Joe Cole set to quit Chelsea for Manchester City
Published 23:00 16/01/10 By Paul Smith Exclusive
Manchester City are expected to see off competition from Manchester United and Tottenham to secure the signing of Joe Cole on a free transfer from Chelsea in the summer.
The 28-year-old England midfielder is at odds with the Blues over a new contract. With his current deal due to expire on June 30, Cole is seeking a pay rise of about £50,000 a week to stay at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are prepared to offer him a rise of only £20,000 on his current £80,000-a-week salary. Talks between Cole’s advisers and Chelsea have been ongoing since the start of the season but have stalled in recent weeks with neither side apparently willing to back down.
Cole has been told to prove his worth after a nine-month lay off with a knee injury.
Although he is reluctant to leave London, Cole is aware he is still in a position of strength as he seeks parity with the club’s second tier earners like Michael Ballack, Nicolas Anelka and Michael Essien.
City, United and Spurs are long-term admirers. But the Eastlands club, who failed in an audacious bid to land Chelsea and England captain John Terry last summer, are more confident that they can fulfil Cole’s current wage demands.
In the current economic climate it seems both United and Tottenham will find it impossible to match a City offer that would include a £5m signing on fee and wages of about £150,000 a week.
Those figures may seem incredible, but the fact the clubs would not have to pay Chelsea a fee, or any compensation, ensures Cole is the big winner from being a free agent.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson made two approaches to West Ham in a bid to prise the player from their academy before Cole made his senior debut.
Fergie openly rated Cole the most naturally gifted English player of his generation.
Harry Redknapp, the Hammers boss approached by Fergie back in the late 90s, turned down the Old Trafford overtures. Since then Redknapp has never disguised his admiration for Cole who he once claimed was the most skilful player he had ever come across.
He would relish having Cole in his squad again.
Sources close to Cole claim he’s unlikely to back down in talks with Chelsea and is well aware he retains a position of strength in negotiations.
He could already sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club if Chelsea laboured in negotiations and allowed him to reach the final months of his current deal.
They are unlikely to be impressed by City’s interest following the war of words that erupted after they tried to lure away Terry from the club by going public about their interest in the England captain.
