Off contract Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole must drop his wage demands to find a new club.
The Telegraph says Cole will have to lower his £100,000-per-week wage demands if he is to secure a move to a Premier League club.
Manchester United have already balked at the England midfielder's pay requirements and while Tottenham remain the favourites to sign the 28-year-old, they also will not meet the salary he wants.
Cole was released by Chelsea at the start of this month, having failed to agree a new contract. Although he is not a first-team regular he asked to be moved into the club's top bracket of earners alongside the likes of Frank Lampard and John Terry.
Even so Spurs are confident that they will eventually sign Cole who has made clear that he would prefer to remain in England rather than move abroad. West Ham United and Arsenal have also made enquiries as have Liverpool and Manchester City, who have the cash to satisfy his demands. However, City have, for now, decided to pursue other targets such as Cole's World Cup team-mate James Milner.
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