When Liverpool today announced the signing of Joe Cole, he had already been linked with Arsenal 66 times (only counting this blog's sources up until yesterday).
On 2 May, the Daily Star first linked Cole with "Wenger's wish-list", as they put it. The rumour needed some time to gather pace, but in the last few weeks Arsenal and Tottenham have seemed to fight it out between themselves for the former Chelsea midfielder.
He ended up choosing Liverpool for reasons I can only guess at. Earlier reports have suggested that Cole wanted to stay in London with his partner and newborn child, and wanted Champions League football. Then, later reports have claimed that Cole wanted more money than either Arsenal or Tottenham were prepared to pay him. So I'll proclaim that as the rumoured reason for Cole's choice of new employer...
Anyway, Cole has been the player most often linked with Arsenal this Silly Season. Even more than Laurent Koscielny, who ended up signing in the end.
[adding later] Matt Law of the Daily Express has tweeted that Arsenal offered Joe Cole £80,000 per week for two years. Tottenham offered £65,000 p/w for three years, but added a significant signing-on-fee. Then Liverpool offered a four-year deal for £90,000 p/w. So the Europa League it is for Cole.
Monday, 19 July 2010
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