Ashley
Cole has become the highest paid defender in world football after
negotiating a one-year contract worth just under £200,000 a week.
Chelsea
expect to announce the contract extension ahead of Wednesday’s Capital
One Cup semi-final against Swansea, but the deal has been agreed.
Chelsea
have agreed to a pay hike for the England defender, 32, because it
would have cost them well in excess of £15million to secure a
replacement left back of similar quality in the summer.
Top
earner: Ashley Cole will earn just under £200,000-a-week with his
one-year contract extension at Chelsea, making him the highest paid
defender in the world
Cole’s
representatives had held tentative talks with Real Madrid, Paris St
Germain and Manchester United, but Chelsea eventually caved in to the
left back’s demands.
It
has also emerged that Chelsea were determined to lift supporters’
spirits by making a major announcement after their depressing form at
Stamford Bridge under Rafa Benitez.
Chelsea
originally claimed Cole would be leaving at the end of the season and
were clearing out the dressing room in anticipation of Pep Guardiola’s
arrival.
But the failure of Ryan Bertrand to progress this season convinced Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to authorise the extension.
Small
change: Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, seen here with girlfriend Dasha
Zhukova at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, was left with little choice but
to retain Cole given the lack of other left-back options
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