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Posts Tagged ‘joe cole’

• On-loan midfielder: ‘I hope Fabio Capello watches Ligue 1′
• Cole makes immediate impact at French club with first goal

Joe Cole is relishing his first-team opportunity with Lille – and has targeted a return to the England squad under Fabio Capello.

The midfielder, on loan from Liverpool, wants to help the club retain their Ligue 1 title and is hopeful a successful campaign can earn him an England recall.

The 29-year-old has not played for his country since last summer’s World Cup but he said: “I hope Fabio Capello watches Ligue 1. If I can get a recall to the national team, I’ll be the happiest guy around.

“But firstly, I want to play regularly and try to help Lille win a trophy.”

Cole has made an immediate impact in France, scoring a wonderful first goal for the club in Saturday’s draw with Lorient, and says he never had any doubts that the surprise deadline-day move was the right one for him.

“I really wanted to come here,” he told L’Equipe. “You have to make choices in your life, and this wasn’t the easiest for me, but it excited me.

“Firstly, we are playing for the title, and also it’s a young team of good guys who play good football.”

Cole has slotted into the side in a wide role initially but harbours hopes of operating as a central playmaker as the season progresses. “I like playing in the middle, with the freedom to dictate play,” he said. “For now I am on the wing, opposite Eden Hazard and linking up with Dimitri Payet.

“The idea, in time, is to come into the central three and direct our attacks from a bit deeper. That’s where I started, it’s natural to me.”

Joe ColeLilleEnglandFabio CapelloLiverpoolguardian.co.uk

Will Cole regret his decision not to join one of the Premier League clubs who expressed an interest?

• Kenny Dalglish close to signing Sebastián Coates
• Alberto Aquilani goes to Milan on a season‑long loan

While Liverpool are prepared to let Joe Cole go to Tottenham Hotspur, Kenny Dalglish is looking to bring in two players to Anfield.

The Merseyside club are close to signing Nacional’s 6ft 4in centre-half, Sebastián Coates, who excelled in Uruguay’s Copa América campaign.

A deal to bring Craig Bellamy back to Anfield also looks likely. The move that would take Bellamy back to Liverpool, where he spent a single season, gained momentum when Manchester City indicated they would be prepared to settle the striker’s £90,000-a-week contract to allow him to leave immediately.

Meanwhile, Alberto Aquilani has, as expected, gone to Milan on a season‑long loan with a view to a permanent transfer.

Transfer windowLiverpoolJoe ColeTim Richguardian.co.uk