West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has told Stoke City that they will have to increase their bid if they want to sign Hammers striker Carlton Cole.
Cole had previously been targeted by Allardyce as one of three West Ham players that could be sold along with Scott Parker and Robert Green following the Hammers’ relegation to the Championship.
The Potters have apparently submitted a bid of �3million plus various add-ons for 27-year-old Cole, which has been ruled as ‘not good enough’ by Allardyce.
“I believe at this stage that the offer is not good enough,” he told The Sentinel.
“It is not to the club’s valuation. We are keen to keep our key players.
“However, we have lost our Premier League status and our financial position has to be addressed.
“A part of that might be players are sold back to the Premier League, but only so long as that is right for our club.”
England international Cole scored 11 goals in 26 appearances for the Hammers last season, and had expressed a willing to stay at West Ham to help fire the club back into the Premier League.
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