Manchester United last night entered into negotiations with Blackburn Rovers that could lead to Andy Cole swapping his allegiance from Old Trafford to Ewood Park for a fee in the region of £10 million sterling.
Graeme Souness, the Blackburn manager, confirmed his interest in the 30-year-old England international and John Williams, the club's chief executive, spoke at length yesterday to Peter Kenyon, his United counterpart.
United have been led to believe that an offer is imminent for a player who has been forced into a peripheral role this season since the £19.5 million sterling signing of Ruud van Nistelrooy.
It remains unlikely Ferguson will want to sell a player of Cole's stature as he seeks to bring his valedictory season to a triumphant close. However, Blackburn have been encouraged by noises from the Cole camp that the striker is becoming increasingly unhappy about his limited first-team chances, citing his lack of games as being detrimental to his chances of playing in the World Cup.
Souness is known to work closely with the player's agent Paul Stretford. All Souness would say yesterday was that he would be interested in signing Cole "should he become available", but the manager disclosed this week that he hoped to conclude a major transfer before the weekend.
"We have made preliminary inquiries as to whether Andy Cole is available," said Williams. "At this stage, that is all I can say." Kenyon declined to comment, but the fact that nobody at Old Trafford has been willing to deny reports of Cole's availability will merely add to the growing impression that his seven-year spell at the club may be nearing its conclusion. Privately, the United hierarchy will accept that they are willing to listen to offers.
Souness's need for a high-calibre striker has been exacerbated by Corrado Grabbi's failure to settle in Lancashire since his £6.75 million move from Ternana of Serie B and Marcus Bent's recent £3 million defection to Ipswich.
Grabbi is a £5 million target for Napoli and Blackburn have lost out to Leeds in the pursuit of Robbie Fowler from Liverpool. Last week Parma's former Aston Villa striker Savo Milosevic was linked with a move to Ewood Park, although he now seems likely to stay in Italy.
With 124 goals in 224 games for United since signing from Newcastle for £6 million in January 1995, Cole certainly fits into the category of player that Souness is eyeing, although it remains unclear whether he is so unsettled that he would be willing to forgo life with England's premier club.
Blackburn would certainly be seen as a step backwards and Cole, who signed a five-year contract this year, might be more tempted if Aston Villa, Sunderland, Chelsea or Tottenham turn their tentative interest into anything more substantial.
United, meanwhile, are to honour Ferguson by creating a lasting tribute at Old Trafford to the most successful manager in the club's history. Ideas that will be discussed include naming one of the Old Trafford stands after the Scot or erecting a statue to go alongside that of Sir Matt Busby's outside the stadium. Alternatively, the club may even apply, as in the case of Busby, to rename one of the roads surrounding the ground in the manager's honour.
Despite Ferguson's often fractious relationship with the Old Trafford board and, in particular, the chairman Martin Edwards, the directors are united in their desire to make a public show of appreciation.
