AS Roma fullback Ashley Cole is being linked with a return to England.

The Mirror says the former England defender is scheduled to hold talks with Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini in the next few days after falling out of favour with coach Rudi Garcia.

Cole, 34, impressed on his arrival at the club on a free transfer from Chelsea in the summer, but the last of his 10 appearances came at the end of November.

Sabatini is expected to tell Cole that he is free to find another club - and relegation-threatened Crystal Palace were interested before they parted company with manager Neil Warnock last week.

If new Palace boss Alan Pardew gives the go-ahead, the Eagles may revive their interest. But Cole would have to take a significant cut in wages to make a return to London happen or hope that Roma will subsidise a deal.