Joe Cole comments on West Ham reportedly being offered free agent Diego Costa

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Joe Cole has told JOE’s All To Play For podcast that he believes West Ham United “dodged a bullet” in avoiding free agent Diego Costa, after the Spaniard was reportedly offered to the Hammers on numerous occasions throughout January.

Costa, 32, was released by Atletico Madrid earlier in the season after a couple of injuries and a lack of game time. He had scored two La Liga goals in seven games, but since then, the powerhouse striker remains a free agent.

The Metro report that West Ham were offered the chance to sign Costa more than just once during January, with the club looking to bring in a striker after selling Sebastian Haller to Ajax. However, they have decided against signing anyone.

Instead, they brought in Jesse Lingard from Manchester United and he scored a brace in a 3-1 away win over Aston Villa earlier this week. Cole spoke about West Ham signing the ex-Chelsea man and thinks the Hammers made the right decision.

“I think his legs have gone big man,” Cole said, in response to comedian and podcast host Tom Davies. “I think you’ve dodged a bullet there. If they can manage [Michail] Antonio until the end of the season, they can do something. He is so important.

“I watched him the other day a few times – I know at times in his career he has looked heavy, uninterested and then sparks into life and gets 10 in 10 – but I don’t think that would have ended well.”

TBR’s view – West Ham desperately needed a striker

But as Cole says, the decision for West Ham to ignore advances to sign Costa is the right decision. The Spaniard would have cost a fortune in wages and has already shown this season that he has muscle problems.

The Hammers reportedly made offers for Sevilla’s Youssef En-Nesyri and Cagliari’s Giovanni Simeone – the son of the manager who released Costa. They needed a striker, but avoiding Costa was the right decision.