Chelsea set sights on Cole replacement

Rafa Benitez has made it clear who he wants to fill the Ashley Cole-shaped gap at left-back should the 32-year-old leave the club in the summer.

Leighton Baines has proved himself as one of the most able full-backs in the Premier League and his fine form has warranted interest from some of the biggest names in European football, and although no one has been able to justify a solid offer for the Everton-man, a determined Mr Benitez could soon put that to bed.

Love him or hate him, Ashley Cole has been at the top of his trade for a number of years and he has the trophies to prove it from his time at Stamford Bridge. However, like most footballers in current times, the lure of mega-bucks elsewhere could be the deciding factor whether or not Cole makes a switch at the end of the season.

It has been well documented that the former Arsenal left-back failed to agree new terms with the west London club and is ready to walk out the door at the end of the season, or so his mum tells us anyway, and Chelsea are readying themselves for it.

It's a bit like a couple of kids trading Panini stickers. You can have this one if I can have that one.

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