Neil Warnock admits Queens Park Rangers can now firm up their interest in Liverpool misfit Joe Cole.
Tony Fernandes’ takeover at Loftus Road last week has given Warnock added funds to strengthen his squad before the transfer deadline at the end of the month.
The QPR boss has admitted that the club could now afford to pay a larger portion of Joe Cole’s wages as he plots his moves in the transfer market.
Warnock has up to a dozen targets and is hoping to bring in ‘four or five’ fresh faces to improve his options.
Liverpool midfielder Cole is among the players to have been linked with the newly-promoted club after failing to make an impact since moving to Anfield last summer.
The former Chelsea man has struggled to hold down a regular place in Kenny Dalglish’s starting line-up after enduring a difficult debut season typified by injuries and a loss of form.
Cole’s situation has been compounded by the summer arrivals of midfield signings Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing.
The 29-year-old started just nine Premier League games last season and has not been involved in Kenny Dalglish’s squad for the opening two fixtures of the current campaign.
The England international’s wages was believed to be a stumbling block for any transfer away from Merseyside, but Warnock has refused to be drawn on whether he would bid for the playmaker.
However, Warnock admitted the injection of funds by Fernandes has given the Loftus Road club a huge boost.
“We will not just spend money for the sake of it,” said Warnock. “We have to get quality players in to the club.
“Joe Cole? We can probably afford 30 or 40 per cent of his wages now. The chairman knows all my targets and we are discussing them.
“This man coming in, Tony Fernandes, is a dream come true. You do not often get the opportunity to look at players I have only dreamed about. I am in Utopia.”
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