FC Barcelona, the world`s most self-righteous club, are putting together a transfer plan that includes Ashley Cole. We can imagine that Chelsea will take a rather dim view of that idea.
Apparently club President Sandro Rossell will meet with coach Pep Guardiola over the coming days to plan signings for almost all areas on the pitch, but particularly the back. The idea is to plan now with a view to signing in April. In recent years, this has been one of Barça`s strong points: by signing either outside the transfer window or just when the window opens, they negotiate on the best possible terms. The way that they brought in David Villa in 2010 before the World Cup was a case in point.
Although the club is happy with the first team, there is a feeling that it is a bit short and the B team (that factory of youngsters that is so celebrated the world over) cannot meet all the needs. Particularly pressing is a young goalkeeper and a left-back. Arsenal will be delighted that their goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is being considered for the former position, and given the Gunners` excellent relationship with Barça, we are sure that Arsène Wenger will gift-wrap the Polish sticksman himself.
But what should worry Chelsea is that FC Unicef have, apparently, identified Ashley Cole as left-back. That`s a position occupied by Frenchman Eric Abidal, who is in the process of deciding on a contract renewal or to take an offer to go to (newly-rich) PSG. If Abidal stays, Barça would try to find a young player. But if Abidal decides to leave, Barça will try to sign an experienced player, and possibly an expensive one.
Apparently the first name on the shortlist should Barça need an experienced left-back is Ashley Cole, a player highly rated by Pep Guardiola. Despite being 30 years old, he`s as good as a ‘guarantee` in that position. The downside for Barça is that, apparently, there were clubs prepared to sign Cole over the summer but Chelsea rejected offers over ?25 million, which means that Chelsea have absolutely no intention of letting him go. Other names on this list are Gareth Bale and Gary Cahill, with the latter being considered particularly interesting for Barça as he is out of contract at the end of the season.
Is this rumour probable? It seems very unlikely. Firstly because, in Eric Abidal, Barça have a great first choice and the likelihood is that the Frenchman will stay at Barça. In fact, the rumours about Ashley Cole are probably a low tactic by the club to try to persuade Abidal to sign a new contract. Secondly, should Barça really be in the market for an experienced left-back, Chelsea would do everything in their power to hold on to Ashley Cole. The reasons that Barça would like to sign him are the same that would have Chelsea hang on to the player: he`s (arguably) the best left-back in the world today. In addition, Chelsea are unlikely to make things easy for the benefit of a team that has caused so much difficulty to us over the years.
And finally, even if Barca were to be in the market for a left-back, for all his qualities, is Ashley Cole the kind of player who would fit in at the Nou Camp? Ashley Cole is a player who comes with a huge amount of baggage, little of it good. In a Guardian article about Wayne Rooney`s red mist on Friday, the writer made a list of off-pitch discipline issues troubling the England team. Of course, Cole was near the top, you can take your pick of tabloid . Given the emphasis that Barça places on behaviour, Do they really want to bring in such a player? That`s apart from the fact that it`s hard to imagine a player less suited to leaving England than Ashley Cole, one who would have difficulty adapting to life in Cataluña.
Don`t get us wrong, we would be delighted if Ashley stayed because, for all his off-pitch difficulties, he is still the best left-back in the world. Arguably. We just don`t think he`s likely to go to Barcelona.
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