Revealed: Steven Gerrard persuaded Joe Cole to join Liverpool
Published 23:00 19/07/10 By David Maddock
Steven Gerrard was a key influence in persuading Joe Cole to sign a four-year deal with Liverpool.
And that will offer encouragement for all Kop fans, who want their big name stars to still be at Anfield for the start of the season.
England star Cole has agreed a near £90,000-a-week contract that will keep him at the Merseyside club until 2014.
But it is the momentum of such a big-name signing that is the key for Liverpool, with former Anfield legend Ian Rush describing the capture as “a sign to our supporters that the club means business.”
Cole has spoken to Reds skipper Gerrard several times before turning down counter offers from both Arsenal and Spurs, both during and after England’s World Cup debacle.
There are still no guarantees that Gerrard and team-mate Fernando Torres will remain at the club with several top European sides expressing interest.
But it is clear that Cole believes they will stay, after he turned his back on Champions’ League football this season to join Roy Hodgson’s new era at the club.
The England winger was available on a free transfer after refusing a new contract at Chelsea, and Arsenal were the strong favourites to sign him after talks last week.
But even though he has strong London roots, Cole has turned down bigger offers to join Liverpool, and the prospect of a partnership with Gerrard which can be translated onto the England stage played a major part in his deliberations.
Cole will undergo a medical tomorrow and should complete his move within the next 48 hours. He will return to training with his new club along with England team-mates Gerrard and Jamie Carragher next week.
New boss Hodgson has pulled off a major coup with his first signing, which will be funded - ironically - by the sale of Yossi Benayoun to Chelsea for £5million.
The Anfield manager is hoping that will not be his only deal of the week, because he is keen to bring in a new left back before the deadline for the third qualifying round of the Europa League next week.
Hodgson has been monitoring Wigan defender Manyor Figueroa, and could make an official approach within the next 48 hours.
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