Higher bid and Cole is Stoke’s

Carlton Cole and fellow England internationals Rob Green and Scott Parker have been linked with a summer departure from Upton Park to remain in the top flight.

But the new Hammers boss Sam Allrdyce stressed they would not be allowed to leave on the cheap.
Stoke City are looking to offer Cole an immediate return to the Premier League and have reportedly tabled a £3 million bid.

Cole gathered seven England appearances

“Big Sam” revealed the Potters’ bid falls short of the striker’s value, but conceded that players may be sold to Premier League clubs to balance the books:

“I believe at this stage that the offer is not good enough. It is not to the club’s valuation,” the West Ham boss told The Sentinel.

“We are keen to keep our key players. However, we have lost our Premier League status and our financial position has to be addressed.”

West Ham may also be keen to sell some of their highest earners, with German Thomas Hitzlsperger, Frenchman Julien Faubert and Mexican Pablo Barrera have also been linked with moves away from Upton Park.

West Ham signed Cole from Chelsea in 2006 and he is under contract until 2013.

He scored 11 goals last season and has a total of 42 from 165 appearances for the Hammers.

Cole began his career at Chelsea in 2001, spending spells out on loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Charlton Athletic and Aston Villa before being transferred to West Ham United in 2006.

He made 19 England U21 appearances (scoring six goals), and made his full international debut for the England national football team on 11 February 2009 in a friendly match against Spain. He has so far made seven appearances for England.

West Ham are not only selling, they also brought in some quality players.

Kevin Nolan and Abdoulaye Faye have joined former boss Allardyce at Upton Park but the Hammers have already lost Demba Ba, Matt Upson and Manuel Da Costa since relegation to the Championship.

Allardyce is also interested in Jamaica international Gardner, 32, who is available on a free transfer after seeing out his Bolton contract at the Reebok Stadium.

Tags: carlton Cole, Chelsea, England, Robert Green, Sam Allardyce, Scott Parker, Stoke, West Ham