grant has been told he must buy as well as sell.

One of West Ham's most saleable assets is England international Cole - who enjoyed a good season in 2009-10, even if it was blighted by injury over the Christmas period.

And Reds boss Hodgson is keen to shake up his forward ranks, having hinted to current back-up striker David Ngog he can leave the club.

Hodgson, who is said to have a significant transfer pot available, is rumoured to be keen on playing a more traditional 4-4-2 system at Anfield next season to take some of the pressure off star striker Fernando Torres.

However, Cole would also be a good fit in the existing Liverpool formation with one up front and would expect to start whenever the Spanish international is not fit.

Despite being linked with Bobby Zamora earlier this month, it looks increasingly unlikely Hodgson will move on the Fulham man after pledging to Cottagers owner Mohammed Al Fayed that he will not raid his former club.

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.

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Please no!

Rather have Huntelaar.

Hutelaar, Remy, Crouch....why the F**k would we want Cole??

cole is a bl**dy reject!

Crouch is a similar player and he will probably be valued less, plus I think Crouch is the better player out of the two.

I'm beginning to see Woy's plan, then he's going to go in for Cashley for left back and complete his Cole treble to complete his master plan muwahhhhh muwahhhhhh (evil laugh)

Significant transfer pot availabe  

They are people saying Remy is an unknown quantity we don't want to fork out that sort of money for, but in Cole's case he's a known quantity that I would never in a million fork out that money for. This is not England's national team, we don't need another Heskey.

No F***ing way......

go get huntelaar.  Are we being linked with everyone at the moment.

No no please don't let this happen. But if this does happen just think of the confusion we are going to have with two Coles in our team.

I hate these kind of links to be honest, the kind of players you don't want at Anfield, but you don't want to slag off too much as Roy's comments about buying British gives a sense that it could become a reality.

Overrated, if he was any good wouldn't be at whu anyway. Much rather have crouchey back.

No thanks, Another Heskey!

Can't see this happening. This English player buying must come with talented signings not just anybodies to make up numbers and the supposed £12m valuation is a complete joke, just because hes English. If he was from overseas he would be worth about £3m.

I would much prefer Remy or Huntelaar!

Nay, nay & thrice nay.  In no way good enough.  A poor man's Emile Heskey....

In my opinion, he's quite a bit better than Heskey.

However, I'm not sure that he's the right option for us. We'd probably be ripped off, too.

In my opinion, he's quite a bit better than Heskey.

However, I'm not sure that he's the right option for us. We'd probably be ripped off, too.

I agree, for 12 million we could have a lot better.

To be fair, I rate Carlton Cole. Not at 12m but if we could get him for under 10, I'd welcome him here as cover for Fernando.

It's funny, people had doubts as to whether Huntelaar would be a good signing until Cole's name was mentioned again. Now everyone's crying, 'sign Huntelaar!'

for 12 million

I'd streak across West Ham every game they had for the rest of my life.

You have to be kidding me!