Reds ponder Cole swap

Liverpool and Lille are both interested in a swap deal involving Joe Cole and Moussa Sow, according to reports in France.

The players are currently team-mates at French champions Lille after Cole agreed a season-long loan spell.

And Lille are looking into making the 30-year-old’s stay at Stade Lille-Metropole permanent, according to Le Parisien.

Sow is one of the most in-demand forwards in Europe after finishing last season as the Ligue 1 top scorer and has attracted interest from Arsenal and Tottenham.

The Senegalese international, who is currently on Africa Cup of Nations duty, has made it clear he would prefer to ply his trade in the Premier League.

Any possible swap is likely to see Liverpool pay a small fee towards the deal with Sow’s value appearing to be higher.

The deal may be beneficial to Lille as the striker’s current contract is due to expire in 2013; and gaining the impressive Cole would soften the blow of the 25-year-old’s exit.

If both clubs accept the proposal, the two players would be unlikely to leave their respective sides until the end of the season.