West Ham Make Ambitious Offer for Joe Cole and Thierry Henry: David Gold Believes Chances are 10/1 to Seal Deal?

Upton Park co-owners makes audacious transfer market plans.

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West Ham have not given up hope of bringing Joe Cole and Thierry Henry to the club, co-chairman David Gold has revealed.

Cole will become a free agent at the end of the month when his contract with Barclays Premier League champions Chelsea expires, while former Arsenal striker Henry could leave Spanish giants Barcelona this summer.

Since taking over West Ham in January, Gold and co-chairman David Sullivan have made it clear they are intent on making a “marquee” signing that would boost the stature and commercial backing of the club.

After failing in their quest to sign former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, the duo turned their attention to Henry, and then Cole, who began his career at the club before moving to Chelsea for £6million in 2003.

The club have made offers to Cole and Henry and expect to hear back from both players after the World Cup.

“We, as much as anyone, want England to do well at the World Cup so there’s absolutely no chance of us talking to Joe during the World Cup,” Gold told Press Association Sport.

“We wouldn’t do that during this very delicate period but after that, that’s a different matter.

“When it comes to big transfers we don’t like to any stone unturned.

“The chance of getting Cole is 10/1 and therefore there is a one in 10 chance of us getting him. We probably won’t get him but the offer is still there.

“There is the same chance of Henry coming but we will try.” (Independent)

David Gold is a brave man to give odds of just 10/1 on these signings happening. 20/1 may be a more fair reflection of the likelihood. That being said we are talking about a side that snapped up Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano a few years back.

Joe Cole has so many offers on the table that even a return to his former stamping ground will probably be a bridge too far. Had he been two or three years older and ready to try a different kind of challenge then perhaps it would have been possible but we are talking about a player with Champions League and international hopes.

Thierry Henry’s move seems infinitely less likely. I don’t see the former Arsenal man considering a move to any other Premier League side except the one that he made himself a legend at. Indeed if Arsene Wenger made the call and was willing to break his over 30 year old contract policy then maybe thats a move that could realistically be a goes.

A move to the MLS and the New York Red Bulls appears to be the most likely destination for the French international and that move will greatly assist the MLS in improving its status as a worthy footballing alternative for European players.