http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/aug/24/harry-redknapp-joe-cole-tottenham Harry Redknapp's attempts to strengthen his Tottenham Hotspur squad ahead of the closure of the transfer window could prompt a surprise move for the unsettled Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole. Lassana Diarra and Emmanuel Adebayor are on the verge of completing switches to White Hart Lane but Redknapp has also expressed a desire to sign Cole. TheEngland midfielder has endured a frustrating year on Merseyside, starting only nine Premier League games last term following a free transfer from Chelsea. Liverpool omitted the 29-year-old from their squad for Wednesday night's Carling Cup tie at Exeter City and indicated a willingness to allow him to depart, even on loan, to spare their wage bill. The player is keen to return to London and although QPR may offer an alternative destination, his preference is to be reunited with Redknapp at Spurs. Cole is willing to accept a reduction in his salary – thought to be around £80,000-a-week – to smooth his departure from Anfield but it remains to be seen whether the Spurs chairman, Daniel Levy, would share his manager's enthusiasm in pursuing the player. "I like Joe, and I am not going to say I don't want to sign him because I would be lying," said Redknapp. "I have not made any inquiries for Joe. It probably would be difficult because we tried to get him last year. It was not difficult for me but the chairman – well, he might think he didn't want to come here last year and he went to Liverpool." Asked whether Cole would have to accept a reduction in wages to secure first-team football at Spurs, Redknapp said: "Yes, but I think he would have last time too. But we took our time making an offer and it all dragged on. In the end he probably felt he wasn't wanted enough. He is a real talent. I signed him when he was 11 [at West Ham] and he was the best young footballer I have ever seen – I have never seen anyone come near him – and I think I can get him back to where he was. I would love to work with him again." Tottenham's activity in the market is steadily gathering pace with agreement edging closer with Real Madrid over the £10m transfer of Diarra, formerly with Arsenal and Chelsea and an FA Cup winner with Redknapp at Portsmouth. That would represent a knockdown fee as far as the Spanish club are concerned, with Real hopeful of including a sell-on fee in any deal before sanctioning the move. Diarra's salary, which amounts to some £120,000 a week, is in excess of the wage ceiling at White Hart Lane, though Levy is hoping to secure the player with a package of bonuses and a significant signing-on fee. Adebayor's salary, too, had appeared a potential obstacle blocking his loan move from Manchester City, though Redknapp, whose side go into this evening's Europa League play-off against Hearts leading 5-0 from the away leg, indicated on Wednesday that the Togo forward will take a pay cut to return to north London, with City also paying a contribution. Spurs hope to complete the signing ahead of the weekend, though the striker would be ineligible for Sunday's visit of City to White Hart Lane. "Emmanuel will give us something different," said Redknapp. "He has fantastic ability, and he had that spell at Arsenal when he was unplayable. He has had a spell where his reputation has gone down, so he needs to come in and have a right go. He has a big point to prove. But he's not coming for the money. He's taking a drop in salary because he fancies coming to Spurs." http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/s...pp-interested-in-liverpool's-joe-cole?cc=5739 Harry Redknapp has confirmed he would like to take Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole to Tottenham. Cole, 29, left Chelsea after the expiry of his contract last summer and, despite Spurs making clear their interest, he opted to join Liverpool. However, he endured a disappointing season and, with Kenny Dalglish now having a surfeit of options in midfield, it appears he will be allowed to leave the club. With Spurs currently short on midfielders, Redknapp has revealed he would be willing to take a chance on Cole this season. "I like Joe," he said. "I signed him as an 11-year-old. He is a good player. I've got all the time in the world for him. We haven't made any enquiries about him but I wouldn't sit here and say I wouldn't have him at the club because if I did I'd be lying. I do like him." "We want him here," Redknapp said. "The chairman, I think, will sit down with him in the next few weeks and have a chat with him about his contract. We want to keep him - the chairman made that plain at the start and he's not gone away from that. "Yesterday when I spoke to him he said that Luka definitely wasn't going and that was the end of the matter as far as he was concerned. I keep seeing that the chairman is trying to push the price up. He is not trying to push the price up. He is not for sale. He has made that clear. He doesn't want to sell him." Spurs are also keen to tie up a move for Manchester City forward Emmanuel Adebayor but, despite reports on Wednesday that the deal was done, Redknapp said: "I'm not sure. The chairman's dealing with that so I wouldn't honestly know where it's at. Whether it's done, nearly done, not going to be done - I honestly don't know." http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,11669_7121508,00.html Harry Redknapp admits he would be prepared to add Joe Cole to his Tottenham Hotspur squad, but says he has not made an enquiry for the Liverpool midfielder. Cole rejected a move to Spurs 12 months ago in order to join Liverpool after his contract at Chelsea had expired. However, the midfielder has struggled to make an impression at Anfield and could be allowed to leave Liverpool before the transfer window closes. Queens Park Rangers have been linked with a bid for the 29-year-old, while there have been reports that Redknapp is keen on a reunion with the England international. Redknapp, who signed Cole as a youngster when he was manager at West Ham, still believes the midfielder has the ability to excel in the top flight and could make a move for the player soon. "I like Joe. I signed him as an 11-year-old. He is a good player," said Redknapp. "I've got all the time in the world for him. "We haven't made any enquiries about him but I wouldn't sit here and say I wouldn't have him at the club because if I did I'd be lying. I do like him." ------------------- Hope these links are all the usual journo rubbish. Signing Joe Cole would be worse than no signing.
Cheap to buy, relatively cheap to pay, when managed properly can be a revelation, keen to re-establish himself, not in his own comfort bubble (like JJ and others) can play on the left, right or in the hole, so would free up VDV to sit deeper and replace Modric in midfield AND better than Jenas? The only concern I have is have Liverpool destroyed his confidence like they did Keano's?
It looks like things are beginning to happen, Diarra and Adebayor would be the kind of players we need to improve the team. I don't think we should worry too much about Cole if he arrives. At his best or even near it he would fit into the Spurs set up quite well, being a skillfull player. The potential is there, it's not a Crouch like signing where you are left wondering how his style will compliment this squad. Harry's strength is getting the best out of players and we should not doubt him on this score.
Where would he play Cole though. Instead of Bale, Modric or VDV? I can't see him fitting in except to replace Lennon?
He would have to be a squad player, not a regular starter. Actually, sell Bentley - Buy Cole. I'd do that switch anyday.
Think of a squad rather than just a starting 11. Cole left side midfield as Modric, Kranjcar, Bale they won't all play at once but all will need to be at their best to make the strating 11 and that's the point.
He's injury prone, he'd almost certainly be one of our top earners, he's another diminutive forward, he's not been near his best for over two years and we already have Kranjcar who can play in a similar position. If Cole is our replacement for Modric I'll be disgusted. That said a few years ago I'd have taken him in a shot
Just like Crouch, Defoe, Kranjcar, Palacois etc. Something to look foward to during the bleak winter.
Liverpool ruined Keane in less than 6 months, God knows what condition Cole's going to be in after a whole year of it!
I really hope this DOESNT happen, the last thing we need is over the hill injury plagued mercenaries on our wage bill. Cole will not improve us and is no more worth to the squad than Bentley. We all know Arry loves Cole and would sign him like a shot, but I am praying Levy isnt stupid enough to do it.
Don't get me wrong, CB. I'm certainly no big Joe Cole fan. However, I would still have him instead of that lazy twat poser, Bentley.
Cole was a decent player five years ago, but like Keane, his best year's are well behind him. Even on a free I don't see the point - we have Modric, VDV and Kranjkar for the AM role, with Bale, Lennon, Townsend, Rose and Bentley (and possible the new Spanish U21 chap) for the flanks. Looks like Diarra may not be happening either.
I would also add that I really don't understand why everything is being left to the 11th hour again. Whatever happened to getting players in and bedded in June/July so that they can be integrated with the squad and teh team can hit the floor running? I hope that we have two or three lined up as although the squad is strong, I think we will struggle to make the top four this time around due mainly to our impotent strikeforce, lack of leaders and ability to always concede a soft goal in most games. Ideally Adeybeyor will join imminently, and we can land a quality CB (Samba or Cahill). If I was being greedy, I'd like someone like Ruiz, who can operate on the flank as well as up front and a no-nonsense DM (Diarra is good but is he better than Sandro?). Hopefully we will add the Brazilian forward Leandro Damio in Jan to replace whichever of the forwards is misfiring (Crouch or Pav I would assume). It wouldn't suprise me if a deal is already being conducted ala Sandro.
No drugs, although I may be in a trance believing that Spurs would actually make some progress this season. Oh Well.
