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Joe Cole’s contract talks with Chelsea have reached an impasse over his wage demands. The England midfield player is out of contract in the summer, raising the prospect of him leaving Stamford Bridge on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Chelsea remain confident that Cole, who joined the club seven years ago, will sign a new deal, but little progress has been made in the course of negotiations that began 18 months ago. Cole is understood to be demanding parity with Michael Essien and Nicolas Anelka, who are both paid £120,000 a week. Chelsea’s most recent offer is in the region of £100,000, which still represents a considerable increase on his £80,000-a-week salary.
Cole has repeatedly stated his desire to end his career at the club he supported as a boy, but, at present, is unwilling to lower his demands. The 28-year-old’s situation has not been helped by his lack of appearances in the past year as a result of a cruciate knee ligament injury, although Carlo Ancelotti revealed last week that he is eager to reach a deal with Cole and indicated that money was the only issue left to be resolved. “The economic factor is an issue for the club to sort out,” the Chelsea manager said.
Cole is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club at the moment, although he has not received any offers since stressing his desire to stay in a joint statement released with Chelsea after a tentative inquiry from Tottenham Hotspur last August. That would almost certainly change if he was available for free in the summer. Sir Alex Ferguson has long been an admirer of Cole’s creativity, while Liverpool and Manchester City would also be keen to speak to the player.
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Cole’s advisers are attempting to use his wide appeal to their advantage, as losing him to a main rival without receiving a fee would be a bitter blow for Chelsea, while the impending transfer embargo should also strengthen his negotiating position. Chelsea will not be able to sign any new players after this transfer window until the summer of 2011 if Fifa’s transfer ban is upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, increasing the need to keep their present squad together. Ashley Cole, John Terry, Didier Drogba, John Obi Mikel, Alex and Salomon Kalou have all signed new contracts since the summer, making it stranger that Joe Cole’s has been allowed to run down.
His situation is reminiscent to the stand-off that developed between Chelsea and Frank Lampard in 2004, when Lampard had just ten months remaining on his contract when he signed a new deal, after which the club vowed never to be similarly exposed again. Joe Cole is hoping Chelsea will back down as they did with Lampard, although they are operating in a different financial landscape. Ron Gourlay, the new chief executive, is under pressure to reduce the wage bill after the club revealed losses of £44 million and a reduced turnover for the financial year to June 30, 2009 as they strive to become self-sufficient.
Guus Hiddink could return to club football after being given permission by the Russian football federation to continue coaching the national team on a part-time basis. The Dutchman, who led Chelsea to FA Cup success last season, is being courted by Juventus, where Ciro Ferrara, the coach, is under pressure after last weekend’s 3-0 defeat by AC Milan. “Hiddink can coach a club side,” Vitaly Mutko, the Russian sports minister, said.
Chelsea remain confident that Cole, who joined the club seven years ago, will sign a new deal, but little progress has been made in the course of negotiations that began 18 months ago. Cole is understood to be demanding parity with Michael Essien and Nicolas Anelka, who are both paid £120,000 a week. Chelsea’s most recent offer is in the region of £100,000, which still represents a considerable increase on his £80,000-a-week salary.
Cole has repeatedly stated his desire to end his career at the club he supported as a boy, but, at present, is unwilling to lower his demands. The 28-year-old’s situation has not been helped by his lack of appearances in the past year as a result of a cruciate knee ligament injury, although Carlo Ancelotti revealed last week that he is eager to reach a deal with Cole and indicated that money was the only issue left to be resolved. “The economic factor is an issue for the club to sort out,” the Chelsea manager said.
Cole is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club at the moment, although he has not received any offers since stressing his desire to stay in a joint statement released with Chelsea after a tentative inquiry from Tottenham Hotspur last August. That would almost certainly change if he was available for free in the summer. Sir Alex Ferguson has long been an admirer of Cole’s creativity, while Liverpool and Manchester City would also be keen to speak to the player.
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Cole’s advisers are attempting to use his wide appeal to their advantage, as losing him to a main rival without receiving a fee would be a bitter blow for Chelsea, while the impending transfer embargo should also strengthen his negotiating position. Chelsea will not be able to sign any new players after this transfer window until the summer of 2011 if Fifa’s transfer ban is upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, increasing the need to keep their present squad together. Ashley Cole, John Terry, Didier Drogba, John Obi Mikel, Alex and Salomon Kalou have all signed new contracts since the summer, making it stranger that Joe Cole’s has been allowed to run down.
His situation is reminiscent to the stand-off that developed between Chelsea and Frank Lampard in 2004, when Lampard had just ten months remaining on his contract when he signed a new deal, after which the club vowed never to be similarly exposed again. Joe Cole is hoping Chelsea will back down as they did with Lampard, although they are operating in a different financial landscape. Ron Gourlay, the new chief executive, is under pressure to reduce the wage bill after the club revealed losses of £44 million and a reduced turnover for the financial year to June 30, 2009 as they strive to become self-sufficient.
Guus Hiddink could return to club football after being given permission by the Russian football federation to continue coaching the national team on a part-time basis. The Dutchman, who led Chelsea to FA Cup success last season, is being courted by Juventus, where Ciro Ferrara, the coach, is under pressure after last weekend’s 3-0 defeat by AC Milan. “Hiddink can coach a club side,” Vitaly Mutko, the Russian sports minister, said.