Dalglish coy over Joe Cole's future

Liverpool Manager Kenny Dalglish insisted he is unaware of the situation in Lille regarding Joe Cole‘s transfer to the French club on permanent basis. The midfielder is currently on loan with Lille in Ligue 1. After enduring a miserable stint with Liverpool, Cole has blossomed to life in France. After placing himself as an instant hit between the players and fans, Lille have stated their desire to sign the player on permanent basis.

Lille president Michel Seydoux said, “Cole is becoming an important member of our team, and even though he is currently Liverpool’s player, it is not a certainty that he will leave us again at the end his (loan) contract.If he has a certain good feeling with Lille and it is not certain he would leave and we could make the 30-year-old an ‘interesting offer’ to keep him full-time”.

Asked about the Lille’s president’s comment, Dalglish said, “He has never spoken to me. I don’t know anything about it”.

“I know they won 2-0 (against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League) and the lad hit the post and is playing well but he’s been playing well most of the time.

“It is great for Joe he is doing so well but beyond that I don’t know of anything that has happened.”

Dalglish insisted that no talks have taken place between the two clubs about the deal which could make Joe Cole’s move to Lille permanent.

The player himself has made it clear he want’s to continue his career at Stade Lille Metropole.

When asked about his move to the club, he said, “I’d like to leave a legacy here,” . “The fans have taken to me straight away, and that really helps.

“They bring a Union Jack to every game, and they sing ‘Hey Jude’, which the rest of the team find hilarious.

“I’d like to win something here, I’d like them to look at me as Chris Waddle is viewed down in Marseille , they love him down there, and he’s still a legend.

“The English clubs that were in for me, no disrespect to them, were mid table Premier League clubs. I thought to myself, ‘I could go and do that but will it get my blood boiling?’

“At Lille, we have a shot at the domestic title, and we are doing well in Europe, and that excites me. I want to stay at this level, and I want to fight for that.

“Of course, I could go back to Liverpool in the summer, and if I do, I’d give it another go with all my energy and all my desire, and try and make it work because it’s a blot on my career that I would like to make right.”

So far, Cole has scored 3 goals and collected 4 assists in 16 games with the French club, since his loan move from Liverpool. If indeed Lille are about to make a permanent move for him, Cole’s wages could be a problem for them. Liverpool are paying a good portion of his 90000 pound/week salary. If he moves to Lille on the same terms, it is unlikely that they would pay his whole wage.