Carlo Ancelotti has denied reports that Ashley Cole is about to join Real Madrid and says that the defender is happy with life at Chelsea. "I don't need to talk to him. He is happy to stay at Chelsea," the Italian said, from his press conference in the Chelsea Hospitality Tickets.

"He never said he wanted to go. Ashley is a Chelsea player and nobody wants to sell him. We want to keep him in our squad."

"I am 100 per cent sure he will be at Chelsea this season. I consider him to be the best player in his position in the world. There is no chance he will go."

Iker Casillas believes that Ashley Cole is nearing a transfer to Real Madrid. The left-back Cole recently split with wife Cheryl and was found to be sending a message to pals saying he hated England and the people.

"From what I am hearing the signs look good," the Sun quoted the 29-year-old as saying.

"I have only briefly spoken to people at the club but I am confident he can be a Real Madrid player next year. I think it will be the right move for him both professionally and personally.

"A clean break from England is hopefully something he is very interested in. It will be his last big contract and who better to sign for than his old coach Mourinho at Real."

Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole believes that England are capable of winning the World Cup this summer in South Africa.

The 29-year-old and the rest of the Three Lions final World Cup squad will fly to Johannesburg on Tuesday and Cole is adamant that the team’s sole ambition in South Africa is to win the tournament and be crowned world champions for the second time. The sports betting markets suggest that England are third favourites to win.

"I think we can win it and that's what we're going there to do,” Cole told The Mirror.

"I'm not going to say we ARE going to win the World Cup but I am willing to say we're good enough to win it.

"If you look at players like Stevie G, Lamps, Rio and Rooney, we have some great players in that team.

"And so, if we all play well on the day and have a bit of luck, you never know."

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Ashley Cole will make his long-awaited return to the Chelsea side for the visit of Stoke City this afternoon after recovering from a fractured ankle.

The England left back has been out of action since sustaining the injury against Everton in February.

Cole's return will be a boost to manager Carlo Ancelotti as his side close in on the Premier League title.

Didier Drogba also makes a surprise start for Chelsea despite injuring his groin in the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last week.

After Manchester United beat Spurs on Saturday to leapfrog the Blues and move into top spot, this is a crucial game for Ancelotti's men.

Once it was about buying a pub, club, bookmaker's or - if you were George Best - a clothing boutique. But the stereotype of what players do after football is being turned on its head as £100,000-a-week plus salaries enable modern footballers to explore glamorous alternatives to the traditional post-playing career.

As Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole were due to line up for England last night, a film the pair executively produced was given a first screening in central London. Dead Man Running, released on 30 October, is an enjoyable if uneven caper that stars 50 Cent, Oscar nominee Brenda Blethyn, Britflick regular Danny Dyer and Tamer Hassan, who as the lead Nick Kane has 24 hours to find £100,000 or feel the wrath of "Fiddy".

Hassan, the catalyst for Cole and Ferdinand's investment in the film, believes this is a natural direction to go in for football's fresh breed of cash-rich, tax-savvy players. "It's the first of its kind," says the 40-year-old, who grew up on the same Peckham estate as Ferdinand. "I brought Ashley and Rio to the table. It was, let's blend football and film, a no brainer isn't it? These boys are on so much money, so don't give it to the taxman, give it to us and make the British film industry credible."

Ferdinand and Cole were major contributors to Dead Man's overall budget of around £3m. Hassan says: "Ashley's a good friend of mine. I was chatting to him about Cheryl [Cole], before she was on the X Factor, because she wanted to be in movies. I had this project going, so I tried to get him involved as an executive producer.

Chelsea fullback Ashley Cole is ready to put pen to paper on a new contract.

The Times says the England defender is expected to sign an improved contract in the next few days after agreeing a new deal worth £120,000 a week.

Barcelona and Real Madrid have been linked with the England left-back this summer, but he has expressed his happiness with preseason training under new gaffer Carlo Ancelotti.

Frank Lampard believes fans are now starting to recognise the abilities of Chelsea and England team-mate Ashley Cole.

Too often in the past events off the field have drawn attention away from the performances Cole has produced on it.

The controversial comments he made about the contract offer he turned his back on at Arsenal brought the nickname 'Cashley', while tabloid revelations about his private life did not do much for his public image either.

However, as he proved against Manchester United on Sunday, Cole is now firmly established among the world's top full-backs.

Lampard feels the Chelsea fans are aware of it and believes it is only a matter of time before the England fans get behind the defender as well.

"People are starting to appreciate Ashley Cole a bit more, that is certainly the case at Chelsea," said Lampard ahead of England's friendly against Holland on Wednesday night.

"Going from Arsenal to Chelsea is not an easy transition but since he has got over a few niggly injury problems, his performances have improved.

"We are blessed that he plays for England because if there is anyone better in the world, I don't know who he is."

While most Premier League full-backs may be hugely relieved at Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from Manchester United for Real Madrid, Cole might be slightly disappointed because he generally came out on top in their personal duels.

"Not many can compete with Ronaldo in a one-on-one situation but Ashley probably got the better of him," said Lampard.

Chelsea defender Ashley Cole is on the verge of committing his long term future to the Blues by signing a new five year deal, according to the Sunday Mirror.

The British tabloid claims that the former Arsenal man will put pen to paper on a three year extension to his current contract in the next fortnight .

The report goes on to say that both player and club have been in discussions for the last two months and are close to a deal that will see Cole all but end his career at Stamford Bridge.

The deal is expected to improve Cole’s current contract and earn him wages in the region of £100,000 per week.

The news is likely to be a huge boost to manager Carlo Ancelotti, who has already seen skipper John Terry commit to staying at the club, despite interest from Manchester City.

Cole, who enjoyed a fine season last time out and appeared back to his best form after a difficult period struggling with injuries, now looks set to follow his captain's lead.

LEFTBACK Ashley Cole insists Chelsea stars are desperate to keep new boss Carlo Ancelotti in a job after admitting: “We let the others down.”
Carlo Ancelotti

Former AC Milan manager Ancelotti is the club’s fifth manager in two years with three of his predecessors fired by ruthless Russian owner Roman Abramovich.

Luiz Felipe Scolari was the last to get fired last December, barely six months into the job. Many pointed to poor training methods and confusing tactics for the Brazilian’s shock exit but leftback Cole disagrees.

He reckons Scolari, who like Ancelotti enjoyed an excellent rapport with the squad in the early days, paid the price for too many individuals performing persistently below par. And Cole warns there can be no repeat this season if they are to gain some muchneeded stability and success under the acclaimed Italian.

“It’s really down to us because, to an extent, we’ve let our managers down in the past. When they get sacked, the fans and everyone else always seem to blame the managers,” the 28-year-old Cole told Daily Star.