• Midfielder leaves after seven years at Stamford Bridge
• Cole says he had no problem with Carlo Ancelotti

Joe Cole has blamed “political reasons” for his release from Chelsea and will return to England from South Africa to consider his immediate future, with Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal understood to be interested in signing him under the Bosman ruling.

The 29-year-old, a late substitute in England’s demoralising 4-1 defeat by Germany in Bloemfontein today, will depart Stamford Bridge after seven seasons in south‑west London having failed to agree terms on an extension to his stay with the Double winners. He joins Michael Ballack and Juliano Belletti in leaving the club, with the Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun earmarked to replace him in a deal worth around £5m.

“My season for Chelsea wasn’t great for what I believe were political reasons rather than footballing reasons,” he said. “I love [the Chelsea manager] Carlo Ancelotti and have big respect for him. My leaving is not financial and it is nothing to do with Carlo. I love him and think he is a top guy and a top manager. I’ve loved my time at Chelsea and I love the fans but it is a story for another day and I will tell it. But now is not the time.

“Now I want to have a couple of weeks off, to sort my future out as soon as possible, to go on holiday with my family. Next season I want to have a fantastic season for England and for whatever club I am at. Wherever I go, it’ll be a footballing decision. I want to play in a more central position and I want a manager who has faith in me. And I’m talking about club football here.

“It’s a big decision for me and my family but I’m open to anything at the moment. I have purposely not spoken to anyone while I’ve been here because that wouldn’t be fair on England. My phone has been turned off but now I want to sort it all out.”

ChelseaDominic Fifieldguardian.co.uk

• ‘Chelsea is where I could fulfil my ambition’
• Valencia winger says Chelsea can rival Real Madrid and Milan

Spain winger David Silva says “the Premier League is the place to be” – and has set his sights on a move to Chelsea.

The Valencia star, currently on World Cup duty, has been linked with a number of Premier League sides, among them cash-laden Manchester City and cross-town rivals Manchester United. But Silva has implied he would pass up a move to the north-west should west London come calling.

“Chelsea have established themselves as one of the best clubs in Europe over the last five years,” said Silva. “They might not have the history of Real Madrid or Milan but they are creating their own history now. There is no reason why in the future Chelsea can’t be as decorated as Real Madrid.

“Chelsea probably have, along with Barcelona, the best squad in football and if any player joins Chelsea he knows he is going to win things.

“In players like John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba they have players who would get into any team in the world and it would be a pleasure to play with them,” he told the Daily Star.

“There is no doubt in my mind that Chelsea would be a great club to play for – and a club where I could fulfil my ambition of league titles and the European Cup.

“The Premier League is still the place to be, no other league in the world has six or seven Champions League quality teams.”

ChelseaValenciaTransfer windowguardian.co.uk

• Michael Ballack to have talks with Chelsea this week
• German midfielder had been a target for Schalke

Chelsea will hold more talks with Michael Ballack this week as both parties edge closer to extending the Germany international’s stay at Stamford Bridge when his contract runs out next month.

Ballack is recuperating after suffering ankle ligament damage in the FA