PA PhotosAshley Cole is out of contract this summer

Most of the newspapers in England lead off on Monday morning with the news that Roy Hodgson will 'axe' half the Three Lions team that beat, er, San Marino on Friday. Which is to say that he'll be picking people like Steven Gerrard - back from suspension - and Ashley Cole on Tuesday night, no doubt taking into account the fact that Poland have beaten more than one team in their history.

A more interesting lead comes from the Daily Mail, which reports that Ashley Cole will be leaving Chelsea at the end of the season. Regular ESPN readers will no doubt have some awareness of the tale - we told you he'd rejected a one-year deal last month and that the club were refusing to offer anything longer term - and the Mail believes his patience has now run out.

Journalist Neil Ashton reports: "Cole is adamant he will not sign the one-year extension on offer and is preparing to speak with foreign clubs, including Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, in January ... [His] availability next summer has also alerted Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson."


Sticking with Chelsea left-backs who have recently caused substantial problems for themselves via social media, Ryan Bertrand is reported in various places to have "told friends" he will never use Twitter again. He got a bit sweary when it was suggested he had withdrawn from the England squad with a sore throat and now appears to be of a mind that it might be better to keep such thoughts to himself.

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Email