Cole set for Chelsea as more stars promised

CHELSEA were last night poised to complete their fifth major summer signing after agreeing a £6.6million fee for Joe Cole with owner Roman Abramovich promising two more imminent high-profile transfers.

Cole was last night discussing personal terms with Chelsea with a view to following Glen Johnson and Frank Lampard from West Ham. The player's agent David Geiss said the deal should be tied up today in order to meet the deadline for Cole to play in Chelsea's Champions League qualifier against Slovakia's Zilina or Israeli outfit Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Chelsea are looking to take their pre-season spending over the £43m mark by signing yet another highly promising young talent in the 21-year-old England international.

And it is believed the imminent signing would not deter manager Claudio Ranieri in his pursuit of Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron.

West Ham conceded the sale of Cole was needed to secure their own financial future following relegation, and they will now attempt to hold onto Jermain Defoe, Michael Carrick and David James. In fact West Ham boss Glenn Roeder has issued a hands-off warning for Defoe.

Chelsea's spending has clearly not yet stopped with Cole, although Abramovich has still warned fans not to expect any instant success.

The Russian oil magnate had earlier said: "There are plans for more players but I cannot comment on which. We will manage to sign lots of players. Seven will be good."

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson promised an end to the Veron saga yesterday when he told a Lisbon press conference: "We should know the real story soon."

Veron was the subject of intense speculation linking him with a move to Chelsea throughout United's American tour. And although Ferguson initially insisted Veron was staying at Old Trafford, towards the end of the tour he admitted the Argentinian's future was unclear.

After arriving in Lisbon ahead of tonight's friendly against Sporting Lisbon, Ferguson said: "So many things have happened while we've been away on tour, and things have been quite muddied. We should get the real story soon."

Such is Abramovich's spending power and ambitions, he even admitted his interest in signing David Beckham "if he considers the possibility of going back to England and doesn't make it in Spain as I like him as a player".

Leeds boss Peter Reid is expecting new signing Didier Domi to provide his side with much-needed versatility.

Domi, who can play at left-back or left midfield yesterday completed Leeds' customary lengthy medical procedure and joins on a year-long loan from Paris St Germain.