July 15, 2007
Besiktas cough up cash for Cole
TURKISH giants Besiktas are lining up a £3m move for West Ham striker Carlton Cole. The former England Under-21 international only joined the Hammers a year ago in a £2m switch from Chelsea. Sources close to Besiktas say a bid for Cole, who signed a four-year deal with the Hammers, is imminent.
The 23 year old made just five Premiership starts last season but scored twice in the league as he battled competition from Carlos Tevez, Bobby Zamora, Marlon Harewood and Teddy Sheringham. Even though Argentina ace Tevez is bound for Manchester United, West Ham still have a wealth of attacking talent - Craig Bellamy signed this week in a club-record £7.5m move from Liverpool and Dean Ashton is returning from long-term injury. Cole joined Chelsea as a youngster and had loan spells with Wolves, Charlton and Aston Villa before moving to Upton Park.
Can West Ham afford to lose another striker with Tevez looking certain to leave, and is a move to Turkey the right choice for Cole? Share your ideas below...
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