The former Arsenal defender recently retired from international duty after being omitted from England’s World Cup squad and on Monday announced his intention to leave the Blues.

Ashley Cole is a target of Liverpool and Tottenham after revealing he is unlikely to be at Chelsea next season, Goal understands.

The former England left-back, 33, will be one of the most coveted free transfers of the summer as he seeks “another journey in my life” following eight years at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea have not completely given up hope of agreeing a new deal with Cole but the player has made it clear that he expects to leave the club.

“I am weighing up my options for playing next season with my agent and sadly it does not look like Chelsea will be one of them,” Cole wrote on Twitter on Monday night.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has made it clear he wants to add more stability to his defence next season and is believed to be weighing up a move for the experienced defender.

Rookie Jon Flanagan is on World Cup stand-by duty this summer after filling in so capably at left-back in the second half of the season but his preferred position is at right-back.

The Merseysiders had been in the market for another proven full-back in Bacary Sagna, 31, but the Arsenal man is on the brink of agreeing a free transfer to Manchester City.

Spurs are also monitoring Cole’s situation as they eye up contenders to fill the team’s problem left-back slot next season.

Former manager Tim Sherwood had included Cole on a shortlist of key summer targets, although the identity of the new Tottenham manager could depend upon whether the Londoners make a concerted bid for the recently-retired England international.

There is also interest in Cole from the MLS, although the player may want to ascertain the interest in the Premier League market before considering a move overseas.

Cole, who retired from international football having been left out of England’s World Cup squad, signalled the end of his Chelsea career with a series of tweets.

He wrote: “Thank u Chelsea FC for making my 8 years there a pleasure to work all the staff and players, we’ve been through a lot, good and bad.

“And of course the fans, how do I start, I can only say thank u for giving the boys confidence to win some amazing trophies, and once again.

“And this tweet is to the FANS that have stood buy me through thick and thin, I will always have u in my hearts, #cfcfans.

“And now I’ll be looking for another journey in my life hope it can be like my others full of fun and of course WIN something.”

He also removed ‘Chelsea and England left-back’ from his Twitter biography.

Cole is a three-time Premier League champion, twice with Arsenal and once with Chelsea, and also has seven FA Cup winners’ medals and won the 2008 League Cup.

He was part of Chelsea’s Champions League winning team in 2012 and went on to win the Europa League a year later.

According to Goal

The midfielder initially appeared to dampen rumours he was unhappy at the club, only to then reveal he will discuss his future after his participation in Brazil this summer

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has revealed he will make a statement after the World Cup to clarify his future at the club.

Toure’s agent, Dimitri Seluk, had suggested on Monday evening there was a “big possibility” the Ivorian could leave the Premier League champions this summer due to an alleged failure to celebrate his birthday.

The midfielder initially looked to move on from the matter, urging his followers not to listen to the comments of others and poking fun at the birthday claims.

He wrote on Twitter: “Thanks for all the birthday messages today. Card from City just arrived… Must have got lost in the post.

“Jokes aside. Please do not take words that do not come out of MY mouth seriously. Judge my commitment to @MCFC by my performances.”

However, Toure has since underlined that Seluk’s comments were to be taken seriously, again throwing doubt over his continued stay at the Etihad Stadium.

He added: “Everything Dimitry said is true. He speaks for me. I will give an interview after world cup to explain.

“My agent was trying to make a point here on my behalf, joke aside. It seems important for me to make a statement. I am going to do so.”

Toure was a key performer for his club this season, scoring 20 league goals and making nine assists, as they won the Premier League title by two points.

He was in the running for the Player of the Year award after being nominated by his peers at the Professional Footballers’ Association, but lost out to Liverpool striker Luis Suarez.

According to Goal

The vice-president of the Ligue 1 side has confirmed the 62-year-old will leave the club after two years in charge

Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyevhas announced that Claudio Ranieri will leave the principality club this summer.

Ranieri took over in 2012 and led the club to promotion from Ligue 2 in his first season with the big-spending Ligue 1 side.

This season Monaco qualified for the Champions League after finishing second, nine points behind champions Paris Saint-Germain.

“I can confirm that Ranieri will leave Monaco,” Vasilyev told reporters at a press conference. “I want to thank Claudio for doing a great job here.

“It was a difficult decision. It is never easy to take a club from Ligue 2 to the Champions League. But we believe that at this stage we need a new dynamic.”

Vasilyev added that Ranieri’s replacement will play more attacking football however he was reluctant to discuss further details on the successor.

“I can’t confirm the name of the new coach as we are still negotiating some details. We want someone who can bring an offensive way of play which will be enjoyed by our fans.”

According to Goal

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has confirmed that playmaker Kaka is set to remain at the club next season.

The Brazil international is under contract with Milan until June 2015 but has a clause which gives him an option to terminate the agreement this summer after the Rossoneri’s failure to qualify for European competition.

“Kaka wil stay here,” Galliani said to www.acmilan.com. “There is a 99 per cent chance that he will remain with us.”

Kaka had been strongly linked with a move to Major League Soccer in recent months having only returned to the San Siro on a free transfer last summer after four years at Real Madrid.

The 32-year-old, who won a Serie A title and the Champions League in his first spell at Milan, scored seven goals in 30 league appearances for the Rossoneri this season.

Galliani also revealed that he will begin talks with Spanish side Valencia this week in order to sign French defender Adil Rami on a permanent basis.

Rami joined Milan on a six-month loan deal in January and scored three goals in 18 league appearances.

“I have spoken to Rami and I have told him that we have informed Valencia that we are interested in signing him,” Galliani said. “We will meet Valencia executives in Lisbon on Friday in view of the Champions League final and we will start negotiations.

“He wants to stay and we hope things go well.”

The Rossoneri are also keen to keep Moroccan forward Adel Taarabt.

Taarabt joined on loan from QPR in January and the Italian giants have an option to buy the player this month.

“We have until May 31 to decide on Taarabt,” Galliani said.

Taarabt has scored four goals in 14 league appearances for Milan

According to Foxsports

The Dutchman will begin a three-year contract at Old Trafford after Netherlands’ participation at World Cup 2014 is complete, with Ryan Giggs appointed as his assistant

Louis van Gaal has been confirmed as the new manager of Manchester United, with Ryan Giggs named his assistant.

The Dutchman will begin a three-year contract at Old Trafford after the conclusion of his work in charge of Netherlands at the World Cup.

Frans Hoek and Marcel Bout, countrymen of Van Gaal, also arrive at Old Trafford as coaches, with the former specialising in goalkeeping and the latter in scouting the opposition.

As reported by Goal, Van Gaal told friends that he was “very keen” on taking over at United following the sacking of David Moyes in April.

“To work as a manager for Manchester United, the biggest club in the world, makes me very proud,” Van Gaal said.

“This club has big ambitions; I too have big ambitions. Together I’m sure we will make history.”

“In Louis van Gaal, we have secured the services of one of the outstanding managers in the game today,” United’s chief executive, Ed Woodward, said in a statement.

“He has achieved many things in his career to date and Old Trafford provides him with a fitting stage on which to write new chapters in the Manchester United story.

“Everyone is very excited about this new phase in the club’s history. His track record of success in winning leagues and cups across Europe throughout his career makes him the perfect choice for us.”

The appointment of Giggs as Van Gaal’s No.2 fits the incoming manager’s desire for an ally on the coaching staff who knows the club well, as explained by Goal earlier in May.

Patrick Kliuvert had been expected to follow Van Gaal to England, but it was decided earlier in May that the former Barcelona striker would not make the move to Old Trafford.

“I am thrilled to have the chance to serve as assistant manager,” the Welshman enthused. “Louis van Gaal is a world-class coach and I know I will learn a lot about coaching from being able to observe and contribute at such close quarters.

“Manchester United has been a huge part of my life and I’m delighted to be able to continue that relationship in such a key role.”

According to Goal

The ex-Spain international, who spent eight seasons in Catalunya as a player and a further three in charge of the club’s B team, will succeed Tata Martino at the helm

Barcelona have confirmed the appointment of Luis Enrique as their new coach on a two-year contract.

The ex-Spain international, who spent eight seasons at Camp Nou as a player and another three in charge of the club’s B team, takes over from Gerardo Martino, who stepped down after the Blaugrana were dethroned as Liga champions following a 1-1 draw at home to Atletico Madrid on Saturday.

Luis Enrique met Barca sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta at his home in Gava earlier this month and his move was a formality as soon as he stepped down as Celta boss on Friday.

“The FC Barcelona Board of Directors have this evening confirmed Luis Enrique Martinez as the new first team coach, following a proposal from sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta,” a short statement read on Monday.

“Luis Enrique, 44, will sign a two-year deal.”

The former midfield ace joined Barca from great rivals Real Madrid in 1996 and went on to establish himself as a firm favourite with the Camp Nou crowd, winning two Liga titles, two Copas del Rey and a Uefa Cup Winners’ Cup before retiring in 2004.

Luis Enrique rejoined the club as a coach just four years later and enjoyed a successful stint in charge of their B team before departing for Roma in 2011.

He only stayed at the Stadio Olimpico for a solitary season before returning to the game in 2013 to take charge at Celta, whom he led to a ninth-placed finish in La Liga.

According to Goal

Ryan Giggs has announced his retirement as a player following his appointment as assistant manager to new Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal.

The 40-year-old made public his decision to hang up his boots in an open letter published on United’s website.

Giggs is the most decorated player in United’s history having won 34 trophies in a career which saw him make 963 appearances for his only club.

Giggs, who made his first-team debut at the age of 17 in 1991 and also earned 64 caps for Wales, said: “My dream was always to play for Manchester United, and although it saddens me to know I won’t be pulling on a United jersey again as a player, I have been lucky enough to have fulfilled that dream playing with some of the best players in the world, working under an incredible manager in Sir Alex Ferguson, and most of all, playing for the greatest fans in world football.”

Giggs’ honours included 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League successes.

He has served as a player-coach over the past year and took over as interim manager for the final four games of last season after the sacking of David Moyes.

United were thought to be keen to retain his services in a coaching capacity and his future is believed to have been a key part of negotiations with Van Gaal.

Giggs said: “For me, today is a new chapter filled with many emotions – immense pride, sadness, but most of all, excitement towards the future.

“United fans I hope will share and echo my belief that the club, the management and owners, are doing everything they can to return this great club to where it belongs, and I hope to be there every step of the way.

“To the greatest fans in world football, thank you, I have loved every minute of playing for you and representing the biggest and best club in the world.”

According to Foxsports