Carlton Cole open to Crystal Palace move

Carlton Cole has revealed that he would be interested in joining Crystal Palace on a free transfer.

Palace have lost their first seven games of the 2017-18 Premier League season without scoring a single goal, and with Christian Benteke facing six weeks on the sidelines, it is understood that the Eagles are considering signing a free agent to boost their attack.

Palace boss Roy Hodgson played down suggestions of a move for 33-year-old over the weekend, but the former West Ham United striker has revealed that he is "ready to go".

"I've not heard anything. You never know what happens in football. Clubs need strikers to take the pressure off. Obviously I'm here and ready to go," Cole told Sky Sports News.

"I don't know what's going on [regarding my agent fixing a move], to be honest. I'm just waiting for a phone call to see if a team is ready for me to go there and see where that takes me.

"I'm scoring goals and playing up front in the Premier League is hard but I obviously think I've got what it takes and I know what it takes. It's all rumours at the moment so we'll keep it like that. I want to stay in England. I don't want to go abroad anymore, I've done that. Anything close to home would be good for me."

Cole had been on trial with League One side Southend United in August, before Shrimpers boss Phil Brown claimed that the striker, who last represented Indonesian side Persib Bandung, had "disappeared off the face of the earth".