BBC Sport understands that Liverpool forward Joe Cole is very close to agreeing a one-season loan deal with French club Lille. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/9575759.stm Would be happy with that if it happens. Realistically even if we sold him, it wouldn't be for much and this way, reduces our wage bill
In all seriousness I dont see the Cole/Hazard happenin, but perhaps we could say we will pay a percentage of Joes wages for 1st refusal on Hazard next summer
I'm dead against this, and I think it is a ruse to stop the English teams messing us about, if 'arry and Warncock are looking for a bargin, this is Liverpool saying "you can get stuffed, you are not the only option" But we don't want Joe out on loan for a year, getting another year older.
Well, with any luck we could offload him to Lille permanently at the end of this year, or just keep loaning him out until his contract is eventually up.
yeah- think we will be left waiting for his contract to run out. you never know, he might get sick of it all and retire...unlikely though
Cole? Run away from a free 90k a week for turning up to training every day? I don't think that'll happen
The Lille deal is only on because Benayoun rejected a move to Lille. That's funny because we got Joe Cole to replace Benayoun.
Would be even funnier if we then replace Cole with Benayoun! I think some people are against loans after the Aquilani situation, but that's a bit naive. Joe Cole is clearly not going to get very near our first team. Is it better that he plays football for the French Champions, who are in the Champs League, and who will pay some portion of his wages, and then returns with the chance of us actually moving him on. Or is it better that we keep him around, hope the planets align, and somehow someone in a moment of madness signs him permanently? People can dream about Hazard and first options etc but either way just getting him off the books at the moment seems like the best idea. I hoped he would make some kind of impact on the squad but looks like that isn't going to be the case.
I'd be fine with Cole going to Lille- we're not going to be using him this season. There's what- about 35 weeks to go this season? That's 3.125 million in wages that could go towards next summer's transfers instead. Can't buy anyone for that money- but perhaps it would be "that little bit extra" that could help us afford Messi. I like Bennayoun, I think he's a good player and was disappointed when he left- I just don't know if we really need him- yeah he's kinda like a poor mans Suarez who plays a little further back- but I'd rather have one more player who is an out-and-out forward to another attacking midfielder. I know Benny can be a second striker... but that's not really what we need so much as another person who can lead the line... I think what would be nice would be a target man, like Carroll who is also a little creative. A Carroll/Suarez hybrid- not necessarily as good as either at their chosen skills... but has a little bit of both to them- someone who could fill in for either...
If Lille are paying all his wages, i'm happy to see Joe leave. Don't want the club to be paying some of his wages.
Kenny is sending him there to tell Hazard what a great club Liverpool is come on Joe...you owe us that much at least
I am listening to talkSPORT at the moment and they have a French football journalist on and he says that Lille will not be able to cover the wages that Joe is on... So we are probably still paying some of Joe's wages.
Never worked for Joe, Poulsen etc... But we have to get them off the wage bill... Cheers for turning up, doing nowt, taking your inflated weekly wage, but now leave and close the door behind you...!!!