CHELSEA face a desperate battle to hang on to Ashley Cole. Russian mega-spenders Anzhi Makhachkala are ready to offer the 30-year-old �200,000 a week.
Anzhi � backed by billionaire owner Suleyman Kerimov � have already handed Samuel Eto'o a monster �350,000-a-week deal.
Now Cole, whose Chelsea contract runs out at the end of next season, has emerged as their latest target. And the England defender will be sorely tempted by the cash � and the prospect of a four-year contract.
Anzhi's player-coach Roberto Carlos has recommended Cole as his successor at left-back. The Brazil legend, 38, was the first star to join Kerimov's revolution but will retire at the end of the season.
And Carlos has already put Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka, Arsenal's Robin van Persie and Santos hotshot Neymar on his wish-list. He said: "If Real, Barca or Manchester United cannot pay the transfer fee, we will pay it.
"Suleyman Kerimov can offer what he wants."
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