Real Madrid leave £25M Cole bid on Chelsea table

Real Madrid are confident of prising Ashley Cole away from Chelsea.

The London Evening Standard says the Spanish club are understood to have made a £25million bid for the England defender before the World Cup and are now ready to step up their efforts.

Chelsea continue to insist they are not interested in selling a player who they regard to be the best left-back in the world, however the 29-year-old has become increasingly frustrated with his private life being constantly in the media spotlight.

Just before the World Cup started, his wife Cheryl Cole began divorce proceedings following a number of revelations over the player having extra-marital affairs.

Cole has been at Chelsea for four years and while he has enjoyed his time at Stamford Bridge, sources close to him suggest he wants to move abroad. Those fears have increased today after reports that he has grown disenchanted with life in England.