Which way Carlo? Joe Cole warms the bench for Chelsea as Ancelotti gives out instructions to the team Photo: GETTY IMAGES Cole, whose deal expires on June 30, and his advisers were under the impression that all contract talks were on hold until the summer. Not so, say Chelsea, who firmly dispute that claim. But it has not helped the 28 year-old's sense of being wanted at the club he joined seven years ago. Cole had asked for a new, improved offer more than two years ago and was told to wait by the then chief executive Peter Kenyon. The priority was tying down Frank Lampard. A serious knee injury, with Cole out for nine months, caused a further delay while other Chelsea players have signed new deals in the meantime. Significantly the midfielder has failed to hold down a first-team place on a regular basis under Carlo Ancelotti.   Related Articles Chelsea v West Ham United: preview Lampard praises 'positive' Terry Wilkins urges fans to stop booing Terry Chelsea 2 Stoke City 0 Bosingwa ruled out for rest of season Sport on television The official position remains from both sides that player and club want a deal to happen – and one may well be concluded – but it's highly unusual for an international in his prime to be in the situation that Cole now finds himself in, especially going into a World Cup finals which he is danger of missing out on.[Read more...]