Don't know leh... what I saw today is this one... I hope it's
just rumours.
IN DEMAND: Ashley Cole has been on superb form for Chelsea
Wednesday May 20,2009
BARCELONA are poised to make a £20million move to lure Ashley
Cole from
Chelsea
.
Barca, the Champions League finalists, have already sounded out
the Blues about England full-back Cole and are ready to come back
with a firm bid when the season ends.
A host of
clubs are hovering around Cole, whose excellent season for
Chelsea has restored his reputation as a top-class defender.
Mega-rich Manchester City have also made their intentions clear –
even though they signed another left-back in Wayne Bridge from
Chelsea earlier this year – and have offered Cole, 28, a five-year
deal worth about £130,000 a week.
Chelsea has already started to take steps to prevent it from
happening...
Chelsea are set to offer Ashley Cole a long-term
contract in order to ensure the England international stays at
Stamford Bridge. Cole has two years left of his current contract
but Manchester City and Barcelona have already been linked with a
move for his services.
Chelsea are understood to be in the process of working on new
deals for some of their squad even though they are yet to announce
who their new manager will be next season.
AC Milan's Carlo Ancelotti remains favourite to replace interim
coach Guus Hiddink but the club are unlikely to make any
announcement until after the FA Cup final at the end of the
month.
Cole has enjoyed one of his best season's at Stamford Bridge and
he remains the club's only recognised left-back after the club sold
Wayne Bridge to Manchester City in January's transfer window.
Chelsea are hoping that an offer of a five-year deal with a
pay-rise from £80,000-a-week to just over £100,000-a-week will be
more than enough to keep the England international.
Injured Joe Cole is another Chelsea player expected to be
offered a long-term contract but there are doubts over the futures
of Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba.
Much will depend on who replaces Hiddink as coach. The Dutchman
has already admitted to having second thoughts about leaving the
club but remains intent on returning to his full-time post as
Russia coach after the cup final against Everton.
Ancelotti has yet to agree to takeover from Hiddink but it now
appears it is only a matter of timing. Ancelotti is also understood
to want Filippo Galli as one of his assistants but the Blues are
reluctant to make wholesale changes to the backroom staff.
Galli is currently one of Ancelotti's coaching team at AC Milan
and Chelsea are likely to agree to his appointment in order to get
their man.
However, there will few other changes to the Chelsea staff.
Unlike Ancelotti, Galli is fluent in English and has experience of
English football after spending a season under Gianluca Vialli at
Watford towards the end of his playing career.
But it is unlikely that Ancelotti's other assistant, Mauro
Tassotti or goalkeeping coach Villiam Vecchi, will join him. That
means Ancelotti will work alongside Wilkins and current goalkeeping
coach Christophe Lollichon. However, Paul Clement is certain to
return to his old role with the reserve team.
