Daily WHUFC News - 3rd January 2012

The Big Interview: Mark Noble
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's Hammer of the Year impressed as stand-in captain against
Norwich City
02.01.2013

West Ham United's Mark Noble enjoyed another stellar performance against
Norwich City on Tuesday. The midfielder took the captain's armband in the
absence of suspended skipper Kevin Nolan and scored his third penalty of the
2012/13 season as the Hammers ran out 2-1 winners. In this week's Big
Interview, Noble explains how the togetherness of the Hammers squad helped
deliver the hard-fought result and how it will stand them in good stead for
Saturday's big FA Cup tie with Manchester United.

Mark, how would you sum up the performance against Norwich City?

MN: "We were brilliant. We had some big players missing for this game and
the boys who came in did fantasticly. It was Jack's [Collison] first start
in I don't how long and Vaz's [Ricardo Vaz Te] first start in about three
months and they were brilliant. "We had a game two days before [against
Reading] which I don't think we deserved to lose as a mistake cost us. But
we are together as a group and that is all that matters. We got three points
which we fully deserved.

What are your thoughts on the decision that allowed you to open the scoring
from the spot?

MN: "I thought the referee got it right. We were awarded the penalty and
luckily enough I put it away and it did settle us and our fans down nice and
early. We then went on and fully enjoyed our game from then on in.

Talks us through the second goal as you played a key role in setting it up
for Joey O'Brien?

MN: "Joey was playing at left-back in the game and there he was in the
six-yard box, but that showed how much we were all enjoying the game. I
managed to wriggle my way past a few players and cut it back, it fell nicely
to Joey and it was a striker's finish from him and that was the icing on the
cake. "We let a late goal in which we were gutted about as we wanted a clean
sheet, but we are over the moon with the three points."

You had the captain's armband in the absence of Nobby [Kevin Nolan] and you
received the man of the match award afterwards. Is it nice that people
recognise that you played really well?

MN: "We had the likes of Nobby and Ginge [James Collins] missing, two big
players for us. As I said it was credit to the boys who came in, everyone
had to raise their game. I think that showed and is why we got the three
points which we needed after the tough spell we have had."

How important is it to get players like Jack and Vaz back, because the squad
has been quite bare over the Christmas period?

MN: "It is great for us. We also had young Elliot Lee on the bench, which
was great. I was hoping we could go 3-0 up so he could get his debut. But it
wasn't meant to be for him this time, but I am sure he will be playing
sooner rather than later. Then we had our other young boys, George Moncur
and Seb [Lletget], they have all been involved and Jordan [Spence] came on
again. We need to get back to a bigger squad so we have more options from
the bench and more options for the manager to pick for all the games."

We face Manchester United in the FA Cup third round on Saturday. How do you
think it'll go?

MN: "It will be a great atmosphere for the fans and a great cup tie I am
sure as they always are here. When you pluck Manchester United out of the
hat you are over the moon, so whatever team the manager picks, I am sure it
will be a strong one to have a right go at them and we will see what
happens. If we can play anything like we did [against Norwich] and against
United at their place earlier in the season, then we will have a chance."

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Joey's half-century goal
WHUFC.com
Joey O'Brien marked his 50th Hammers appearance with a goal in the New
Year's Day win over Norwich City
02.01.2013

Joey O'Brien ensured West Ham United supporters enjoyed a happy New Year by
scoring the winner in Tuesday's 2-1 Barclays Premier League victory over
Norwich City. The No17 marked his 50th appearance in a Hammers shirt with a
smart low finish, ensuring the vast majority of another sell-out Boleyn
Ground crowd could celebrate the first day of 2013. The Republic of Ireland
man also produced a fine defensive performance to keep Norwich danger-man
Robert Snodgrass at bay "It was a massive win for us," said O'Brien. "It was
a disappointing with how the game went at Reading on Saturday because we did
enough to win that game, so it was good to bounce back and win in front of
our own fans. We played some good stuff, too, so it's always nice to play
some nice football and get three points. "Overall we played really well and
could have been three or four goals up going in at half-time and that would
have made it a lot easier. Two-nil is probably the worst score to have
because they were obviously going to have a bit more possession. "Their
manager had obviously had a go at half-time and they came out and had a bit
more ball. They scored at the end and made it a bit nervous and if they'd
got the equaliser it would have been really hard to take for us."

Before O'Brien struck midway through the first half, Mark Noble settled any
nerves by drilling home from the penalty spot after Winston Reid had been
impeded by Ryan Bennett. "We started off really well, which is what the
manager asked us to do after the disappointment against Reading. We started
off really well and they didn't get a second. We knocked it around really
well and had plenty of chances and it could have been three or four-nil at
half-time.
"To be honest I didn't really see the penalty incident but, if you break
down the times they put the ball into our box and the times we put the ball
into their box, they could have had one given as well. If you're the
defending team, it's hard to take."

There was no dispute over the 26-year-old's second goal of the season.
O'Brien was involved in an incisive move that also included Matt Jarvis,
Matt Taylor, Mark Noble and Carlton Cole before the left-back calmly slotted
the ball between Norwich goalkeeper Mark Bunn and his near post. In his own
post-match interview, manager Sam Allardyce said O'Brien was benefitting
from defenders being drawn to Jarvis, allowing him to make unmarked runs
inside the winger.
"Defenders are afraid of Jarvo. Since he has come in, Matt has been
brilliant and he puts in an awful lot of crosses. On Saturday he must have
put in about 15 or 16 crosses himself and he draws players to him, so it's
nice when you're playing inside him because they might be able to nip balls
into you. I think that might be what happened. "I just tried to pass the
ball into the net and luckily it went in."

O'Brien was replaced with 20 minutes remaining, but the full-back was happy
to report that it was just a precaution as he was feeling tightness in his
hamstring. He is therefore hopeful of facing Manchester United in the FA Cup
with Budweiser third round on Saturday. "It's a great game in the FA Cup.
Hopefully, with it being an early-evening kick-off the atmosphere will be
great and we can do the job. It's a free pass after the league and it's a
great opportunity. "Perhaps the manager will mix it up and give other
players an opportunity and a chance to play against them. They are the sort
of team you want to play well against and if we're able to put them out of
the cup then that would be fantastic."

Looking further forward, with fixtures to follow against Sunderland, Queens
Park Rangers and Fulham before the end of January, O'Brien said the Hammers
would be looking to pick up as many Barclays Premier League points as
possible. "It was a massive let-down last weekend at Reading. We went there
determined to win and we dominated the game and did everything but win. It
was a massive disappointment. "It was important to get the three points
against Norwich and, with those teams coming up, we have the chance to win
games. If we can get the wins and points on the board early then it will
take the pressure off and we can start to relax and go out and enjoy our
football."

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Joe Cole: West Ham set to sign Liverpool midfielder
BBC.co.uk

Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole is set to join former club West Ham United on
a permanent deal. The 31-year-old travelled to London for a medical with Sam
Allardyce's Hammers after Liverpool accepted an offer for the player. Reds
manager Brendan Rodgers said: "He is speaking with West Ham at the moment
and if they can get something organised it will be a terrific move for Joe."

Queens Park Rangers are also interested in signing Cole. Cole has struggled
to impress at Anfield following a free transfer move from Chelsea in 2010,
The former England international spent last season on loan at French club
Lille. Any move to West Ham would have to be made permanent because the
London club already have striker Andy Carroll on loan from Liverpool.

Joe Cole's career
West Ham: 150 appearances, 13 goals
Chelsea: 282 appearances, 39 goals
Lille: 38 appearances, four goals
Liverpool: 42 appearances, five goals
England: 56 appearances, 10 goals

Cole, though, would be available on a free transfer as Liverpool are
prepared to cancel his contract and negotiate a settlement. Rodgers added:
"I spoke to Joe earlier. He is a really good lad and has been brilliant
during my time here." The player came through the youth ranks at Upton Park
before moving to Chelsea for £6.6m in 2003. He won three Premier League
titles and two FA Cups in a seven-year stay with the Blues. After failing to
agree a new contract he moved to Merseyside but he has not been able to
enjoy the same impact and has made just six substitute appearances this
season. News of Cole's potential move comes after Liverpool signed forward
Daniel Sturridge from Chelsea. QPR may still move for Cole if he fails to
agree a deal with West Ham, but manager Harry Redknapp told BBC Radio 5 live
he was resigned to missing out on the player. "I love Joe," he said. "I
signed him when he was 11 years old at West Ham and I spoke to him. He was
keen to come and he is a great lad. "He would be great around the place - he
is a great player - but West Ham came in at the last moment and obviously it
was difficult because West Ham is his club and you will always associate Joe
with them. "That is where he started out. The fans will love having him back
there and I wish him all the best because he is a fantastic boy."

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Liverpool's Rodgers confirms Cole in talks with West Ham
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 2nd January 2013
By: Staff Writer

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that West Ham United are in
talks with Joe Cole. Rodgers, who today signed former Chelsea striker Daniel
Sturridge for £12million has confirmed one of the day's worst-kept sectrets
by admitting that the 31-year-old midfielder is poised to seal a return back
to east London. Cole, who would arrive at the Boleyn Ground on a permanent
basis - and possibly on a free transfer - has has already held discussions
with West Ham ahead of what promises to be, on the whole, a popular move.
Rodgers, who gave Andy Carroll permission to move to West Ham on loan for
the season in the last transfer window now looks set to lose a second
English international to the Irons. Speaking about the Cole move tonight,
he told the BBC: "He is a really good lad and has been brilliant during my
time here in terms of as a human being. "He is obviously speaking with West
Ham at the moment and if they can get something organised it will be a
terrific move for Joe."

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Allardyce on... Norwich City
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 2nd January 2013
By: Staff Writer

A delighted Big Sam reflects on a job well done - even if he felt it should
have been done a little arlier and with a little more comfort. His
post-match press conference, exclusively in full for you here on KUMB...

Sam: A good spot by the referee for the penalty?

Yeah, I've just had a look at it to make sure. He was in such a good
position there was little else he could have done when he sees him pulling
the shirt off Reidy's back. We have seen them not given many times before
but for this one he had a great view of it and I think it was the correct
decision.

From our point of view, to get 1-0 up that quickly was really important. It
gave us the confidence to play as we did today and it was an outstanding
performance. We created some great chances; Mark Noble scored a penalty and
Joey O'Brien scored a great goal for us to get us to 2-0. The disappointing
thing was all the chances the front lads missed today, chances they created
and fluffed.

Jack Collison could have got one, Vaz Te could have got a couple, Coley...
balls flashing across the box that just needed a tap-in. That's a slight
concern, because we lost a goal in the 90th minute that made us very edgy
towards the end when the game should have been out of sight. So we'll still
continue to brush up on our finishing techniques with the lads and hope that
next time round we're a bit more clinical with our finishing.

But a well-deserved victory and a great performance in the circumstances. We
went into the game with a number of players missing and it didn't look today
like we had as many injuries as we have with that performance, I'm glad to
say.

Was that Mark Noble's most impressive game for you?

No, no. He's played as well as that before, to be fair. His work in a
[midfield] three - in terms of his prompting and promoting the creativity of
the side - is very good, and out of possession his work rate to shut the
opposition midfield down and win the ball back off them is outstanding. He
loves having the captain's armband on so Kevin Nolan better watch out! I
think he might even play a little bit better when he's got it on, I don't
know.

Given what you said about strikers is that something you're going to look at
in the transfer window? Bringing in someone to finish those chances?

Well we know Vaz Te can finish, we saw that last year. Can he finish in the
Premier League? We'll wait and see. Matt Jarvis is a provider rather than a
finisher but we'd like to get more goals out of him. Carlton Cole's scored a
couple since he's been back and Andy [Carroll]'s only got one and has to
score more. It's been a bit of a hard feel for Modibo Maiga, the pace of the
game at this level he's really found tough. He's got a one in two
goalscoring record coming from France so we'd have hoped that would have
been a bit better.

If there's anything we can add to that in the window we'll have a try, but
getting them [all] fit and available for selection gives us better options
and more creativity. Jack Collison and Vaz Te's appearance today brought a
more creative element to the team, you could see that by the amount of times
we carved Norwich open and created chances. The only disappointing thing for
us today is that we only scored two instead of scoring a lot more.

But when you see the miss like Vaz Te's at Reading and Carlton's today does
that make you think you need another option striker-wise?

Well they've got to get better at finishing as well, that's one thing that
we've got to try and continue to do. Whether we'll be able to add to that I
don't know but if we strengthen the squad anywhere, it'll be important for
us to do that anyway. That coupled with getting some of these injured
players back.

It's a relief that Kevin [Nolan] and James [Collins] have missed today and
we've won. What a massive bonus that is. As well as missing Andy Carroll, as
well as George McCartney, as well as Mo Diame, as well as Yossi Benayoun
with Kevin and James. The 11 players and the subs who came on today have
given me a magnificent performance and a fantastic result that we were so
desperate for today.

I was wondering whether we were going to hold our confidence and our
performance level at home because it's been really good [up to now]. Even
though we've had back-to-back defeats at home the performances have been
really good. Today they showed me they've got the mentality to cope with
whatever's thrown at them. After a bad run of results we've come back and
played brilliantly today to win.

How far away is Andy Carroll from returning?

I'd hope it'd be two, no more than three weeks with a bit of luck. The
trouble is, being such a big lad he's a little bit more delicate and when
you come back from a knee ligament injury you have to be a little bit more
careful. He's working very well and when he gets back we want him to stay
fit because he's missed a huge chunk of games through injury since he's
joined us. Hopefully that'll be the end of them when he recovers from this
one.

Is he back in training?

Not yet, no.

Do you know when he'll be back?

Not particularly; it depends how his running goes when he starts that, which
I think he's due to start this week.

Is Diame far off from starting training?

He's not training at all yet either. He's having a new course of injections
which is speeding the healing process up, so hopefully that'll do the job
for him and he can be back as soon as possible.

A word on Winston Reid; the crowd have certainly noticed what he's done this
season?

The basis of our successful season up to now has been the defensive part of
our team, really. The solid base that we've worked from means that apart
from Swansea and Tottenham away, nobody's taken us apart because of those
defensive qualities that we've got. Joey O'Brien playing at left back, for
instance - brilliant at the moment.

That's the basis for any team to be successful, having a good defensive unit
that will defend the right way and play the game the right way out of
possession, which everybody seems to ignore these days. They don't seem to
think it's a part of the game that you need to have in your locker, but you
do if you want to be successful. You have to be one of the best defensive
teams in whatever league you're playing.

With George [McCartney] out long term do you think full-back will be one of
the positions you'll look at?

Yes it would be. One of my priorities is left back if there's a possibility
of getting one there.

Is Guy Demel going to the African Cup of Nations?

No, he's retired. Thank you and Happy New Year.

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West Ham closing in on Joe Cole after midfielder rejects QPR
Last Updated: January 2, 2013 11:28pm
SSN

Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole is set to rejoin West Ham United after turning
down QPR. Cole has struggled to make an impact at Anfield since joining on a
free from Chelsea in 2010 and was loaned out to Lille last season. QPR boss
Harry Redknapp, who gave Cole his competitive debut in a West Ham shirt in
1998, confirmed on Wednesday evening that he had tried in vain to lure the
31-year-old to Loftus Road. "I tried to get him to come to QPR but he's
going home to West Ham," Redknapp, speaking after his side's shock win over
Chelsea, said. It emerged earlier on Wednesday that the Hammers had enquired
about Cole's availability and he is thought to have already had a medical.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers later confirmed talks, saying: "I'm not sure
if a deal has been totally agreed. I know there have been talks." Cole left
Upton Park for Chelsea in 2003, before joining Liverpool on a free transfer.
Redknapp added: "I lost Joe who would have been my first signing. 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."

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Joe Cole Coming Back?
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die

Sky Sports are reporting that Joe Cole is tonight having a medical at West
Ham. All I can say is that if this is true, it is one of the most baffling
transfers of modern times. Don't get me wrong, I love Joe Cole. I saw him
make his Upton Park debut, and in many ways I would love to see him pull on
the claret and blue again, but am I alone in wondering just where he would
play? We know that a midfield three of Noble, Diame and Nolan works, so it
surely can't be there. We've paid £10 million for a left winger, so surely
it can't be there. On the right? I don't ever remember Joe Cole playing on
the right. The only sensible place for him to play would be just off the
lead striker, but that's not a position that's available as we play 4-5-1.
Or 4-3-3 if your name is Sam.

Other rumours today involve Newcastle being interested in Maiga and James
Tomkins. And we are supposedly signing a 16 year old Swedish starlet called
Rinor Nushi. We've also signed a young Irish striker called Sean Maguire.

UPDATE 22.35: Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that talks are taking place
between West Ham and Joe Cole, and Harry Redknapp says he has given up the
chase and that Cole is "going home".

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Noble's hod work
By MARK IRWIN
Published: 02nd January 2013
The Sun

MARK NOBLE is ready to become a brickie to stop Robin van Persie. West Ham
midfielder Noble is desperate to beat Manchester United in Saturday's FA Cup
third-round clash at Upton Park. And he knows that stopping 19-goal Van
Persie is crucial. United's £22million Dutchman hit the only goal when West
Ham lost at Old Trafford in November. Noble said: "It's anyone's guess how
you stop Van Persie, we might have to build a brick wall in front of goal.
"It will be a great FA Cup tie and we're looking forward to it."

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Andy Carroll's Hammers goal
Last Updated: 03rd January 2013
The Sun

ANDY CARROLL is set to return to action with West Ham before the end of the
month. And boss Sam Allardyce has told the on-loan England striker that he
must start scoring when he finally recovers from his knee problems. Carroll,
who turns 24 this Sunday, has managed just one goal for the Hammers since
joining on a season's loan from Liverpool in August. He has been out with a
knee injury since November and has missed six games. But he is due to start
running tomorrow and Allardyce has no intention of cancelling Carroll's
loan. He said: "I hope it will be no more than three weeks before Andy is
playing again.
"He's not in full training yet but he's due to start running this week. "The
trouble is that because he's such a big lad he's a bit more delicate when
he's coming back from a knee ligament injury and we want to make sure he is
properly fit and stays that way when he comes back. "He's missed a huge
chunk of games with the two injuries he's had since he joined us. "Andy has
only got one goal for us so far and he has to score more. "All of our
forwards have got to get better at finishing. "The only disappointing thing
about our win against Norwich was the number of chances fluffed."

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Toon's eye on Modibo
Last Updated: 03rd January 2013
The Sun

WEST HAM seem willing to let misfit striker Modibo Maiga quit for Newcastle.
Toon boss Alan Pardew missed out on the Mali international, 25, last year
after the player failed a medical. And Maiga is on Pards' shortlist if his
bid for Marseille's Loic Remy fails. A Hammers source said: "We'll listen to
offers for Modibo."

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Cole Kops £4m to make Hammers return
Exclusive
By ANDREW DILLON
Last Updated: 03rd January 2013
The Sun

JOE COLE will get a £4million pay-off from Liverpool to join West Ham for
nothing. The free transfer to Upton Park ends the midfielder's miserable
spell at Anfield. The Reds are giving Cole, 31, a year's wages to get him
off the books. West Ham will take over the remaining 18 months of his
£90,000-a-week deal.
Last night, Cole was having a medical and could sign in time to play in
Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie at home to Manchester United. The former
England star, who joined Liverpool in 2010, has not started a Premier League
game this season and spent all of the 2011-12 campaign on loan at French
side Lille. Cole was groomed in the youth ranks at Upton Park and played 126
games for them before joining Chelsea for £6.5m in 2003. And Nicolas Anelka
has priced himself out of a move to Upton Park after demanding £100,000 a
week for a six-month stay. Anelka, 33, is sulking at China's Shanghai
Shenhua after a series of bust-ups. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce admitted
after Tuesday's 2-1 win over Norwich he "loved the player". But he added:
"The finances are a problem. We can only do what the owners can afford."

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Lamb raid: Striker-starved West Ham make a move for Southampton's Rickie
Lambert
The Mirror
1 Jan 2013 22:30
Christopher Lee

West Ham have had an approach for Southampton striker Rickie Lambert
dismissed by the south coast club. The Hammers are desperate for
reinforcements up front, with Andy Carroll expected to be out until the end
ofJanuary at the earliest. Even before his injury, £35million England
striker Carroll - on loan from Liverpool - had hit just one goal in 12
matches. West Ham are among the lowest scorers in the Premier League with
just 24 goals so far this season, and are desperate not to be dragged down
into the relegation mix. But Southampton, who are already in drop-zone
danger, are just as determined not to surrender one of the best players to a
Premier League rival. The Saints have made it clear to the Londoners - and
any other top-flight clubs - that they will not entertain offers for Lambert
or highly-rated left-back Luke Shaw, who has been linked with Arsenal. The
south coast club take the view that, despite whatever transfer fees they
would pull in, they would find it particularly difficult in the case of
Lambert to find a replacement up front. Lambert has scored eight goals in 19
appearances this season, including two in his last three and strikes against
both Manchester clubs. Selling their main striker would massively decrease
the club's chances of surviving relegation. West Ham, meanwhile are
continuing their search for strikers with Carlton Cole on just two goals in
17 appearances this season. Summer signing Modibo Maiga has hit four in 17
while Ricardo Vaz Te has scored one goal from ten appearances this season.

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Cockney comeback: West Ham snatch Joe Cole from Redknapp's grasp
The Mirror
2 Jan 2013 22:32
John Powell

Joe Cole is set to return to West Ham, as Sam Allardyce beats QPR boss Harry
Redknapp to the signing of the Liverpool misfit. Hammers boss Allardyce
moved in yesterday with a last ditch offer to re-sign Cole permanently,
ahead of Queens Park Rangers. Key to the whole deal is an amazing £3million
'golden goodbye' from Liverpool, to offset the drop in Cole's salary from
£120,000 to £50,000 a week. Although that £3m represents only six months of
the 18 left on Cole's Anfield contract, the 31-year-old will get the
security of a three-year deal – as well as the chance to resurrect his
career at his boyhood club. Former Chelsea star Cole has struggled at
Anfield and was loaned to Lille last season, but now Allardyce hopes to have
his move tied up in time for him to face Manchester United in the FA Cup
this weekend.

Cole was given his debut at 17 by Redknapp, who was hoping their
relationship would help ease a move to QPR. However, the spectre of
relegation made a deal difficult to do and Cole has never hidden his
affection for West Ham, the club he left for Chelsea in 2003 but has always
remained on good terms with Hammers fans. He even refused to celebrate when
he scored on a rare outing for Liverpool at Upton Park last month.
Meanwhile, QPR may be tempted to offload striker Djibril Cisse after French
club Lille came in for the former Liverpool striker. Cisse, 31, has played a
lot under Redknapp but may move on in January if QPR decide to sell in order
to shake up their squad and bring in a new striker. QPR will also be anxious
to trim their squad and wage bill but Redknapp may want to bring in a new
striker before sanctioning Cisse's exit to Lille.

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Cole to move to West Ham in permanent deal
WEDNESDAY 02 JANUARY 2013
The Independent

Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole is set to join former club West Ham United on
a permanent deal. The 31-year-old is thought to have travelled to London for
a medical after Liverpool agreed a deal. Cole, who moved to Anfield on a
free transfer from Chelsea in the summer of 2010, will be released without a
fee being paid to Liverpool and the club may also pay him a negotiated
settlement in order to get his £100,000-a-week salary off the wage bill.
Premier League rules mean West Ham cannot sign Cole on loan as they already
have Liverpool's Andy Carroll on a temporary deal.

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West Ham set to seal signature of highly-rated Swedish teenager Nushi
By SIMON JONES
PUBLISHED: 23:19, 2 January 2013 | UPDATED: 23:19, 2 January 2013
Daily Mail

West Ham are poised to sign 16-year-old Swedish winger Rinor Nushi from
Swedish side AFC United. Nushi has also attracted interest from Arsenal and
Juventus but West Ham are keen to tie up a deal quickly. 'Rinor is
attracting a lot of interest and it is unlikely that we will be able to keep
him here,' AFC United's sporting director Hamid Kavodvand told Sky Sports.
'At the moment he prefers West Ham after enjoying his time there, but no
deal has been agreed at this stage.'

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