Time running out for Cole switch
Jose Mourinho’s pursuit of Ashley Cole will not be wrecked by England’s preparations for Euro 2008.
Mourinho’s time is running out if he is to make Cole a Chelsea player before the transfer window closes tomorrow.
The left-back will still be an Arsenal man when Steve McClaren puts his squad through their paces at Manchester United’s training ground in Carrington today.
But the England boss will not stop Cole returning south to sort out his future if Chelsea and Arsenal suddenly find a solution to their stalemate.
McClaren wants his players focused on the preparations for the qualifiers against Andorra and Macedonia but international commitments do not prevent transfers taking place.
Andrew Johnson completed his £8.6m (€12.7m) move from Crystal Palace to Everton while on England duty before the World Cup.
It would be counter-productive for the Football Association to refuse Cole permission to leave the team’s northern base tie up his transfer before the window shuts.
Such a stance would also go against the grain of McClaren’s policy to forge better working relationships between the clubs and the national side.
Within reason, McClaren will allow Cole time off to complete any move but sources close to the player have hinted that the long, drawn-out transfer saga is no closer to a conclusion.
Chelsea and Arsenal remain at loggerheads, unable to agree on Cole’s value or whether Blues defender William Gallas should join the Gunners as part of the package.
Arsenal’s interest in Gallas appears to have complicated the transfer rather than eased it through – as the clubs now disagree over the value of two players rather than just one.
The relationship between the London clubs has deteriorated badly during the saga and personal pride presents another potential obstacle to a late deal being struck.
Chelsea are understood to be ready to pay more than £20m (€30m) for Cole and could return with an improved offer to tempt Arsenal before the deadline.
Arsene Wenger says he is “sceptical” the move will go through but it only takes one of the clubs to swallow their pride and budge on the negotiations for it all to be back on.
It now suits both sides to try and force the transfer through.
There is no doubt Mourinho still wants Cole, despite the recent signing of versatile defender Khalid Boulahrouz and the improved form of Wayne Bridge.
Mourinho said: “We are not desperate. Wayne Bridge is playing very well but we have only one left-back and that is the problem.”
Cole played for Arsenal’s reserves in a 4-0 win against Charlton on Monday in a bid to get sharp ahead of the two England games.
But it would be difficult for Wenger to welcome Cole back into the first-team fold following his summer of unrest.
