I don't know if this has been posted but this story just seems wierd. We know Joe Cole is out for the money and I'm not sure if Arsenal would want to break their wages policy(and Arsene wouldn't be able to fiddle with him) and could United afford him, especially considering they are getting players in for peanuts. On top of that, Ole 'Arry stated that he enquired but seemed to think he had already been signed up by another club (I'm thinking Tevez). Not sure what to think about this because at the time when 'Arry said it, I truly believed it was us and was only dissuaded by the fact he was linked with the likes of Arsenal and United, then plumped for Arsenal as I didn't think he wanted to move up north.
United and Arsenal to miss out on Joe Cole capture
Soccernet understands that Arsenal and Manchester will lose out on signing Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole on a free transfer, while Manchester City and Tottenham remain firmly in the hunt for his signature.
Speculation has continued to mount over Cole's future, and he seems certain to leave Stamford Bridge as talks over a new contact stalled before he set off for South Africa after making Fabio Capello's final England squad.
Spurs, Arsenal, United and City have all been linked with a move for Cole, though it appears that Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are unlikely to have the midfielder at their disposal next season.
A source close to the transfer activity told Soccernet: "My information is that Joe Cole will not be going to Arsenal or to Manchester United, despite being linked with both of these clubs. Joe Cole has a few options, and has not made up his mind, and will do so when he returns from South Africa. It is still possible that he could decide to stay at Chelsea but that is only a small chance."
The source refused to rule out Spurs and Man City and, while Roberto Mancini's club can offer big bucks, Harry Redknapp has the lure of Champions League football for Cole, and that could be the deciding factor.
Redknapp has made it clear that he isn't looking to make a large number of signings, but instead wants one or two outstanding new players to reinforce Spurs' chances of making it past the qualifying stage of the Champions League. And it was Redknapp that gave Cole his debut in the Premier League when they were both at West Ham United.
Cole would be happy to stay at Chelsea, but the club have thus far shown no willingness to improve the contract offer which is still on the table.
With Cole available on a free, his advisors argue that his value in the open transfer market could be £18 million to £20 million, a huge saving for any prospective new club, which would justify an inflated wage packet.
