Back off Barca! Chelsea offer defender Ashley Cole £27m four-year deal

05 June 2009 10:31
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will make Ashley Cole the world's highest-paid  left back to keep the defender out of Barcelona's reach. Cole has two years left on his £80,000-a-week deal but is already attracting the attention of the Spanish champions, who are prepared to offer £20million. According to The Sun, Chelsea hope a new four-year deal with a pay-rise to £130,0000-a-week will be sufficient to keepa player who has already admitted he wants to experience more success at Stamford Bridge. Cole, 28, has enjoyed his best season since moving to Stamford Bridge from Arsenal in 2006 and has won over all the fans. Last month he said: 'Since I've been here I've had a great time and won a lot of trophies, but I want to win a lot more in the future with Chelsea.' Chelsea also have no other genuine left back at the club after allowing Wayne Bridge to move to Manchester City in January and a club source said: 'He (Cole) is aware that Barcelona rate him extremely highly and Guardiola seesthe left-back position as the team's only weak link. We're extremely hopeful that Ashley will stay at Chelsea.'

Source: Daily_Mail