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On loan Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole tells friends he wants permanent move to Lille
The Anfield misfit is enjoying playing regular football across the Channel and is keen on securing a long-term transfer as he eyes a return to international football
7 Dec 2011 07:47:00
Gettyimages
EXCLUSIVE
By Rob Stewart
Joe Cole has signaled his desire to remain in France with Lille in a move that could spell the end of an ill-starred spell with Liverpool for the former Chelsea midfielder.
Cole, 30, who is currently on a season-long loan with Lille after being deemed surplus to requirements at Anfield, has told friends that he is enjoying life so much so on and off the field that he would be happy to prolong his time with the French champions.
"Joe is really enjoying his football with Lille and loving life in France so he’s thinking that he could end up staying there for the long run,” a source close to the midfielder told Goal.com.
“All he has ever wanted to do is play football regularly and that is what he is doing with Lille and he likes the fact that they play good football. He knows that he still has to brush up on his French but he has really settled in.
“No firm decisions have been made over his future but the way things are going I can see him staying with Lille for quite a while. He has got a smile on his face which is great. All along he’s been saying that he would stay if he was happy and he could not be happier with Lille.”
Cole, who will be aiming to help Lille secure a place in the last 16 of the Champions League when they take on Turkish side Trabzonspor on Wednesday, is officially a Liverpool player having signed a lucrative four-year contract with the Merseyside club in 2010.
He headed to Liverpool when Roy Hodgson was in charge but was told he could play his football elsewhere as new manager Kenny Dalglish continued to overhaul his squad last summer.
“Joe thinks Liverpool is a great club and desperately wanted to be a success there but the way things have gone it seems as though it was it was the wrong place at the wrong time,” the source added.
“Getting sent off on his debut and then missing a penalty when he made his comeback and then getting injured and then the change of manager makes you think that it was destined not to work out for him, which is a real shame because he went there with the best of intentions.”
Cole, who has 56 England caps but has not figured for Fabio Capello since the last World Cup, has not given up hope that he could force his way back into the international reckoning, whilst he has also expressed an interest in playing for Team GB at the 2012 Olympics.
“He has always loved playing for England and as long as he is playing good football he won’t stop trying to get back into the team,” the source said.
“Club football comes first and he is keeps doing well with Lille he could get in the frame, especially when they’re in the Champions League. It is a long shot but he knows that anything could happen between now and Euro 2012.”
Lille president Michael Seydoux suggested last month that the club would consider making Liverpool 'an interesting offer' in order to keep Cole at the club beyond the summer.
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By Rob Stewart
Joe Cole has signaled his desire to remain in France with Lille in a move that could spell the end of an ill-starred spell with Liverpool for the former Chelsea midfielder.
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Cole, 30, who is currently on a season-long loan with Lille after being deemed surplus to requirements at Anfield, has told friends that he is enjoying life so much so on and off the field that he would be happy to prolong his time with the French champions.
"Joe is really enjoying his football with Lille and loving life in France so he’s thinking that he could end up staying there for the long run,” a source close to the midfielder told Goal.com.
“All he has ever wanted to do is play football regularly and that is what he is doing with Lille and he likes the fact that they play good football. He knows that he still has to brush up on his French but he has really settled in.
“No firm decisions have been made over his future but the way things are going I can see him staying with Lille for quite a while. He has got a smile on his face which is great. All along he’s been saying that he would stay if he was happy and he could not be happier with Lille.”
Cole, who will be aiming to help Lille secure a place in the last 16 of the Champions League when they take on Turkish side Trabzonspor on Wednesday, is officially a Liverpool player having signed a lucrative four-year contract with the Merseyside club in 2010.
He headed to Liverpool when Roy Hodgson was in charge but was told he could play his football elsewhere as new manager Kenny Dalglish continued to overhaul his squad last summer.
“Joe thinks Liverpool is a great club and desperately wanted to be a success there but the way things have gone it seems as though it was it was the wrong place at the wrong time,” the source added.
“Getting sent off on his debut and then missing a penalty when he made his comeback and then getting injured and then the change of manager makes you think that it was destined not to work out for him, which is a real shame because he went there with the best of intentions.”
Cole, who has 56 England caps but has not figured for Fabio Capello since the last World Cup, has not given up hope that he could force his way back into the international reckoning, whilst he has also expressed an interest in playing for Team GB at the 2012 Olympics.
“He has always loved playing for England and as long as he is playing good football he won’t stop trying to get back into the team,” the source said.
“Club football comes first and he is keeps doing well with Lille he could get in the frame, especially when they’re in the Champions League. It is a long shot but he knows that anything could happen between now and Euro 2012.”
Lille president Michael Seydoux suggested last month that the club would consider making Liverpool 'an interesting offer' in order to keep Cole at the club beyond the summer.
Follow Rob Stewart on
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
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| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
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| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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