• Tottenham have expressed interest in signing Cole
• Ballack wanted two-year deal but Blues offered 12-months
Chelsea are to release Joe Cole and Michael Ballack when their contracts expire at the end of the month after failing to agree terms over new deals with the experienced internationals.
Cole, currently with the England squad in South Africa, moved to Stamford Bridge from West Ham United for £6.6m in 2003 and made more than 200 appearances for the Blues. However, he has only played a bit-part role at the club since suffering a serious knee injury in an FA Cup third-round replay at Southend United early in 2009.
That lengthy absence frustrated his attempts to earn improved terms at the club, with the player’s wage demands proving at odds with the terms Chelsea were prepared to offer. Cole had been seeking around £100,000-a-week, with the Londoners only willing to match his current £80,000-a-week package. Negotiations have stalled in recent weeks, leaving his departure somewhat inevitable.
Tottenham Hotspur have expressed an interest in signing the 29-year-old midfielder, keen as they are to strengthen their squad with a potential Champions League campaign ahead.
The fact that Cole would be available without a transfer fee may offer them some leeway in compensating for his considerable salary. A move to Arsenal, which has been mooted in some quarters, still appears unlikely given the wage demands the England international is likely to make.
Ironically the Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins this week insisted that the club would do everything they could to keep hold of the playmaker. “We’ve obviously been in dialogue with Joe for months now and it’s pretty evident that Carlo [Ancelotti] and myself would love Joe to stay, but it’s down now to the club to see what we can do,” he said. “We sincerely hope Joe stays with us – he’s a smashing guy and he’s a wonderful footballer so we’ll keep our fingers crossed.”
Ballack’s exit is, in many ways, more surprising but, again, is due to Chelsea’s desire to reduce their considerable weekly wage bill. The Germany captain, who will miss the summer’s tournament in South Africa after damaging an ankle in a challenge by Portsmouth’s Kevin-Prince Boateng in last month’s FA Cup final, had been seeking a two-year deal.However, Chelsea were only prepared to offer the 33-year-old, who joined the club from Bayern Munich under the Bosman ruling in 2006, a 12-month contract and were some distance apart when it came to agreeing terms on the financial package involved, with Ballack having signed on £121,000-a-week.
He departs having just claimed his first Premier League title and with Schalke 04, recently qualified for the Champions League, keen to secure his services.
The Guardian reported yesterday how Ballack has become the target for clubs in Dubai, including Al Wasl and Al Shabab. Although only a minor league, clubs in the emirate have huge financial resources and could provide a lucrative swansong for the midfielder. Sven Goran Eriksson, the former England manager and now in charge of Ivory Coast for the finals has also been approached.
ChelseaDominic Fifieldguardian.co.uk
