English Premiership
Joe Cole undergoing medical
2013-01-03 13:53
London - Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole was on
Thursday having a medical examination at West Ham United with a view to
rejoining the club where he began his career, according to Britain's
Press Association.
Cole has failed to impose himself since
arriving at Anfield from Chelsea in 2010, starting just nine Premier
League games and spending last season on loan at French side Lille.
Liverpool
manager Brendan Rodgers does not seem pressed to find a place for Cole
in his first team, prompting the 31-year-old to seek a return to West
Ham, with whom he made his professional debut in 1999.
West Ham
hope to complete the transfer in time for Cole to feature in Saturday's
FA Cup third-round clash at home to Manchester United.
Liverpool's willingness to cancel the England international's contract means West Ham will not have to pay a transfer fee.
Harry
Redknapp, the Queens Park Rangers manager, who handed Cole his debut at
West Ham, revealed on Wednesday that he had missed out on a move for
the player.
"I lost Joe, who would have been my first signing," said Redknapp, shortly after QPR's shock 1-0 win at Chelsea.
"He probably looked here and thought: 'Harry, I love you, but you're not going to stay up.'
"I
like Joe and he would have been good for me. He's West Ham and they
love him there. I thought he was coming for sure but West Ham came in
today (Wednesday)."
Meanwhile, West Ham have confirmed that Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun has returned to his parent club, Chelsea.
Benayoun,
who played for West Ham between 2005 and 2007, returned to the club on
loan at the beginning of the season but injuries have prevented him from
making an impression.
"West Ham United can confirm that the loan
of @YossiBenayoun15 has ended and he has returned to @chelseafc," the
club announced on their official Twitter page.
"The club would
like to thank Yossi for his efforts during his second spell with the
Hammers and wish him the best of luck for his future career."