Real Madrid have made Ashley Cole their No 1 target to fill the
problem left-back position.
The Spanish club are looking for a world-class recruit to
replace the disappointing Alvaro Arbeloa this summer and believe
Cole's personal problems could tempt him to quit the Barclays
Premier League.
World class: Cole is a key member of the Chelsea
defence
Chelsea's high demands are a barrier to the deal - with the
Blues thought to be seeking at least £25million for the 29-year-old
- but the Bernabeu giants will persist in their pursuit if given
encouragement by the player's camp.
Troubled: Ashley Cole and wife Cheryl, the Girls
Aloud singer, have split
They could even tempt him with a 50 per cent increase on his
current £100,000 a week Stamford Bridge deal, which still has
another three full seasons to run.
There are suggestions that Cole could seek a move abroad to
escape headlines revealing alleged affairs, revelations that led to
a separation with wife Cheryl.
Madrid are riding high in La Liga, but still see their defence
as inferior to Barcelona's. Arbeloa has not impressed since a £3.5m
summer move from Liverpool and head coach Manuel Pellegrini sees
Brazil international Marcelo as more of a midfielder.
Madrid director general Jorge Valdano has been charged with
drawing up a list of potential replacements and the Argentine sees
Cole as being both attainable and good enough.
Manchester United's Patrice Evra has also been identified, but
there is no indication that the France defender wants to quit Old
Trafford.
Arsenal's Gael Clichy is also on the list of alternatives, along
with Fiorentina's Juan Vargas, Aleksandar Kolarov (Lazio), Andre
Santos (Fenerbahce), Luis Filipe (Deportivo) and David Luiz
(Benfica).
Madrid bid £18m for Peru international Vargas in the winter
window, offering the alternative of £13.6m and Royston Drenthe, but
Fiorentina resisted a deal.
Madrid have struggled to fill the left back position since
Brazil legend Roberto Carlos left in 2007.
Disappointing: Real's summer recruit Alvaro
Arbeloa
