Joe Cole has emerged as a shock transfer target for Arsenal as the Londoners prepare for life without Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.
The Liverpool midfielder has struggled to hold down a regular place in Kenny Dalglish’s side after enduring a difficult debut season characterised by injuries and a loss of form.
Cole’s situation on Merseyside has been compounded further by the summer arrivals of midfield signings Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is now willing to offer Cole an escape route from his Anfield nightmare as the French tactician seeks replacements for Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, who are bound for Barcelona and Manchester City respectively.
Wenger still sees potential in Cole and he believes the former West Ham man can still do a job in central midfield or on the left-wing.
The Merseyside club are looking to get Cole’s £90,000 weekly wages off their books, but Wenger will ask the player to take a considerable pay-cut if he is to secure a switch back to London.
The 29-year-old’s switch from Chelsea to Liverpool wad widely regarded as one of the major transfers coups of last summer, with former Kop boss Roy Hodgson snapping up the playmaker on a free.
Premier League new boys QPR have also been linked with a move but Cole is convinced he can still play at the very top level.
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