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Chelsea bid for Cole rises to £23m

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  • Chelsea bid for Cole rises to £23m

    <P class=story><SPAN class=storyby>By Christopher Davies</SPAN>
    <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>

    Chelsea are believed to have increased their offer for Arsenal's unsettled left-back Ashley Cole to £23 million, a bid the north London club are likely to accept.<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=188 align=right border=0 hspace="0"><TBODY><TR><TD width=8 rowSpan=2></TD><TD width=180><CENTER></CENTER></TD></TR><TR><TD class=caption><CENTER>Dream move: Ashley Cole's transfer is back on the cards</CENTER></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=story>It would end a drawn-out, messy and acrimonious transfer in which Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho and Cole were initially fined £75,000 by the Premier League for their part in the "tapping-up" scandal last year.<P class=story>Cole accused Arsenal of hanging him out to dry over the incident, with further criticism of the club in his soon-to-be published autobiography.<P class=story>Nine days ago Chelsea made what Mourinho called "an excellent offer for an excellent player" - believed to be £20 million - and said the club "does not move one single pound more".<P class=story>Yet money is no object for Chelsea and it seems that owner Roman Abramovich has come up with another £3 million, which most will see as a magnificent bit of business for Arsenal.<P class=story>The deal does not include William Gallas, the unsettled Chelsea defender who claimed Arsenal want him, and manager Arsene Wenger has said how much he admires the France international. <P class=story>Gallas' wages, believed to be about £7 million a year, could be a sticking point while Chelsea may not be willing to let a close rival sign the versatile defender.<P class=story>The arrival of Cole would bring Chelsea's summer spending to around £75 million following the arrival of Andrei Shevchenko (£30 million, AC Milan), Salomon Kalou (£10 million, Feyenoord), John Obi Mikel (£13 million, Lyn Oslo and compensation to Manchester United) plus Michael Ballack from Bayern Munich on a free transfer.<P class=story>Cole's departure would give Wenger the money to strengthen his squad. As it is, striker Juan Antonio Reyes could move to Real Madrid with Julio Baptista involved in a player-exchange.<P class=story>Wenger will probably be looking for a central defender as a result of Sol Campbell leaving and with Philippe Senderos sidelined until October because of a shoulder injury. Pascal Cygan is the only other senior central defender available.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
    "Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing. And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb. And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance." ~ Kahlil Gibran

  • #2
    RE: Chelsea bid for Cole rises to £23m

    Too much money for Cole, but I guess they really want him and the boss have money so they might as well.

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