Rumour: Tottenham Hotspur linked with Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole

Ashley Cole

Tottenham and Liverpool are reportedly prepared to offer Chelsea full-back Ashley Cole an opportunity to stay in English football, with the Express claiming that the pair are preparing contract offers for the England international. Cole has lost his place in the Chelsea side in recent weeks and has been heavily linked with a move to the MLS or even retirement after the World Cup in the summer.

Cole has only made 10 league appearances for Chelsea this season, having lost his place in the side to Cesar Azpilicueta. His Boxing Day start against Swansea City was the full-back’s first league start since the beginning of November. With his international starting place also in jeopardy due to the emergence of Leighton Baines, a move to Tottenham or Liverpool would give the former Arsenal player first-team football ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

Both Tottenham and Liverpool are lacking in cover at left-back, with Tottenham forced to use centre-back Jan Vertonghen as a makeshift full back in the absence of Danny Rose and Liverpool switching youngster Jon Flanagan from left back to right back to cover for Jose Enrique.

Cole is out of contract at the end of the season and at 33 had looked set to wind down his career in the MLS, with New York Red Bulls known to be interested in the defender. However news of Tottenham and Liverpool’s interest could complicate Cole’s decision, giving him the option of a final Premier League encore.

Cole’s pass accuracy of 90% is the second highest of any Premier League full back to have played five or more games, behind only Swansea City’s Dwight Tiendalli.