The Ashley Cole Auction

Arsenal left-back Ashley Cole is back from England duty, and the race to sign him looks to intensify as both Madrid and Chelsea are hoping to buy him.

Arsenal News Review have linked Torres to Arsenal and the sale of Ashley Cole would help Arsenal fund the purchase of the young Atletico Madrid striker (having said that, it still looks unlikely that Torres would come to Arsenal).

The media is reporting that Ashley Cole wants to leave this summer and that may well be the case, considering the tapping up scandal involding Mourinho and Cole 18 months ago. Whether he wishes to leave or stay, one thing is clear – Arsenal will have a battle on their hands to keep him at Ashburton Grove as both Chelsea and Real Madrid are on the hunt for left-backs and Ashley Cole tops their list.

Ashley Cole’s contract-extension signed last summer reportedly has a 16 million buy-out clause, although Arsenal will be trying to get the maximum possible amount of money for one of the best left-backs in the world. Expect the bidding to reach 20 million.

Arsenal would not want to sell Cole to a Premiership rival, but Chelsea is the one club that can outbid Real Madrid. And then again, Ashley Cole may have a change of heart and decide to stick around.

So what will it be? Arsenal? Chelsea? Real Madrid?

Update: Voting is now closed. Here are the results:

Next up for Ashley Cole? My money is on a transfer out.