As Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho downplays the significance of signing Ashley Cole for the club’s vacant spot at left-back, The Guardian says sources close to club owner Roman Abramovich say the big boss tells them the move will be completed in the next 24 hours. This news runs counter to statements made by Chelsea and Mourinho on Wednesday night that the club was ostensibly withdrawing from discussions over the Arsenal misfit. One of the chief problems is the enmity between the clubs; Arsene Wenger is reluctant to sell what captain Thierry Henry calls “one of the club’s best assets” to a rival for the Premiership title. It has been said that Arsenal set aside one fee for foreign clubs and a much higher one for Chelsea, yet Chelsea failed to meet that demand with its $30 million offer. Arsenal reportedly wants at least $15 million more. Cole is clearly desperate to join the Sky Blues, too, which has made the whole situation more awkward for everyone. But The Guardian’s sources say there’s more wriggle room for these negotiations than Mourinho’s assertion that Chelsea would not pay “one single pound more” presumes. With no other market for the player in sight, Chelsea will likely up its bid to $35-$37 million.