WestHamFirm

Sam1 · Wed May 07, 2008 6:54 pm Keane keen on Cole

WEST Ham striker Carlton Cole is reportedly a summer target for Sunderland.

Black Cats boss Roy Keane is looking to provide Kenwyne Jones with a suitable partner up front and is willing to pay £2 million for the former Chelsea forward, although Celtic and Middlesbrough are also interested.

Cole (pictured) has endured a rollercoaster season with the Irons.

The former England U21 star - who has had loan spells at Wolves, Aston Villa and Charlton - was playing only a bit-part role earlier in the campaign and was subjected to the Upton Park boo-boys.

But injuries to forwards Craig Bellamy, Bobby Zamora and Dean Ashton provided the powerful striker with an extended run in the first team and he soon won the crowd over with his high work rate and dedication to the team.

He has also scored six goals in 21 Premier League starts.
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However, Cole has struggled to hold down a regular starting place in recent months and may now be seen as ideal fodder for the expected Upton Park clearout in the summer.

Guardian series

Take him, 10/10 for effort but not really a striker who will gett a good games:goals ratio and if we want to progress i think we need better.

Sam1 · Wed May 07, 2008 6:58 pm

Roy Keane has made a move for West Ham striker Carlton Cole.

Sunderland boss Keane has made a £2million inquiry for the former England Under-21 striker.

But Celtic boss Gordon Strachan and Middlesbrough's Gareth Southgate have also been in contact with the Hammers, who are ready to sell Cole as part of a big clear-out this summer.

The ex-Chelsea trainee, who also had spells at Aston Villa, Charlton and Wolves, has struggled to hold down a regular place after the return of fit-again striker Dean Ashton. West Ham boss Alan Curbishley is under strict orders to reduce the wage bill, which could see the back of the club's top earners like Lucas Neill, Freddie Ljungberg and Kieron Dyer.

But Curbishley will also allow some fringe players to go and Cole has attracted a lot of interest.

Keane has cash to spend this summer and wants to beef up his attack and provide quality back-up for Kenwyne Jones.

Curbishley has also been full of praise for the 24-year-old's improved attitude this season and is reluctant to let Cole go.

Mirror.co.uk

Gioseppe · Wed May 07, 2008 7:46 pm

I was expecting rumours about Cole because I think he will leave this summer. I won't miss him much if we keep our other forwards and they don't get injured next season.

Peter Parka · Sun May 11, 2008 4:17 pm

Not really needed if we dont get bad injury problems again. Still think him and the Z man are good back up strikers though, I'm not too sure on this one, really.