By Ross Mackiewicz.
After months of speculation regarding Joe Cole’s future at Stamford Bridge, it is becoming ever so likely that the boy from the East-End of London will seek pastures new as his seven year stint at Chelsea is about to come to an end.
The 28-year-olds contract is due to run out in the coming weeks and it is debatable if both the club and player are keen to tie each other down with another contract. It is believed that Cole is demanding a salary that will put him on par with the other big earners of the Premier League champions, but even Roman Abramovich’s purse strings are reluctant to tug any further than a £60,000 per week offer.
Tottenham Hotspur are now the favourites to land Cole who are celebrating a magnificent piece of news for the club after creative influence Luka Modric penned a new six year contract at White Hart Lane quashing any rumours that the Croatian was set for a big money move elsewhere. Spurs have gate-crashed next season’s Champions League and a player of the calibre of Joe Cole can only enhance their prospects of challenging for major honours next season.
This will now pave the door for Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun to switch to West London from Merseyside. The Blues have already had a £4million offer turned down by The Reds but the Israeli international is positive that a move to Chelsea will materialise.
“Ancelotti wants me for next season and now everything depends on Liverpool.” He said.
“Chelsea will have to pay some £6m, but I believe that, in the end, I’ll be moving there.”
This news will only dissatisfy the Liverpool faithful who have seen the 30-year-old become a real instrumental part of Rafael Benitez’s side.
Is this a shrewd move by the champions? Is Benayoun a ready made replacement for Joe Cole? Let us know.
