Chelsea defender Ashley Cole has agreed a new one-year contract extension with the Blues, keeping him at Stamford Bridge until at least 2014.
The news ends rumours of a move to France or Spain, where both Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid were thought to be keen on the 32-year-old.
It does, however, increase the likelihood that Frank Lampard will certainly be departing west London come the end of the season, with the Blues hierarchy clearly offering no room for manoeuvre on any potential deal.
Chelsea may also be parting company with young goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois at the end of the season, with the Belgian stopper being eyed by Spanish giants Barcelona, although it remains unlikely the Blues will want to let Petr Cech’s understudy depart.
The Catalan club are thought to be considering a £10m bid for the 20-year-old, who has impressed on-loan at Atletico Madrid for the past 18 months, with long-serving goalkeeper Victor Valdes keen on a move away from the Nou Camp.
Meanwhile, Newcastle have agreed a reported £6.7m fee for Montpellier centre back Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, as Alan Pardew seeks to boost his defensive options.
The 23-year-old was also being tracked by the likes of Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Barcelona, but is now set to fly to England next week to hold talks with the Magpies.
Finally, West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has admitted the club are no closer to agreeing a new deal with midfielder Mohamed Diame.
The former Wigan man, who only joined the Hammers in the summer, is being targeted by Arsenal and Tottenham and West Ham are keen to rejig his contract to remove a buy-out clause which could see Diame leave Upton Park.
Allardyce has also dispelled rumours the club are chasing Shanghai Shenhua striker Nicolas Anelka.
Share this with