Cole wants long-term Lille switch

On-loan midfielder Joe Cole has reportedly signalled his desire to make a permanent switch from Liverpool to Ligue 1 champions Lille.

Cole joined Lille in August on a season-long loan after being deemed surplus to requirements at Anfield.

The 30-year-old has told friends he is enjoying life so much on and off the field that he would be happy to extend his stay in northern France.

“Joe is really enjoying his football with Lille and loving life in France so he’s thinking that he could end up staying there for the long run,” a source close to the midfielder told Goal.com.

“All he has ever wanted to do is play football regularly and that is what he is doing with Lille and he likes the fact that they play good football.”

“He knows that he still has to brush up on his French but he has really settled in.”

“No firm decisions have been made over his future but the way things are going I can see him staying with Lille for quite a while.”

“He has got a smile on his face which is great. All along he’s been saying that he would stay if he was happy and he could not be happier with Lille.”

Cole remains a Liverpool player having signed a four-year contract with the Merseyside club in 2010.

He joined Liverpool when Roy Hodgson was in charge but was told he could play his football elsewhere as new manager Kenny Dalglish continued to overhaul his squad in the close season.

“Joe thinks Liverpool is a great club and (he) desperately wanted to be a success there but the way things have gone it seems as though it was it was the wrong place at the wrong time,” the source said.

Cole has not given up hope that he could force his way back into the England set up, and has also expressed an interest in playing for Team GB at the 2012 Olympics.

“He has always loved playing for England and as long as he is playing good football he won’t stop trying to get back into the team,” the source said.

“Club football comes first and if he keeps doing well with Lille he could get in the frame, especially when they’re in the Champions League. It is a long shot but he knows that anything could happen between now and Euro 2012.”

Lille president Michael Seydoux suggested last month the club would consider making Liverpool “an interesting offer” in order to keep Cole at the club beyond the summer.