According to Sky Sports, Manchester United are not targeting former Chelsea man Ashley Cole ahead of the January transfer window – despite being linked with the experienced defender last month.
The ex-England international made 228 appearances for Arsenal and 338 appearances for Chelsea – winning three Premier League titles, seven FA Cups, the 2012 Champions League title and 107 Three Lions caps in the process – before leaving the English top flight for Roma in summer 2014.
But the veteran left-back struggled to impact at the Stadio Olimpico and after making just eleven appearances last season had his contract terminated a year early in August.
The 34-year-old had been mooted as a potential midseason target for the Red Devils, following Luke Shaw’s campaign-ending double leg break in September, but Sky Sports understands that United will not attempt to sign Cole on a short-term deal when the transfer market reopens next month.
They are, however, keen to spend in the summer and will look to sign another specialist left-back. Utility man Daley Blind, centre-half Marcos Rojo, right-back Matteo Darmian and winger Ashley Young have all featured at No.3 during Shaw’s absence this season.