Last Updated: Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:00
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly set to snatch Joe Cole from under the nose of arch-rival Arsene Wenger.
Cole will leave Chelsea at the end of the month after they failed, much to the disbelief of John Terry, to offer him a suitable contract that made him want to stay.
Arsene Wenger had looked to be winning the race to land the England midfielder on a free transfer but it would now appear he has made a decision to join United.
It would be a major coup for Ferguson to land the player ahead of the Gunners and all the other interested parties and it shows the pulling power United under Ferguson still retain.
Arsenal are not the only side who had harboured hopes of signing the player as both Real Madrid and Spurs, managed by his former bosses Jose Mourinho and Harry Redknapp, had also been keen.