• Premier League

West Ham slap £10m price tag on striker Cole

Carlton Cole is expected to be sold in the January transfer window © Getty Images

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Carlton Cole, a two-goal hero for West Ham United against Manchester United in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night, will command a £10 million price tag when he goes up for sale in the January transfer window.

The Hammers are hoping that Cole's performance against United will ignite fresh interest in the England centre-forward, who has fallen out with manager Avram Grant.

Grant axed Cole from the 'Save Our Season' Premier League game with Wigan and the Hammers suddenly hit form without him in the side. Cole was only recalled on Tuesday night because of injuries and grabbed a brace in a 4-0 win at Upton Park.

Cole has given Grant every reason to consider keeping him in the team, but the big question is whether the manager will ever completely forgive or forget the way the striker criticised his boss and his team-mates after the mauling at Anfield.

Even if Grant does give Cole another chance, a £10 million offer would be too good for the Hammers to refuse.

Cole attracted interest last summer, with Liverpool, Sunderland, Birmingham, Stoke and Fulham leading the chase, and a deal to take him to Anfield broke down on transfer deadline day. The Hammers were holding out for £12 million after initially placing a £15 million price tag on his head.

Grant needs money to rebuild the team and cannot wait until the summer given the club's precarious position at the foot of the Premier League table.

Jonathan Spector is another player earmarked for a January transfer but he might be given another chance in the midfield role in which he too bagged a brace against United.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.