Cole could go to Real in spite of Chelsea talks

ARSENAL defender Ashley Cole could yet move to Real Madrid despite the Gunners admitting to talks with Chelsea over the 25-year-old, Spanish media claimed last night.

Cole is a long-term target for Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who is keen to land a left-back after selling Asier Del Horno to Valencia last week.

But Spanish paper Marca say Real could get the man for whom Premiership champions Chelsea recently had a reported £16 million offer rejected.

With veteran Real star Roberto Carlos poised to sign for Turkish club Fenerbahce on a three-year deal after previously being linked with Chelsea himself, Real are bidding to replace him either with Lyon’s French international Eric Abidal or Cole.

According to Marca, Arsenal could talk business with Real for upwards of e18m with the Spaniards having an eye on both striker Jose Antonio Reyes — who earlier denied he was looking to go back to his homeland — and also Brazilian Julio Baptista.

Meanwhile, Tottenham skipper Ledley King could be ruled out for eight weeks because of a knee injury.

The 25-year-old defender had recovered from the broken foot which forced him out of England’s World Cup plans but then picked up the knee injury in training.

“Ledley is out with suspected cartilage problems and he could be out for six to eight weeks,” admitted manager Martin Jol. “It is a big blow for us.”

The injury is also a setback for new England boss Steve McClaren who takes charge of his first match in a friendly against Greece on August 16.

England midfielder Frank Lampard believes that former coach Sven-Goran Eriksson blundered when he left Jermain Defoe at home instead of taking the Spurs man to compete in the World Cup.

England’s campaign in Germany was seriously damaged by Eriksson’s decision to take only four strikers to the finals with the first choice pairing of Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen carrying injuries.

“Questions had been asked about why we didn’t have five strikers in the squad when two of our forwards went into the tournament trying to recover fitness,” said Chelsea star Lampard.

“Personally, I’d have included Jermain as well. I played with him at West Ham and he is a natural goal scorer.”