Abby Brammell

By Matt Lawton

You must be joking, Joe: Cole's wage demands could bring a swift end to his time at Chelsea


Joe Cole fears a complete breakdown in his relationship with Roman Abramovich will result in the midfielder leaving Chelsea at the end of the season.

Sources at Stamford Bridge claim Cole and his representatives infuriated the Russian with their hardline stance in contract negotiations which saw the player threaten to leave if Abramovich did not meet the 28-year-old’s wage demands.

The tactic appears to have backfired, not least because the Chelsea owner does not consider Cole to be worth his salary demands which are in excess of £100,000 a week — especially as he has failed to regularly start in Carlo Ancelotti’s side since returning in September from a nine-month spell on the sidelines with a serious knee injury.

Cole has no desire to leave Stamford Bridge after seven largely successful years at the club. But the negotiations stalled over the England winger’s demands and there seems little chance of them being revived.


At loggerheads: Abramovich is stunned by Cole's hardline stance

Cole, who is currently on £80,000 a week, is sure to attract a long list of suitors if he does become available as a free agent in the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is a confirmed admirer, having worked with the young Cole when he was at West Ham, while there could also be interest from Manchester United, Liverpool and possibly even Manchester City.


source: dailymail