Post by Liam O'Reilly on Aug 25, 2006 11:32:53 GMT
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon remains hopeful of landing Ashley Cole, insisting there is a "commitment" between The Blues and Arsenal to get a deal done.
The transfer saga has been dragging on all summer, but has reached an impasse with Arsenal having turned down Chelsea's offer for the England left back.
Kenyon claims Chelsea will continue to push hard to reach an agreement before the transfer window slams shut at the end of the month, but added that The Blues were already happy with the squad they have assembled.
"That would be nice," he told Sky Sports News when asked if Chelsea would be kicking off their UEFA Champions League campaign with Cole in their ranks.
"We've got seven days to do it or not. We've been talking to Arsenal for the last three weeks, very frequently, that's where we are, there's no more to add.
"Arsenal know our position, we'd like to think we can get it done, but if not we've got a great team and are very confident they can get us through.
"There's a commitment on both sides to try and get a deal done."
Kenyon admitted that Arsenal were pushing hard to take William Gallas as part of the Cole deal, but claimed that fact had possibly further convoluted the transfer.
"You would think that would make it easier wouldn't you, but I'm not sure it has," he added.
"That may happen, it may not happen. William may stay with us, we may get Cole. It's all up in the air, but I know in the next seven days we'll find out."
The transfer saga has been dragging on all summer, but has reached an impasse with Arsenal having turned down Chelsea's offer for the England left back.
Kenyon claims Chelsea will continue to push hard to reach an agreement before the transfer window slams shut at the end of the month, but added that The Blues were already happy with the squad they have assembled.
"That would be nice," he told Sky Sports News when asked if Chelsea would be kicking off their UEFA Champions League campaign with Cole in their ranks.
"We've got seven days to do it or not. We've been talking to Arsenal for the last three weeks, very frequently, that's where we are, there's no more to add.
"Arsenal know our position, we'd like to think we can get it done, but if not we've got a great team and are very confident they can get us through.
"There's a commitment on both sides to try and get a deal done."
Kenyon admitted that Arsenal were pushing hard to take William Gallas as part of the Cole deal, but claimed that fact had possibly further convoluted the transfer.
"You would think that would make it easier wouldn't you, but I'm not sure it has," he added.
"That may happen, it may not happen. William may stay with us, we may get Cole. It's all up in the air, but I know in the next seven days we'll find out."