• Premier League

Joe Cole in the dark over Liverpool future

ESPN staff
February 2, 2012
Joe Cole has settled well in French football © Getty Images
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The January transfer window passed with very little activity at Liverpool, and Joe Cole has revealed there were no talks with the club regarding his long-term future.

Cole is currently on a season-long loan at Lille, where he is reviving his career after a disastrous time under former Reds boss Roy Hodgson. The England man recently hit a hat-trick for his temporary employers, whose fans have grown to like their foreign import.

In Cole's absence Liverpool have been unpredictable this season, reaching the Carling Cup final and knocking Manchester United out of the FA Cup, yet drawing seven league games on home territory. In 11 league encounters at Anfield, they have scored just 14 goals.

Cole is the type of player who once built a career on unlocking defences so the argument for his requirement on Merseyside is obvious. However, he admits he is fairly content in France and heard nothing from Liverpool during the January window.

"It is still a little difficult for me to talk about my future," Cole said in L'Equipe. "What I want? I don't wish to talk about it now, because it is not that simple.

"I am really very happy here and my family too. But up to now I have not talked with Liverpool.

"Do I miss English football? I don't know. The only thing I miss is the dressing room. I can't understand all the jokes and that is frustrating. French is more difficult than I thought. But I try to be very serious with my lessons."

Cole is realistic enough to know that the Premier League is stronger than France's Ligue 1 competition, but he also stressed that the English game can learn from its European counterpart.

"I like the atmosphere in Ligue 1, the closeness between TV and players," he said. "The interviews before, in the middle and after the match are very friendly. The Premier League should get inspired by that."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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