Ashley Cole to Liverpool speculation resurfaces

Ashley Cole has once again been linked with a summer move to Liverpool in Friday’s papers.

LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, January 26, 2014: Chelsea's Ashley Cole in action against Stoke City during the FA Cup 4th Round match at Stamford Bridge. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Chelsea‘s Ashley Cole in action against Stoke City. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The Chelsea left-back is out of contract at Stamford Bridge in the summer, and with Jose Enrique’s knee trouble continuing to keep him out of action, Cole may be seen as a solution for Liverpool.

Furthermore, with the Reds looking to challenge on two fronts next season — in the Premier League and Champions League — a strong squad will be needed, and Cole’s experience could well be valuable.

David Woods on the Daily Star writes:

Rodgers is a big fan of the left-back Cole, who he knows from his time at Chelsea, where he worked as youth team coach and reserve manager, before moving to Watford in 2008.

The 33-year-old has made just 13 appearances for the Blues in the Premier League this season after falling out of favour with Jose Mourinho.

According to Squawka, in those 13 games, Cole has a pass accuracy of 88 percent, and has won 57 percent of his tackles — which, by way of comparison, is very similar to Jon Flanagan’s stats in 16 appearances this season.

Cole was first linked with a move to Anfield in February, when suggestions that Brendan Rodgers would be interested in Arsenal‘s Bacary Sagna were also made.

In a comparison between the two players, This Is Anfield’s Henry Jackson wrote:

In terms of who would be a better signing out of Sagna and Cole, it’s a tricky one. In my opinion, Cole is the better player and the more reliable option, but Sagna plays in a position where Liverpool are going to be lacking in if Johnson leaves.

Because of that, signing the Arsenal man would be the best option.

Would you like to see Liverpool sign Cole? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, on Twitter @thisisanfield or our fans forums.

In other reports this week, Metro suggest Tottenham will beat Liverpool to the signing of Lazio’s Ogenyi Onazi.

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