Rumour: Chelsea’s swoop for Sevilla’s Moreno to trigger Cole’s Liverpool switch and Man United’s bid for Shaw

Alberto Moreno

Left-backs are the in-demand position this summer and Liverpool are set to kick-start the activity by completing the signing of Ashley Cole on a free transfer from Chelsea once the England defender’s contract expires at Stamford Bridge in June.

Cole was in tears at the end of Chelsea’s final home game of the season against Norwich having accepted his time with the club is up, but could now be handed a Premier League lifeline as Brendan Rodgers looks address the balance of his defence and sign a specialist left-back.

Filipe Luis of Atletico Madrid has been linked as Chelsea’s replacement for Cole, but reports in the Daily Express have suggested the Blues will move quickly to tie up the signing of Alberto Moreno from Sevilla instead, amid interest from Real Madrid.

Jose Mourinho has identified Moreno as his preferred replacement for the outgoing Cole to ease the imbalance of his own defence, having decided that Southampton’s Luke Shaw is not worth the money being demanded by both club and player, freeing Manchester United for a solo run at the England World Cup hopeful.

Shaw is valued at around £30million by a defiant Southampton side who do not wish to sell their latest prodigy, double what Sevilla are demanding for Moreno and United are also happy to award a £100,000 per week contract to the 18-year-old.

Ashley Cole has won 26 tackles in his 16 Premier League appearances for Chelsea this season, emerging victorious in 53% of his contested challenges.