West Ham United chairman David Gold has played down talk of a move for former Hammers midfielder Joe Cole.

The 30-year-old Liverpool midfielder spent the season on loan at French club Lille, with recent reports suggesting that he could move back to Upton Park.

However, Gold has admitted that he would be "very, very surprised" to see the club to secure the England international.

"It's going to be a busy summer. Joe Cole moving to West Ham would be a fantastic and romantic thing to happen but I would be very, very surprised," Gold told talkSPORT.

"He didn't come up on Sam Allardyce's list of players he wants to sign a couple of months ago. Whether that's still the case, only time will tell."

West Ham secured promotion to the Premier League via the playoffs.