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Joe Cole is being lined up as Paul Lambert’s next summer freebie – after holding positive talks with Aston Villa.

Cole is believed to be having a medical this evening with the view to joining the claret and blues in the next few days.

He is available on a free transfer after being released by West Ham and Lambert has identified the former England midfielder as the man to fill Villa’s long-running vacancy for a playmaker.

The 32-year-old’s representatives have met with Villa officials to discuss a possible deal as Lambert looks to add to last week’s capture of defender Philippe Senderos on a Bosman deal.

If Villa do sign Cole it will be second time lucky after Alex McLeish tried to loan the player from Liverpool in August 2011, only for him to go to French club Lille instead.

Another of Villa’s midfield targets, Jack Colback, completed a move across the Tyne-Wear divide to join Newcastle from fierce rivals Sunderland earlier today.

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