Fabio Coentrao linked with a move to Chelsea and Real Madrid as Ashley Cole considers move to Spain
Once again Chelsea and Real Madrid look to battle it out for another football player, this time it is the 23-year-old Benfica defender http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Portugal-c2984 international could join either side depending on what Blues left-back Ashley Cole decides.
The 30-year-old England international has been linked with a move to La Liga giants Real Madrid, more for personal reasons than anything. His possible move to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Spain-c3011 has urged the Blues to look for a replacement in the summer transfer window.
So far they have identified the Portuguese wingback, who has proved to be terrific for Benfica and the various other sides he has featured for while on loan. He spent the 2008-2009 season out on loan with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nacional-c39984, Zaragoza and Rio Ave before returning to
Benfica.
The versatile left back, who is also capable of functioning as a right back has made a http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Total-c40747 of 52 appearances for Benfica in the domestic league, even scoring 2 goals. After returning to the Portuguese side in 2010, Coentrao signed a contract extension
until the end of the 2016 season.
Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has already been in touch with Benfica over Coentrao, but so far a deal has not been agreed upon. Even though the Portuguese international previously claimed he wished to move to the Santiago Bernabeu, he now seems to be waiting
for a better offer.
Chelsea, under new manager Andre-Villas Boas might provide just that. The 33-year-old Portuguese manager is determined to battle it out with his mentor to sign the versatile left-back, who would make a suitable replacement for Cole.
With Ashley Cole expected to fetch an estimated 15-20 million if he is sold during the summer transfer window, the Blues would have no trouble paying for Coentrao’s release clause worth €30 million. While http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Real-c30728 Madrid have claimed the price to be too high,
Chelsea are not troubled by the demanded amount.
The Blues boss Villas-Boas wants the best replacement for Ashley Cole, if the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749 international leaves. He is aware that while the young Portuguese defender will have some big shoes to fill, replacing a left-back who is considered the best in the English
Premier League.
Cole joined http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/William-Gallas-c36874. In his five years at Stamford Bridge, it was last season that Ashley Cole went on to start all 38 league games for the Blues and earned
the Chelsea F.C. Player's Player of the Year award for his contributions.
Ultimately, Coentrao’s possible switch to either side, Chelsea or Real Madrid, depends on http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ashley-Cole-c6809’s decision to either move to Spain or remain in London. It is certain though; Coentrao would not want to move to a side where he is not guaranteed regular
football.
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