By Thom Drake

PUBLISHED: 05:43 EST, 24 February 2013 | UPDATED: 05:50 EST, 24 February 2013

Chelsea are weighing up a surprise move for left-back Leighton Baines even though Ashley Cole has signed up for another year at Stamford Bridge.

Baines has been below Cole in the England pecking order for the last season, but consistent and influential performances for Everton have earned him many admirers.

Any bid for the 28-year-old would need to be at least 14million with boss David Moyes unwilling to let him go for anything below what Everton feel he is worth.

Three Lions: Many people think Baines is now England's best left-back

Three Lions: Many people think Leighton Baines is now England's best left-back

Both the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People have reported that Chelsea are happy to partner England's two first choice left-backs, with the possibility of Baines playing in midfield.

It would mean that Ryan Bertrand, Cole's understudy for the past few years, may not have much of a future at the club, even though he has played in some of their key matches, including the Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

The other thing to remember is that David Moyes' contract runs out at the end of the season and Chelsea may be one of the parties interested in signing him up.

If this materialised, then a move for Baines would become even more inevitable.

Future: He could either play alongside or replace Ashley Cole at Chelsea

Future: He could either play alongside or replace Ashley Cole at Chelsea

Centurion: Ashley Cole won his 100th England cap against Brazil this month

Centurion: Ashley Cole won his 100th England cap against Brazil this month


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Baines would be nuts to leave Everton for Chelsea.

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Hope Baines stays at Everton, he might find at Chelsea that he spends a bit of time on the bench. He is better off where he is, Everton are a good club, well run, well managed:

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Moyes going to Man city while MOU IS COMING home to chelsea.

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Quality player Baines. Hoping he has an off day on Tuesday.

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How can something become "even more" inevitable? Once something is inevitable then it has nowhere to go, it's set in stone.

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£14m for a 28 yr-old player who just 3yrs younger than Ashley Cole. Wow! That's some pricey player.

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whats going on in the first picture? bit kinky.

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Come on DM: he would be 29 next year

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Well first off Baines is worth 20 million + a few players because of his ability with free kicks and corners,Ashley Cole is better at actual defending so he can`t fully replace him,if Moyes does go to Chelsea he won`t last long because the owner wants titles now not in years from now.I think if Kenwrong made more effort to find a buyer Moyes with time + money could be a young Alex Ferguson.

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It's true. Everton are on the verge of qualifying for Europe but of course, they want to demolish the squad of talent. Of course they do. And Baines doesn't want to play for Everton, he wants to sit on Chelsea's bench. Despite never expressing a single desire to either the club or his close friends to leave Everton. It must be right though, it's in the DM.

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