Ashley Cole is once again being considered as a possible candidate to move mid-season between Chelsea and Real Madrid.
The British media are linking the 31-year-old England international with the move in light of Jose Mourinho’s current difficulties at Real Madrid with the left-back position and Cole’s own issues in renewing his Chelsea contract.
First-choice Marcelo is out until the new year recovering from surgery on a broken foot, whilst Fabio Coentrao has fallen down the pecking order and is reportedly out of Mourinho’s favour, leaving the Coach light on options in the position.
Cole, who is reportedly seen as an answer to this issue, was linked earlier this season with a January move to the Bernabeu when reports first emerged of his difficulty in agreeing an extension on his current Chelsea contract, which expires in June 2013.
The Daily Mirror today name Los Blancos as candidates to come in with a minimum €10m bid for the former Arsenal man in the winter transfer window, with the report indicating that the player is now thought unlikely to renew.
The key issue in negotiations between Cole and The Blues is believed to be the length of the contract on the table, with the Londoners reportedly persisting with club policy for over 30s, offering only a one-year deal to the 99-capped Englishman.
Mourinho’s final year in charge at Stamford Bridge coincided with Cole’s first at the club.
