Liverpool have today signed Joe Cole on a 4 year deal. Cole had been without a club since before the start of the World Cup after being released by Chelsea at the end of last season. Despite being heavily linked with Tottenham, Cole has ended the speculation and put pen to paper with the reds in a deal thought to be worth around £90,000/week.

Harry Redknapp has made no secret of his desire to sign Cole in recent weeks but it appears Cole’s wage demands were the stumbling block. Tottenham are though to have a rigid wage structure in place and they didn’t want to change that. Considering that Cole would have been valued at around the £10m mark had he been in contract I think Tottenham have made a mistake. The money saved in the transfer fee could have been used towards Cole’s wages, but alas it wasn’t to be.

It’s a strong first move from new Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson and it’s a transfer that Hodgson will hope tempts Gerrard and Torres to stay at Anfield for the forthcoming season.

28 year old Cole will wear the legendary number 7 shirt that has been worn by Anfield greats such as Harry Kewell, Robbie Keane and Vladimir Smicer (only joking Liverpool fans!).