Lille rule out Cole deal

French side Lille have confirmed that they can't afford to turn Liverpool forward Joe Cole's loan stay into a permanent deal.

The England international joined last season's French champions on a season-long loan deal last summer following a disappointing campaign at Anfield. And, while Cole, who has scored eight goals and had five assists in 35 appearances for the Ligue 1 side this term, has expressed a desire to stay put, chairman Michel Seydoux admitted the figures involved could be prohibitive. He said: "It's rare that an England international comes to France and that he then publicly declares he wants to stay. "We will see. I haven't found a machine yet that lets you make beautiful bank notes by pedalling." Seydoux added: "It's true that the league table will have a bearing on Lille's recruitment."