Swap Shock – Cole for Shaun?

21 May 2006

SWAP SHOCK

'WORLD EXCLUSIVE' Cole's move to Blues is back on and flop Shaun could switch to Arsenal?

By Steve Stammers & Paul Smith – Sunday Mirror

 

ASHLEY COLE is set to move to Chelsea in a dramatic summer transfer that could take Shaun Wright-Phillips to Arsenal.

England full-back Cole, who was illegally tapped up by Chelsea 16 months ago, is still high on Jose Mourinho's wish-list.

Mourinho is confident of getting Cole and is ready to offer £21million flop Wright-Phillips who has failed to make any impact at Chelsea.

Despite the tapping-up scandal, Mourinho still feels a deal is possible with Arsenal, where Cole has a strained relationship with vice-chairman David Dein.

Cole has a get-out clause in his Highbury contract which values him at just £10m this summer, and offloading Wright-Phillips in an exchange deal would enable Chelsea to disguise the size of their loss on the ex-Manchester City star.

Wright-Phillips is the adopted son of Arsenal legend Ian Wright, who feels that a lack of opportunity at Chelsea is one of the main reasons why his son has failed to make the World Cup squad.

Mourinho bristled at any suggestion he is responsible for the player's absence from the squad, insisting: "He has played 21 games this season."

Asked if Wright-Phillips can still flourish as a Chelsea player, Mourinho said: "It's up to him."

Swapping Cole for Wright-Phillips is also likely to suit Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, enabling him to promote the promising French Under- 21 left-back Gael Clichy.