TheSportsCampus

Chelsea have been rocked by reports that Ashley Cole has rejected a one-year extension at the club, fuelling rumours that the left-back could leave Stamford Bridge next summer. Cole is in the last year of his contract at Chelsea and ESPN report that with the club only offering a rolling one-year deal, the 31 year old is prepared to move on.

If the deadlock isn’t broken soon Cole would be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with any club in January and Chelsea would lose a player they so vehemently chased for free. There is no shortage of suitors for the Englishman as Real Madrid and PSG have closely monitored his contract situation, with both clubs being run by Cole’s ex-managers.

Chelsea’s policy of offering only one-year extensions to players beyond their 30’s, a policy also followed by Man United, has seen a number of stars leave for nothing after their contracts came to an end. Didier Drogba is the most high-profile exit in the category, with Jose Bosingwa, Belletti and Michael Ballack also falling under the same umbrella.

Robert Di Matteo does have young Ryan Bertrand ready to step in those big shoes should Cole leave, but it would still rob the club of one of their most consistent players and a valuable experienced campaigner in an ever-changing team.