West Ham United have slapped a £20 million price-tag on striker Carlton Cole.

The Sun says the East Londoners are desperate to keep hold of the England striker, who only signed a lucrative four-year deal at the club 12 months ago.

Cole, 26 today, has been a revelation since Gianfranco Zola's arrival last season and is firmly in the running for a place in Fabio Capello's World Cup squad.

But Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is desperate to ease the pressure on injury-stricken star striker Fernando Torres.

Cole has six goals already this term and Hammers chiefs are confident of keeping hold of their leading scorer in the January transfer window.