Manchester United not interested in signing Joe Cole

[FreundsNo1Fan]

Source: Guardian

• Arsenal and Tottenham favourites to sign free agent
• Sources at Old Trafford confirm Cole is not a target

Manchester United have left the path clear for Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur to attempt to sign Joe Cole after it was confirmed they are not interested in the England international.

Cole, released by Chelsea after failing to agree terms over a new contract, has repeatedly been linked with a free signing to United, but well-placed sources at Old Trafford have indicated there has never been any interest in the midfielder.

Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, has spoken on numerous occasions about his admiration for Cole, but the 28-year-old has had a season disrupted by injury and his wage demands would be prohibitive for United.

The feeling at Old Trafford is that a lot of the speculation surrounding United's reported interest has been generated by people close to Cole in the hope of accelerating interest from other clubs.

Cole's future now looks like a straight choice between Arsenal and Tottenham, the north London rivals having both initiated talks with the player's representatives.

[Pinto]

Why does nobody want this guy? What is wrong here?

[StokeSpur]

Why does nobody want this guy? What is wrong here?

Wages against (anticipated) time on pitch.

I think JC knows very well that if he went to either Manchester clubs he could ask for hige wages but he also knows that if he came to us or the gooners he would have to take a large pay cut.

if Manure are really out of it then i would bet he'd pick Harry over Wenger.

I also think he's been very clever and gone about this in a way where if he did come to us he could say he had offers from others but wanted to come to Spurs, he hasnt come out all 'i want to go to utd' or anything which would make anything else look 2nd best.

[nayimfrom50]

lets stop messing about. If he isn't in a Spurs shirt by August then I'm a dutchman called Martin.

[newbie]

I cant see him going to Spurs it would be to good to be true.

[striebs]

I thought the guy was past it .

However John Terry would know for sure and if he says in a press statement that Joe Cole is a difference maker then he must be .

Just cos he's good and available is not sufficient reason to buy him .
I cannot see Bale , Modric or Cole being happy with sharing for two spots and wouldn't want Bale's or Modric's progress impeded .

Isn't this a case where we have to pass and put the money into positions we need to improve ?

[mattyspurs]

I thought the guy was past it .

However John Terry would know for sure and if he says in a press statement that Joe Cole is a difference maker then he must be .

Just cos he's good and available is not sufficient reason to buy him .
I cannot see Bale , Modric or Cole being happy with sharing for two spots and wouldn't want Bale's or Modric's progress impeded .

Isn't this a case where we have to pass and put the money into positions we need to improve ?
Sharing 2 spots?

Bale at LB, Cole at Lm Modric in the centre?

[gerrar]

Sharing 2 spots?

Bale at LB, Cole at Lm Modric in the centre?

For me thats almost a dream come true! Also wouldn't mind Dzeko, Richards and Subotic! Though I think my Football manager dreams won't happen!

[Paxtonite]

All the noises about him going to ManUre have been coming from 'arry, so could it be his rather feeble attempt at putting people off the scent?

As for why nobody wants Joe Cole, i am not sure if that is actually the case, however he is one of those players that needs to be "accomodated" due to his playing style and absence of a defined position on the pitch, hence why he doesn't appear to be a regular starter for club (or country for that matter). If a team has a certain style of playing and Cole can't be accomodated, then he wont be bought.

If his best position is on the left, you then have to look at your options on that side and decide whether he improves what you have, or whether his left sided midfield play suits your team ethic. For me he is better playing of a lone striker, which raises another issue in itself.

[Boony]

If he passes the fitness test, this is basically a top quality player on the cheap, irrelevant of his wage demands. He has the CL experience we are looking for, and can play across the park. I agree Gareth Bale IS a left back, and enjoys playing a deeper role as it gives him space to run into. So Cole would be playing for the left mid spot against Kranjcar, which I think is a healthy rivalry.

[Frozen_Waffles]

If he accepts a pay as you play contract on less than half his wage then, why not.

However I do not want to see spurs over pay for over hyped players, we either sign good quality premiership experienced players for reasnoble value: Palacios, Defoe, Krancijkar, Crouch, woodgate etc... Or we sign ones for the future: Bale, Hudd, Bassong, Dawson, Modric etc.

PLease dont let us go back to the days of signing injury prone players who are nearing the end of their career for obscene money!


On another note about Joe Cole, he is not England's saviour as he is sadly not that greater player, there is a reason he has never held a regular first team spot at Chelsea.

[mattyspurs]

If he accepts a pay as you play contract on less than half his wage then, why not.

However I do not want to see spurs over pay for over hyped players, we either sign good quality premiership experienced players for reasnoble value: Palacios, Defoe, Krancijkar, Crouch, woodgate etc... Or we sign ones for the future: Bale, Hudd, Bassong, Dawson, Modric etc.

PLease dont let us go back to the days of signing injury prone players who are nearing the end of their career for obscene money!


On another note about Joe Cole, he is not England's saviour as he is sadly not that greater player, there is a reason he has never held a regular first team spot at Chelsea.

:shrug:

But to be fair, I was for the transfer of Woody even though he was expensive and injury prone. But that sort of negates your argument

[davidmatzdorf]

Cole is reputed not to be keen to leave London, so this is less than surprising.

[smudger]

please dont be the scummers, suerly they wouldnt want a english player

[newbie]

Would Joe cole take us to the next level ?

[StuckinPoland]

I'd swap Joe Cole for Keane's place in the squad. Without blinking.

Joe Cole, to me, needs to play off the main striker. Midfield isn't for him. He doesn't have the discipline. But tell him to roam, give him the ball, and watch the fireworks.

I'd LOVE him at the Lane. Even if I can't see it happening.

COYS !