CHELSEA HAVE paved the way for Joe Cole’s departure from Stamford Bridge by formalising their interest in the Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun, with the Israeli confident a transfer can be completed over the next week.

An opening bid of €4.7 million is understood to have been knocked back by the Merseyside club, though they have offered Chelsea encouragement that an improved offer of about €7 million will secure the 30-year-old. Carlo Ancelotti is keen to sign the Israel international after talks with Cole’s representative over a new deal reached an impasse, with the midfielder now expected to leave under freedom of contract next month.

Tottenham Hotspur, with a potential Champions League campaign ahead, remain favourites to secure Cole under the Bosman ruling, ending his seven-year stay in south-west London since a €7.75 million move from West Ham United.

Cole has not had a regular first-team place at the Double winners under Ancelotti, and Benayoun will have to accept life as a squad player as well. His own fortunes at Liverpool dipped somewhat towards the end of last season to mirror those of the team, with his relationship with the manager, Rafael Benitez, steadily deteriorating to the point where Liverpool effectively sanctioned his departure in the closed season.

The Israeli anticipates the completion of his move to Stamford Bridge over the next few days. “Ancelotti wants me for next season,” he said. “I believe that, in the end, I’ll be moving there.”

Croatia midfielder Luka Modric has signed a new six-year contract to keep him at Tottenham until 2016. The 24-year-old, who joined Spurs from Dinamo Zagreb in summer 2008, had been linked with a big-money move to Manchester United after impressing for the north London club over the past two seasons. But he has committed his long-term future to Tottenham, insisting he had “no interest in going anywhere else”.