5 Chelsea ‘transfer alternatives’ to Luke Shaw

A group of Chelsea fans entered the Football Transfer Tavern, ordered a round, and begun discussing potential replacements for Ashley Cole.

Now 32 years of age, Cole is entering the final few months of his latest Chelsea contract, and the feeling around Stamford Bridge is that this could well be his last year at the club.

Replacing one of the world’s best left backs is no easy task, and whilst Chelsea have Ryan Bertrand ready to try and do so, it is thought Jose Mourinho will enter the transfer market once again.

The name being touted about most as Cole’s long-term replacement is Southampton starlet Luke Shaw.

The 18-year-old has flourished this season under Mauricio Pochettino, and is being talked about as a future England star.

But Southampton are now in a position where they no longer need to sell their young stars, and you can bet they will do all they can to keep hold of Shaw after their excellent start to the season.

With that in mind, we have identified five alternatives to Shaw for Mourinho to ponder, when the time to replace Ashley Cole eventually comes around.