City to beat United to Cole and other transfer gossip

Manchester City are being tipped to beat neighbours United and Tottenham to the signature of Chelsea's Joe Cole. The England international can leave Stamford Bridge on a free transfer in the summer. The 28-year-old is demanding £130,000 to stay with Chelsea who are only prepared to go as high as £100,000. Sir Alex Ferguson is long-time admirer of Cole who he considers the most naturally gifted English player of his generation. Elsewhere, Steven Gerrard is pondering a move to one of Real Madrid, Inter Milan or Manchester City after growing disillusioned with life at Liverpool; Tottenham have moved closer to sealing the biggest deal of the January transfer window by holding direct talks with Palermo about £11m defender Simon Kjaer; and Argentina winger Angel di Maria has said 'no' to a move to Manchester City after a £38m bid was made for the 21-year-old at Benfica.