Cole on future

West Ham transfer target Joe Cole says that he would like to make a fist of it at Liverpool - but isn't ruling out a move elsewhere this summer.

The former Hammers youngster, who moved to Chelsea in 2003 when West Ham were relegated from the Premiership is on Sam Allardyce's radar following United's return to the top flight.

Having spent last season on loan with Lille in France, the 30-year-old is back in the UK in order to resurrect his career. But until his parent club hire a replacement for the sacked Kenny Dalglish, his immediate future remains uncertain.

Speaking in today's Mail, Cole said: "There is still a part of me that would really love to make it work and I don’t want to have a bad spell at Anfield on my CV. But it is out of my hands now.

"At the minute I can’t rule anything in or out. We have got to speak to Liverpool and see what happens there."

Cole made his debut for West Ham aged just 17 when appearing as a second-half substitute in the 1-1 draw with Swansea in the third round of the FA Cup back in January 1999.

He went on to make 150 in all competitions for the Hammers over the course of the next four years, including a spell as captain in the 2002/03 relegation season.

In the summer of 2003, he was sold to Chelsea for £6m and spent the next seven years at Stamford Bridge before sealing a free transfer switch to Liverpool. However that move turned sour and after just nine league starts he was sent out on loan to Lille.

On his year in Ligue 1, Cole admitted that it was the perfect tonic following his failed spell at Liverpool. "It was exactly what I needed," he said. "It is a bit slower, a bit more tactical. I will have to do extra work [in England] because I will be going back to that 100mph pace, but I’m sure it will be okay.

"I have been able to learn about the tactical side of the game. Foreign players tend to embrace that more than we do. But we will just have to wait and see what happens; whatever is the case, I am delighted with how things have gone."

West Ham Chairman David Gold admitted this morning that it would be "fantastic" if Cole returned to east London. Speaking on Talksport this morning, he said: "It would be a romantic thing to happen but I'd be very, very surprised.

"But you never know - you've just got to wait and see. I have to say Joe Cole didn't come up on Sam's [transfer target] list a few weeks ago, whether that's now the case only time will tell."