Cash strapped West Ham will demand £20million from Liverpool for Carlton Cole, reports the Daily Mail. Although boss Gianfranco Zola is desperate to hang on to his star man, the Hammers are under pressure to sell in the New Year.

They are now owned by Icelandic investment bank Straumur, who have to satisfy creditors themselves.

Cole, who signed a new five-year contract last year, turned 26 on Thursday, and has emerged as one of the Barclays Premier League top strikers after reigniting his career under former Chelsea team-mate Zola.