Wednesday, 7th November, 2012
Lille coach Rudi Garcia has admitted he would love to see midfielder Joe Cole back at the club, but pointed to the player’s salary as a major stumbling block.
Cole spent last season on loan at the Ligue 1 side, making a positive impression, dovetailing well with Eden Hazard and ultimately clocking up 32 appearances in the French top flight.
There was some talk of Cole remaining with the 2011 French champions, but financially the deal proved impossible to do and the 30-year-old returned to his parent club Liverpool.
Confident of being given opportunities by new Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, whom Cole knew well from his time at Chelsea, the midfielder was excited to return, though he has now had his hopes dashed.
Cole is clearly well down the pecking order at Anfield and was substituted off at half time during the Reds’ recent League Cup defeat against Swansea City, after a lacklustre display.
Now talk of Cole leaving Liverpool has intensified, with his agent claiming West Ham and Spartak Moscow are both keen.
But Cole has another option, which is returning to France and specifically Lille, if he lowers his salary demands and the package can be afforded.
relatedNewsStory"Joe Cole is not only a great man, but a talented player too", Lille boss Garcia told French radio station RMC.
"After [the loan], we were unable to keep him and that was for financial reasons", he continued.
"This could be a stumbling block again towards seeing Joe in Lille.
"On a sporting and a human level, I would love to see him back."
Cole’s current contract with Liverpool runs until 2014.
He is thought to earn around £350,000 per month at Anfield.
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