Joe Cole Out, Donovan In?

The Joe Cole rumours seem to come out on at least a weekly basis – or more specifically, the Joe Cole links to Manchester United do anyway.

This weekend we were told – again – Alex Ferguson plans to prise the ‘out of favour’ Cole away from Stamford Bridge when his contract expires in the summer. Obviously that’s assuming his contract will be allowed to expire because that isn’t a certainty yet either. But then neither are any of these stories, bearing in mind we’ve yet to hear a single quote to back any of it up.

In fact, if anything, in his pre-match interview before the Stoke game, Joe Cole sounded anything but a player who was planning a move away from the Bridge as yet again he reiterated his desire to stay at Chelsea. And yet we’re told ‘sources’ suggest he’s ‘excited’ at the prospect of playing for Fergie.

Is it likely though? I mean, if the sticking point at Chelsea is a contract both Cole and his agent are happy with – and we know he’s on 80K a week now – surely a move to a club who wouldn’t consider paying above that sort of salary for him wouldn’t make sense anyway if he’s so intent on seeing his career out with us?

Anyway, as if to back up the story this weekend, with Deco also on his way out Stamford Bridge this summer, the press are suggesting Ancelotti plans to bring in Landon Donovan as a replacement. Donovan’s loan spell at Everton has come to an end, with the American star on his way back to LA Galaxy for the start of the MLS season but Ancelotti is apparently keen to get him back to the Premier League – with Chelsea.

Again, there isn’t a single quote from anywhere to back this up but the press haven’t let that stop them suggesting he could even join us before the start of next season!