West Ham hope to seal Joe Cole swoop in time for cup tie

WEST HAM hope to finalise the transfer of Joe Cole from Liverpool today.

Prodigal son Cole is set for an emotional return to Upton Park on a free after completing his medical.

He came up through the ranks at the Hammers and could mark his second coming in tomorrow’s FA Cup third round clash with Manchester United.

That will depend on the paperwork going through in time, with Liverpool having agreed to cancel the player’s contract.

The Reds are giving Cole, 31, a year’s wages to get him off the books at Anfield.
West Ham will pick up the remaining 18 months of his £90,000-a-week deal.

It will mark the end a nightmare 2½-year spell on Merseyside for the former Chelsea player.

Midfielder Cole started just nine Premier League games since he swapped blue for red in July 2010 — and spent last season on loan at French club Lille.