West Ham United want to take Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole on-loan.
The Mail on Sunday says Reds boss Roy Hodgson is prepared to release Cole, but his big contract is proving a stumbling block for any interested rival.
It may even explain Hodgson's extraordinary comment last week that Cole was not his original choice of signing.
The 29-year-old England international has struggled at Anfield and is wanted on loan for the rest of the season by his former club West Ham.
