Source: Telegraph
Chelsea confident of keeping Ashley Cole despite Real Madrid interest
The intense media focus on Cole's private life, particularly surrounding the separation from his wife Cheryl this year, has left the 29 year-old feeling hounded. [LNB]Real will hope that this will motivate him to want to leave England, but Cole remains happy in his professional life and there is a growing sense that he knows his private life will be the subject of interest wherever he lives. After all, David Beckham hardly escaped the spotlight during his four years in Madrid. [LNB] Related ArticlesMourinho transfer targetsPortsmouth prepare to slash wage billEssien boosts GhanaDeco eyes Chelsea exitBoateng apologises to BallackSport on televisionChelsea are in a strong position if Real do come in for any of their star players, with Cole and Didier Drogba having agreed new contracts last summer and Frank Lampard only two years into a five-year deal. [LNB]Mourinho signed Cole from Arsenal in 2006 when he was Chelsea manager and made an attempt to bring Lampard to Italy in 2008 after taking over as the Inter Milan manager. Lampard has since stated his desire to finish his career at Chelsea. [LNB]Mourinho and Drogba are particularly close but, having shown no interest in bringing the Ivorian to Inter over the past two years, it would be surprising if he made any move for the 32 year-old now. [LNB]Despite the perception that Chelsea are an ageing squad, manager Carlo Ancelotti regards the players as still largely at the peak of their careers and believes they could defend their Premier League title without any summer changes. [LNB]The ideal scenario would be to add a maximum of two players, with Ancelotti and sporting director Frank Arnesen focused on recruiting the best young British talent. The aim is for new signings to be funded by player sales. [LNB]Mourinho is expected to have up to £100 million to spend at Real. Steven Gerrard has emerged as a potential target following mixed messages last week about his Liverpool future. [LNB]Maicon, Inter's Brazil right-back, and Roma's Daniele de Rossi are expected to be other targets. [LNB]Mourinho, meanwhile, is ready to meet Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti today to inform him of his intention to become the Real Madrid manager. [LNB]"There's always hope but we have to respect the wish of a person who thinks his task has already expired," said Moratti, who ruled out bringing Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini back to Inter. [LNB]It is understood Mourinho's agent, Jorge Mendes, was in Madrid on Monday to finalise the details of his contract. [LNB]
