---
title: "Hodgson denies rumours of a move for Carlton Cole"
canonical: "https://readcrystalpalace.com/2017/09/30/hodgson-denies-rumours-of-a-move-for-carlton-cole/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ryan Darby"
section: "Crystal Palace News"
published: "2017-09-30T08:28:48Z"
modified: "2017-09-30T08:28:48Z"
---

# Hodgson denies rumours of a move for Carlton Cole

New Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has denied rumours that the club are looking to sign Carlton Cole on a free transfer.

[The Croydon Advertiser](https://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/crystal-palace-boss-roy-hodgson-553957) reports that the Palace boss was none the wiser when he was quizzed about the possibility of the former West Ham striker joining the club.

> Has he? I don’t know about that. Not to me, he hasn’t been mentioned. We have got a sporting director, Dougie Freedman, who is doing a remarkable job. He \[Dougie\] is working unbelievably hard to turn over every particular stone to hopefully find something under the stone.

Cole was linked with a Premier League return with Palace in desperate need of a recognised striker.

Christian Benteke is due to be sidelined for several weeks, leaving the club short of firepower.

Freddie Ladapo is Palace’s only fit centre-forward but the in-experienced striker has not featured in the Premier League for Palace before.

![Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readcrystalpalace.com/readcrystalpalace/sites/17/2017/09/583774866.jpg)

Ladapo, who has played a large chunk of his football in non-league, spent last season on loan at Oldham after joining the club in 2016.

The 24-year-old is likely to be named on the bench for the game against Manchester United.