Cole left to sweat it out

Carlton Cole will only be offered a new Upton Park deal should the club fail in their chase for a new top level front man.

The Hammers are in talks for Ivorian Lacina Traore and Southampton’s Rickie Lambert.

They want one or the other but only if they miss out on both and fail to attract any other will they be ready to extend Cole’s deal.

But a source told Claretandhugh exclusively that the club were absolutely determined to bring in a top striker as an immediate priority.

Questioned on Cole’s situation in that scenario he said: “We have to save cash wherever we can and that is a wage that would need to go towards the new player’s terms.”

Cole has been regularly linked with a Queens Park Rangers move and it now looks inevitable that he will leave the club for the last time should a top striker arrive.

The player was signed after the last transfer window closed and has managed three goals in ten Premier League appearances.

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon