Transfer Zone

Chelsea To Ward Off Barcelona Interest By Offering Ashley Cole New Contract - Report

The Blues are set to offer the England international left-back a four-year deal worth €147,000-a-week...

05-Jun-2009 2:21:58 PM

Photo Gallery

Zoom

Ashley Cole - Chelsea

Teams

Chelsea

According to a report in the British tabloid The Sun, Chelsea are set to stave off interest from Spanish giants Barcelona in Ashley Cole by offering him a new contract.

Apparently, the Blues are set to offer the 28-year-old a four-year deal worth €147,000-a-week (£130,000), totalling €30.5 million (£27m) over the entire period.

It is claimed that Blaugrana head coach Pep Guardiola is keen to add the left-back to his squad, and is willing to bid €22.6m (£20m) to acquire his services.

However, newly appointed manager of the west London outfit Carlo Ancelotti is eager to hold on to the former Arsenal star, and the club are optimistic of persuading him to stay put at Stamford Bridge.

"One of the first things Mr Ancelotti said when arriving at the club was not to allow Ashley to leave," an inside source at Chelsea is quoted as saying.

"He is aware that Barcelona rate him extremely highly and Guardiola sees the left-back position as the team’s only weak link.

"We’re extremely hopeful that Ashley will stay at Chelsea."

Ricky Brooks, Goal.com

Thank you for your comment!

Please enter your name

Please enter your location

Please share your comment!