Cole has long been linked with a move away from the Hammers and the club have already turned down a Stoke bid fo £9million plus £3million on appearances for the 26-year-old.
A Hammers insider told The Sun: “It has to be a big price for Carlton. With just days to go before the season starts, the club don’t want to be left in the lurch.
“If things happened earlier, maybe the price could have been lower.”
