Liverpool are to launch a late bid for West Ham striker Carlton Cole.
Roy Hodgson has reportedly identified Cole as his new number one target, after missing out on bringing Tottenham frontman Peter Crouch and PSV Eindhoven hotshot Ola Toivonen to Anfield.
The Reds boss is desperate to add some extra potency to his strike force in order to take the goalscoring burden away from Fernando Torres, and 26-year-old Cole is a name that has been linked with a move to Merseyside throughout the summer.
Hodgson is supposedly considering offering Brazilian midfielder Lucas and Holland winger Ryan Babel as make-weights in a deal for the former Chelsea forward, who has previously revealed his desire to remain at Upton Park.
West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan has insisted that his star players Scott Parker, Robert Green and Cole are not for sale, but the News of the World understands that the Hammers would consider an offer in the region of £10 million for the England international.
With the Hammers still deep in the financial mire, and Liverpool having money to spend after the sale of Javier Mascherano to Barcelona, the resolve of the east Londoners could be tested should Hodgson meet their valuation of Cole.
However, the 63-year-old is believed to favour a player-plus-cash offer in order to make extra funds available for at least one more addition to his squad before the transfer window closes.
5mill plus Lucas would be an excellent deal!!!
