Liverpool Transfer News Latest: Joe Cole Set to Join French Club Lille on Loan

Liverpool's squad continues to be trimmed by Kenny Dalglish ahead of the transfer window closure on Wednesday with the news that midfielder Joe Cole is close to joining French outfit Lille on loan for the remainder of the season.

Earlier in the week, Cole was said to be interesting two London-based clubs in QPR and Tottenham Hotspur, but it now appears that Cole is set to leave the English leagues for the first time in his career to try his hand in Ligue 1.

Cole made his debut for Liverpool last season under Roy Hodgson against FK Rabotnicki at Anfield in a Europa League qualifier, but after a promising early showing, he suffered setbacks with a penalty miss in another qualifier before a red card on his Premier League debut against Arsenal.

The former West Ham captain made 32 appearances in all during his debut season for Liverpool, but most of those came from the bench, as he was unable to force his way into the starting lineup under Kenny Dalglish in the second half of last season as the Reds recovered from their abysmal start.

Among few highlights for Cole until now at Anfield was his last-minute winner against Bolton Wanderers last season, but so far he has failed to even make the match-day squad for any of Liverpool's league games or the League Cup fixture against Exeter City this year.

No indication has yet been given of whether the loan deal includes an option for a permanent transfer, but it seems that Cole's Liverpool career is coming to an abrupt end after just one year at Anfield.