Chelsea to tie Cole down as suitors hover

CHELSEA are poised to offer defender Ashley Cole a new contract worth more than £100,000 per week in order to head off interest from Barcelona.

The Spanish giants are thought to be ready to spend £20m on the England left-back, while super-rich Manchester City have also been linked.

Cole, 28, already earns in the region of £80,000 per week but is reportedly set to be handed a five-year deal and a hefty pay hike in order to tie his future to Stamford Bridge.

The former Arsenal trainee has enjoyed arguably his best season in Chelsea colours this year since moving across the capital in August 2006.

England winger Joe Cole is also thought to be in line for a new deal, but uncertainty over the identity of Chelsea’s next manager means doubts remain over the futures of more senior squad members such as Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack.