Rumor: West Ham striker Carlton Cole to MLS

Carlton Cole, the 6'3" English striker, told Sky Sports that he would like to stay at current club West Ham United and that "[He] loves everything about West Ham." However, Cole also admitted, "I wouldn't mind a bit of China or even the MLS, you never know. I'm really open and I just want to see what offers are on the table and take it from there."

Cole recently had a move to West Bromwich Albion break down on the last day of the January transfer window after West Ham was unable to secure the services of Emmanuel Adebayor. He joined West Ham in 2006 and has scored 67 goals with the club. He has been capped 7 times for England with all of the matches coming in 2009 and 2010. The Croydon native holds the record for the most substitute appearances for the Engilsh national team without starting a single match.

Cole was previously linked to MLS by the Mirror in 2013 and was connected to DC United, the San Jose Earthquakes, the Houston Dynamo, and the LA Galaxy. Los Angeles was "his preferred destination."

Is Cole's attraction to Major League Soccer legitimate or an attempt to raise his price with a future club? It remains to be seen.

Do you want Carlton Cole in Major League Soccer? Would he be worth a Designated Player contract?