Former Chelsea and Liverpool winger Joe Cole set for permanent Coventry switch

Cole has picked up 56 international caps for England and won three Premier League titles during his career

Joe Cole has made an impression at Coventry City (Getty)

Aston Villa’s forgotten man Joe Cole is closing in on a permanent switch to Coventry City.

The 34-year-old, who has 56 England caps to his name, has been on loan at the Ricoh Arena since October but will need to take a significant wage-cut to complete the move.

Cole made just 12 appearances for the Villains before being informed by previous manager Tim Sherwood that his services were no longer required in the summer.

Sherwood’s successor Remi Garde has adopted that stance since replacing the former Tottenham boss. According to the Birmingham Mail, Cole has been excused from Coventry training to negotiate his departure from Villa Park.

The former Chelsea and Liverpool winger has helped Coventry rise into the League One play-offs in recent weeks with Tony Mowbray’s men just four points adrift of leaders Burton Albion.

Joe Cole celebrates scoring for England (GETTY IMAGES)

Mowbray confirmed to the press this month that Cole, who won three Premier League titles at Stamford Bridge between 2003-10, will have to take a significant pay cut to join them.

“I think the player will help us but there’s a number of discussions to be had, not just with our football club and the clubs concerned,” the 52-year-old Sky Blues manager explained.

“There’s no way we could pay similar sorts of salary levels so they’ll have discussions with their parent clubs and after that we need to have discussions with their advisors. So there’s lots of stuff to be talked about.”