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<P class=story><SPAN class=storyby>By Christopher Davies</SPAN>
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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>
<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>
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