Del Horno exit opens door to Cole move

CHELSEA have paved the way for Ashley Cole’s arrival at Stamford Bridge by allowing Asier Del Horno to join Valencia.

The Blues have agreed a fee — thought to be £4.8m — for Del Horno who has travelled to the Primera Liga club to thrash out personal terms.

Del Horno arrived from Athletic Bilbao last summer but never convinced and has been deemed surplus to requirements by boss Jose Mourinho.

Chelsea will lose over £3m on the 25-year-old who was sent off for a clumsy challenge in the 2-1 Champions League defeat by Barcelona in February.

His departure has left Wayne Bridge as the only recognised left-back at Stamford Bridge, although French defender William Gallas can play in the position.

With Del Horno gone, Mourinho has freed up space in the squad for Cole to complete his reported £16m move from Arsenal, which could be completed as early as next week. The Chelsea boss wants to recruit a world-class left-back and Cole fits the bill perfectly.

Bridge has been given a public vote of confidence with Mourinho praising his condition after a loan spell at Fulham and he looks set to stay with the Barclays Premiership champions.

Mourinho, speaking at the launch of the club’s new kit yesterday, refused to comment on Cole but said Chelsea would buy a replacement should Del Horno leave.

“Ashley Cole is an Arsenal player. It’s not correct to say anything about him,” he said. “We have Wayne Bridge back. His spirit at Fulham was good and it was a good move for him and for us.

“If we sell Del Horno, we will have a space in our squad. But if Del Horno goes back to Spain, we will need a good left-back. The transfer window is open and for sure we’ll have two left-backs.”