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Redknapp confirms Cole interest

Joe Cole's focus is on the World Cup with England © Getty Images

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has declared his interest in signing Joe Cole on a free transfer from Chelsea in an exclusive interview with Soccernet.

England international Cole is currently in South Africa as part of Fabio Capello's World Cup squad but his contract with Chelsea expires in the summer and he is free to discuss his future with other clubs.

Redknapp told Soccernet: "Yes, I am prepared to declare my interest in Joe Cole, why not, he is a great player, his contract is up and he is on a free transfer.

"I have genuinely not spoken to Joe about coming to Spurs, he is at the World Cup and quite rightly he needs to concentrate on trying to win it with England. But when he returns I would love to talk to him about coming to Spurs."

Cole was sidelined for the majority of the season with a serious knee injury but fought his way back into the Chelsea side in time to win the Premier League title. He has been a key figure at Stamford Bridge since his switch from West Ham United in 2003 and has been linked with some of the England's biggest clubs now that his contract is running down.

Redknapp said: "For free he would be a fantastic signing for anybody, and I have seen him linked with Arsenal and Manchester United among others, which just shows you the quality of the player.

"From my point of view I have been linked with dozens of players but I am not in any hurry, there are no moves pending and it's all very quiet for a change, I am not in any moves for anyone.

"I know people will say that is not like me, but in the past I have turned up to inherit crap teams and had to work hard to turn it all around and improve them, which meant a lot of buying and selling. But not now at Spurs, I don't.

"I am looking for the right player to make a difference, and so I would have to say that Joe Cole is one of the few players who would fit into that category.

"But I don't know if he will stay at Chelsea eventually, that they might make him the offer that he accepts when he comes back from the World Cup. We shall have to wait and see, but for sure he would be the right option for me, if it was possible."

Cole had a hand in both goals during England's 2-1 win over Japan at their World Cup training camp in Austria and scored in a 3-0 win against South African club side Platinum Stars on Monday.

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