While all the media attention has been focused on Arsenal and the contract disputes they have been having with Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott, there are some nasty contract battles going on across London at Chelsea.
Chelsea have THREE England internationals; Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Daniel Sturridge, who are all in the final years of their contracts and in January could join another club for FREE.
I am really surprised that Chelsea have let Ashley Cole’s contract situation get this far. The 31-year-old Cole is still one of the best left backs in the world, and would have a lot of clubs like Real Madrid and Manchester United interested in signig him next summer.
The Sun is reporting that Cole is furious at being offered only a one-year contract extension by Chelsea.
The Sun quotes a Chelsea insider as saying:
“Mr Abramovich has a rule that anyone over 30 can only be given a one-year extension but it’s madness in Ashley’s case.
“Everyone knows he’s the best left-back in the world.
“He trains hard, really looks after himself and can play at this level for many more years to come. There isn’t a club in the world who wouldn’t want Ashley on a free.”
Chelsea seem to be planning for Cole to leave as they have recently signed his understudy Ryan Bertrand to a new five-year contract.
If Cole is getting a one-year contract offer, it will be interesting to see what Frank Lampard’s reaction is, as he has a multi-year deal waiting for him from the LA Galaxy.