Month: July 2017

Premier League holders Chelsea have decided to extend their search for a new left-sided defender with Juventus’ Alex Sandro likely to stay put at Juventus for the upcoming campaign.

The Brazil international had been earmarked as the perfect option to fill the left wing-back role although Marcos Alonso impressed in the position last season.

Premier League holders Chelsea have decided to extend their search for a new left-sided defender with Juventus’ Alex Sandro likely to stay put at Juventus for the upcoming campaign.

The Brazil international had been earmarked as the perfect option to fill the left wing-back role although Marcos Alonso impressed in the position last season.

The west London giants have longed to find a regular to occupy the left side of the defence, and they have spent as much as £122m since Ashley Cole left back in the summer of 2014. Cole played a fundamental role in the Blues’ success between 2006 and 2014 including their triumphs in the Champions League and Europa League.

He is currently enjoying the latter stages of his career at LA Galaxy following an unsuccessful spell at AS Roma, and Conte is yearning for a player of the Englishman’s calibre at Stamford Bridge. Spain international Cesar Azpilicueta occupied the position with ease during Jose Mourinho’s reign in west London, but Conte sees the defender in the central defensive role which he adapted well alongside Gary Cahill and David Luiz last season.

Meanwhile, Azpilicueta could also be pushed into the right wing-back position with Chelsea deemed to have finalised a summer deal to recruit Antonio Rudiger from AS Roma. The German international has been on the Blues’ radar over the past year or so, and the deal is likely to go through with Chelsea having agreed on a £33.4m sum for his services.

Cole remained a mainstay during his eight-year spell at Stamford Bridge lifting the Premier League on one occasion, and the Blues have not quite replaced him from the ranks, though Alonso made the left wing-back position his own last term. Alonso had his doubters following his move from Fiorentina last summer, but he managed to silencehis critics with six goals in Chelsea’s league triumph.

Ashley Cole initiated his professional playing career with the Arsenal jersey as it was with the English club that Cole made his debut at the age of 18.

The veteran left-back would go on to make over 150 appearances as well as lift various pieces of silverware including: 2 Premier League, 3 FA Cup and 2 FA Community Shield trophies.

Ashley Cole initiated his professional playing career with the Arsenal jersey as it was with the English club that Cole made his debut at the age of 18.

The veteran left-back would go on to make over 150 appearances as well as lift various pieces of silverware including: 2 Premier League, 3 FA Cup and 2 FA Community Shield trophies.

After 7 years of performing at the Emirates Stadium, Ashley Cole decided to make a switch to Chelsea which caused supporters of Arsenal to display their frustration and anger towards the English defender as his main reason of why Cole opted to join Chelsea was simply because they offered him a better contract.

It’s believed that Arsenal offered him a salary of £55,000 per week while Chelsea provided almost double that amount for the English defender and after having spent such a significantly long period of time at the Emirates Stadium, supporters of Arsenal started to dub Ashley Cole with the nick-name of: ‘’Cashley’’

Ever since Ashley Cole left Arsenal in 2006, they were unable to lift any other piece of silverware until 2014.

Despite the criticism that he received, the English defender has recently talked about this controversial transfer from Arsenal to Chelsea as Cole stated that he does not regret his decision.

“No. I had a great time there, I missed the old players that were there but I moved on and won every trophy I could. I wouldn’t look back and say I regretted it, no. I still think to this day. I laugh to myself. I had a lot of history there and I think the way I left was maybe a bit dodgy but the lack of respect they showed me as well.” Ashley Cole said.