The Joe Cole Quandary: Will He Stay Or Will He Go?

It would have seemed unthinkable not too long ago that Joe Cole could be considering a future away from Stamford Bridge.

But much has happened since the last time Joe Cole got injured.

The versatile England man, who would be an automatic starter either on the left wing or just behind the two strikers, finds himself increasingly left on the bench for frustrating periods by Carlo Ancelotti.

Add to that the fact that the 28-year-old's contract at Chelsea is due to expire at the end of this season, and on the outset it seems that Joe Cole wants a pay hike in what might be his last long-term contract of the season.

And with Roman Abrahamovic unwilling to concede to the demands of a player no longer considered to be worth a full game by the current Chelsea coach, there have been vibes that Joe Cole might be on the way out, most sensationally on a free transfer, and to add a bit of spice to that, to Chelsea's rival.

So where do you think Joe Cole should go?

Chelsea: Because, quite frankly, I believe this is really the best choice for both Chelsea and Joe Cole.

Why? Because all said and done, Joe Cole has the quality to make the cut in the star-studded Chelsea lineup.

He is an intelligent player, reasonably quick, and a very good dribbler of the ball. Joe Cole also is admired around West London as one of the rather humbler and good-work rate sort.

All he has to do is hit that rich vain of form that has made him the man he is, and convince Carlo Ancelotti and Roman Abrahamovic that he is the right man for the job.

Chelsea are monitoring Landon Donovan, who has been a great success in his loan stint here, but there is no doubt that in Joe Cole, Chelsea would have a player who has been part of the present set up for a long time, and is still roughly the same age as well.

Manchester United: Manchester United are said to be monitoring the Joe Cole situation quite keenly.

There is no doubt that whichever club Joe Cole chooses to swap for Chelsea will have in their armoury a player who is deadly creative, as well as a dead accurate crosser and passer. Manchester United would like to have a player like him on the left.

It would be mouthwatering for a Manchester United fan to see him play Wayne Rooney in and the combination is potentially devastating.

And Joe Cole comes in for free. Manchester United couldn't really ask for more.

But then again, one wonders if debt-ridden Manchester United will be willing to meet Joe Cole's wage demands. Or would they rather choose to pick up a younger, less known player on the left wing, pay him less, and make him one for the future?

Secondly, having been an unwaveringly loyal Chelsea player all these years, would it really seem right for him to go to a rival?

Tottenham Hotspur: One step down it would perhaps seem to the untrained eye, but there is no doubt that Harry Redknapp is doing something special at White Hart Lane.

No more the also-rans of the Premier League, Tottenham are seriously pushing their claim for a Champions League berth.

They have been fourth for a fairly long time and their performances, although patchy, make it look like they'll last till the end of the season and reach the Holy Grail of the Champions League which they have aspired for all these years.

So there is a good chance that if Joe Cole makes the move to Tottenham Hotspur, he won't be missing out on Champions League football.

The fact also remains that Harry Redknapp is an admirer of Cole, as he is of any creative, fluid-passing midfielder. Harry would certainly love to bolster his team by signing Joe Cole, but the salary demands again can be deterring.

Liverpool: Wouldn't I love to see Joe Cole at Liverpool?

A quick, Bosman transfer fix for that terribly weak left-wing position sounds really good to me.

Unfortunately, we haven't got the money and I'm not sure Rafael Benitez is a big fan of Joe Cole. I just don't see Joe Cole fitting into Benitez's system, but I would be delighted should Joe Cole come to Liverpool.

Manchester City: Manchester City are others linked with Joe Cole, as they are forever linking themselves to players of good calibre. And I feel there's an outside chance of Cole actually going to City.

City can use a player of his quality to feed Tevez and Bellamy and that sort of attacking lineup sounds pretty sweet to me. Manchester City too are knocking on the Champions League door and have a half-decent chance of getting through.

Inter Milan: I'm not sure if Inter Milan are linked, but boy would that be one hell of a move!

Back under the stylish overcoat of Jose, Joe Cole would flourish in Italy's comparatively slower, more tactical style of play and would provide an added dimension to Inter's attacking playing style.

The way I see it, wage demands aside, if Joe Cole does move, it'll probably be to a club which will offer him Champions League football and a regular place in the starting lineup.

But I still feel that Chelsea is the best place for him.

The reports that are coming out are just a result of Joe Cole's frustration on the bench and his worry about whether Fabio Capello will take him to South Africa on current form.

Clearly, Joe Cole is not a money-hungry footballer. He's just a man who enjoys being on the field a lot more than watching from the sidelines.