West Ham’s Joe Cole has been linked with a big money move to America.
Ex-Chelsea and Liverpool star Joe Cole has struggled to secure a first team place at West Ham United this season and could make a move to MLS in the summer, reports the Mirror.
Cole was a product of the Hammers’ youth academy and after spells away with the Blues, the Reds and Lille on-loan, returned to Upton Park in 2013.
Yet the 32-year-old and manager Sam Allardyce have failed to spark a relationship and the attacking midfielder has started just six Premier League games this term and is unlikely to be offered a new deal when his contract expires in May.
This has led to interest from MLS Commissioner Don Garber, who may try and convince Cole to become the latest in a long list of stars from England to move to America.
The recent trend started in 2007 when David Beckham made a high profile switch to LA Galaxy, followed by the likes Thierry Henry, Tim Cahill and Robbie Keane and most recently Jermain Defoe – who joins Toronto FC on February 28.
Cole would prefer to stay in the English top tier if possible as the player’s family is settled in London, but there probably aren’t any clubs prepared to match the Englishman’s £50,000-a-week wage demands.
Yet there are several MLS franchises that would be likely to grab at the chance to secure the midfield ace as one of their three designated players allowed to exceed the wage cap.
Cole has had a successful career to date that has included three league titles and three FA Cups at Stamford Bridge and 56 caps for the Three Lions.
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