Crystal Palace want Carlton Cole to solve their goalscoring woes – but the striker would prefer a move to Bolton Wanderers or Hull City.
Crystal Palace are now the first team in Premier League history to fail to score in any of their first six games of a new season. Therefore, news that Christian Benteke, the club’s only senior centre-forward and scorer of 15 goals last season, will miss six weeks with a knee injury is nothing short of disastrous.
Consequently, The Standard reported that a desperate Palace are now considering dipping into the free-agent market in order to find a short-term, stop gap solution. And Carlton Cole, who has not scored a league goal in two years, is under genuine consideration, according to the Daily Star.
The former England international, who has played in London previously for Chelsea, Charlton and West Ham, left Indonesian outfit Persib Bandung in October after five goalless games.
He also failed to score in four matches for USA second-tier side Sacramento Republic and had a two-year contract at Scottish giants Celtic terminated after just eight months.
However, there is still no shortage of interest in the 33-year-old. The Daily Star add that Championship duo Hull City and Bolton Wanderers are interested and it is understood that Cole, who has been training with Southend United, sees a Championship move as a more secure option.
Whether he could come in handy at Hull or Bolton remains to be seen. Hull boss Leonid Slutsky lamented his side’s inability to take their chances during a hugely frustrating 1-1 draw with Reading on Saturday and, with star striker Abel Hernandez ruled out until the New Year with injury, attacking reinforcements may be welcome.
Bolton, meanwhile, are desperately in need of additions. They are four points adrift at the bottom of the table already and are the league’s lowest scorers with four goals in nine games.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
