TheSportsCampus

Sir Alex Ferguson is seemingly on a mission to pluck star names from his rivals as the Daily Mail stoked the flames ahead of Manchester United’s trip to Chelsea by claiming that Ashley Cole was a target for the Red Devils. Sir Alex’s blockbuster purchase of Robin van Persie in the summer went down as one of the biggest transfers in recent times and if the septuagenarian Scot can follow up that by poaching Cole next summer it would represent a drastic shift in the transfer policy at the club.

Cole’s current situation at Chelsea is well-documented; with the 31 year old open to listen to offers in January should the Blues fail to offer him an extension to his current contract which ends in 2013. The Englishman has rejected Chelsea’s policy of handing one year contracts to players above 30, a strategy followed at United for ages. Roman Abramovich has proved in the past that he is not too keen on recouping the hefty sums spent on imports as Michael Ballack, Jose Bosingwa, Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba have all left on a Bosman deal.

Whether Cole would leave London for Manchester remains a mystery though, especially with interest from Paris and Madrid. PSG and Real Madrid are sure to offer bigger contracts than Man United, with the added incentive of both clubs being currently managed by ex Chelsea managers in Carlo Ancelotti and Jose Mourinho respectively.

Sir Alex brought in Dutch youngster Alexander Buttner to provide backup for Patrice Evra, who is also in the wrong side of 30’s. Evra hasn’t enjoyed the best of times on the pitch since the off-field shenanigans with the French National team during the 2010 World Cup. Despite his drop in form it is unlikely that the manager will relieve him of his duties at Old Trafford anytime soon. United still have Fabio Da Silva to call upon too, with the Brazilian youngster currently on loan at QPR. All of which reduce the Cole to United rumours to exactly that - just rumours.