Cole linked with Anfield

Manchester United and Liverpool will fight it out for £20m-rated West Ham striker Carlton Cole, according to a report.

The England international has made great strides at Upton Park under boss Gianfranco Zola after swapping Chelsea for the Hammers in July 2006, winning six caps after making his Three Lions debut in February.

And now the Daily Mail is claiming the 26-year-old hitman is a target for both Sir Alex Ferguson and Rafa Benitez, although West Ham insist they do not need to sell key men after slamming rumours over their financial position.

A spokesman is quoted as saying: "We want to keep all our best players and the suggestion that we need to sell because of a financial crisis is not true."

However, a £20m bid from either Old Trafford or Anfield would give the Upton Park moneymen serious food for thought and a move to either makes sense.

United have cash to spend after selling Cristiano Ronaldo and do not currently have a burly player like Cole on their books, while Liverpool desperately need to sign cover for star man Fernando Torres.

Cole misses England's friendly against Brazil in Qatar on Saturday because of injury.