Chelsea Transfer Rumors: Blues Cannot Let Ashley Cole Leave Stamford Bridge

Chelsea cannot let star left back Ashley Cole leave Stamford Bridge at any point in the future, especially to a Premier League rival such as Manchester United.

Per the Mirror:

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Ferguson is now looking at other options and has been alerted to Cole's contract situation at Stamford Bridge, reports the Sunday Mirror. 

The 31-year-old has less than a year left on his current deal and, despite his consistently excellent performances, Chelsea have still not offered him an extension.

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The England star is arguably the best left back in the world, and played phenomenally well in the Champions League final versus Bayern Munich when several Blues defenders were unavailable due to suspension.

Cole still has three to four years of world-class performances left in him, and even though he's 31 years old, he is one of the most consistent and reliable Chelsea players currently on the squad.

He has played in league 70 games over the past two seasons and is one of the club's most experienced FA Cup and Champions League players.

Cole still has good pace and remains one of the best attacking left backs in the world. Unlike many of these left backs that like to go forward and join the attack, Cole is a fantastic defender and positions himself very well in the defensive third of the pitch.

Like club veterans Frank Lampard and John Terry, Cole deserves to play the remainder of his career at Stamford Bridge. Cole is the type of player you don't let go because he is getting older.

He is still a top defender, and his experience is very valuable to the club, especially since there are a lot of young players from outside the Premier League being brought to Stamford Bridge this summer via the transfer window.

Chelsea must sign Cole to a new contract as soon as possible and prevent him from leaving the club when his contract expires. It's unlikely Cole's contract won't be renewed, but letting the situation go on for many months would not be ideal for anyone.

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