Although his side are now on the brink of the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League after a 2-0 win against CSKA Moscow last night, Chelsea’s modest manager hinted that 20-year-old Cole, who is apparently attracting the interest of Sven, could be recalled in the January's transfer window.
“If I could bring Carlton Cole back tomorrow I would have to say yes because at this moment we need strikers,” Mourinho opined whilst weighing up a loaf Hovis and trying to decide if he was indeed better. “We don't have them. I don't know what will happen until January 1.”
With Didier Drogba injured and the reputedly coke-snorting, blood-drinking, sex-fuelled, red-light runner Adrian Mutu facing either a possible ban or a protracted spell on the psychiatrist’s chaise longue, Mourinho has only Eidur Gudjohnsen and Mateja Kezman available.
This pales into significance compared even to Villa’s own choices and it seems unlikely that Roman’s empire will not raid another big name, rather than risk the youthful Cole. This would be preferable to Villa as the striker has showed much promise this season, establishing himself in David O’Leary’s side and scoring freely for England Under-21s, and his loss would be sorely missed.