Turkish side Kasimpasa have made an enquiry for West Ham striker Carlton Cole, according to Sky Sports. The 29 year old hitman is out of contract in the summer and has yet to be offered a new deal by the club he has pledged his future to on numerous occasions and for who he turned down offers after relegation in 2011 from Premier League side Stoke City and Turkish side Galatasary in order to stay with the Hammers in the Championship last season, taking a 50% wage cut in the process. However, the West Ham board have not shown him the same loyalty and may well cash in on the big striker now, rather than risk losing him for nothing in the summer. The Turkish side are reportedly in talks with the Hammers over a fee and we are supposedly willing to sell for a figure in the region of £3 million. The Istanbul side face competition for Cole's signature, with more illustrious rivals Galatasary and Fenerbache also keeping tabs on the situation. Cole himself may be more attracted by one of these two offers; with Galatasary facing a Champions League last 16 tie against German side Schalke 04, and Fenerbache also in European competition, having made the last 32 in the Europa League. It would be a shame to see Carlton go; he's not the best striker we've ever had, but I can't remember a West Ham striker with the energy, determination and sheer heart that he has, and those qualities are rare in football these days.
By Alex Shilling
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